By Ronnie Gallagher
rgallagher@salisburypost.com
LANDIS — Everything was “Nice for Neas” on the 12th hole of the Rowan County Golf Championships Tuesday at The Warrior.
Evan Neas, a South Rowan sophomore, sent his tee shot soaring toward the 202-yard, par-three hole.
“I was watching (the drive) as I walked away,” Neas said.
He knew he hit it well, but he wasn’t expecting what happened next. It had a slight draw and hit the front of the green.
“It trickled down that hill,” Neas reported.
And it didn’t stop until it was in the bottom of the cup.
A hole-in-one.
“I was shocked,” Neas said afterward.
About 200 yards away, South coach Josh Vinson got a call from Neas’ dad. He was at the bridge and said he was coming back to watch.
“I didn’t see him hit it, but I got to watch him walk up and pick the ball out of the hole,” Vinson said.
“I thought it was great,” exclaimed teammate Davis Richards.
So did everyone else when they heard.
In fact, that was the talk of the post-match awards ceremonies, where, of course, Neas was named all-county, along with 10 other of Rowan County’s finest golfers.
“Anytime you get a hole-in-one, it’s great,” Vinson said, “but especially in the county championship on a hard hole in tough conditions. I feel really great for Evan.”
“It was my first one,” Neas announced, wearing a happy smile. “It was pretty perfect.”
Actually, it was dead solid perfect.