Golfing perfection with his first shot

Quin Pike after a hole-in-one with his first shot of the day. Picture supplied

There’s perfect starts and then there’s Quin McPike’s perfect start.

The Poverty Bay club golfer delivered the ultimate shot — his first of the day — in Round 5 of the Oligoi Jug men’s interclub pennants at the Electrinet Park course on Sunday.

McPike, who shifted to Gisborne from Hawke’s Bay last year, started his match on the 112-metre par-3 14th hole at the Park.

The third player in his group to tee off, McPike took out a gap wedge and proceeded to hole out for a career-first hole-in-one.

“It was a shock,” said McPike after watching his ball land to the left of the hole and side-spin in.

“I turned around and looked at everyone . . . my mouth was wide open.”

McPike went on to win his match against Waikohu golfer Jason Tuapawa, who won’t forget his reintroduction to pennants golf after a 20-year absence.

A manager at Four Square Wainui Road, former Napier Golf Club member McPike is enjoying his return to competitive golf and has been playing his part in Poverty Bay being in the semifinal hunt with one round of round-robin play remaining.

“I love it. It’s real fun. Everyone’s been really good. It makes you play a bit better, focus more.”