Miracle Shot Highlights All-UConn Final Round of Connecticut Amateur Golf Championship

WETHERSFIELD, CT - Golf holes measuring 332 yards are not normally prime candidates for a hole-in-one, but Friday was no normal day at the Wethersfield Country Club.

The championship match of the 114th Connecticut Amateur was a battle between former UConn roommates Zack Zaback of Farmington and Corey Birch of Ridgefield. The final was scheduled as a pair of 18-hole rounds in cumulative match play format.

Zaback, who had played just 18 holes Thursday compared to Birch's 36, took advantage of more rest by finishing the initial 18 holes with a 6-up advantage.

The best was yet to come, however.

After a short break, the pair emerged to pick up the battle at the first hole. Birch teed off first by virtue of winning the final hole during the first round, then Zaback stepped up and boomed the ball straight down the middle - and into the cup, for his first career ace.

That nearly miraculous shot was the capper to a brilliant day that saw Zaback capture the prestigious championship, 9 and 7.

Over 29 holes played Friday, Zaback was 13 under par, with an albatross, an eagle, nine birdies and just one bogey.

Photo credit: csga.org