Cricket star’s ace lands a £22,000 Mercedes
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Ex-England and Surrey cricketer, Mark Butcher, has won a new Mercedes-Benz A Class worth £22,000 after scoring his first hole-in-one at the prestigious Burhill Golf Club during a charity day hosted by Olympic gold medal-winning rower, James Cracknell.
The batsman, who excelled for club and country in a career spanning 17-years, aced the par-3 fourth hole, measuring 178-yards, on Burhill’s New Course, a regular venue for the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour.
Describing the moment, Mark commented: “I played a 7-iron hoping to hit a soft fade into the front of the green. Unbelievably, the ball came off the club exactly as intended, which is a rarity. When it landed it looked close but none of us on the tee could be sure.
“When I got to the green I tiptoed up to the hole and there it was. I jumped into the arms of one of my playing companions and we proceeded to dance a jig around the green. I think it’s the most excited I’ve been in my life!”
Staged at Burhill GC, which is part of BGL Golf, the event raised £9,000 for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research and Kingston Grammar School Sports Legacy, of which James Cracknell is a former student.
The event, sponsored by Mercedes-Benz Brooklands and Mont Blanc was attended by numerous sporting legends including Sir Steve Redgrave, one of Great Britain’s greatest ever Olympians.
Hugh Knowles, golf operations manager, said: “News of a hole-in-one spread quickly around the course and as Mark was playing in the last group, everyone was ready and waiting in the clubhouse when he finished.
Mark added: “The golf-course and event management were first-class, it’s the second time I’ve played the New Course at Burhill and it was, as before, in superb condition.”
Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the lives of patients with all types of blood cancer, including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma and is focused on finding causes, improving diagnosis and treatments, and running ground-breaking clinical trials for all blood cancer patients.
*For further details about Burhill Golf Club, visit www.burhillgolf-club.co.uk or call 01932 227345.
