Phillips’ winning stroke does not roll in cup at Gavilan
College’s Million Dollar Shootout
GILROY –– The chances of hitting a hole-in-one from 165 yards out is estimated at 1 in 133,000, but avid golfer Roland Phillips had already cupped six coming into Saturday’s 2nd Annual Rams $1 Million Shootout.
Phillips was one of 10 finalists who gathered along with friends, family, and spectators at Eagle Ridge Golf Course’s second tee box. The odds were not in their favor, but like the saying goes, ‘you’ve got to be in it to win it.’
“What’s most important is you have to aim,” said Phillips before stepping up for his winning stroke that rolled to a stop at 12 feet, 8 inches from the pin. “I hit it good. I got all of it. It had a chance. It was pin high. It just needed to be a little more left.”
Although nobody sank the million dollar shot for the second year in a row, Phillips earned the top prize package in the closest-to-pin contest that included a $300 Monterey getaway, tickets to an A’s or Giants baseball game of his choice with VIP parking, a $20 gift certificate to Willow St. Pizza, a Gavilan baseball cap, and a CD.
“I owe it all to my loving wife Victoria. I couldn’t have done it without her support and my best friend Jerry who paid my entry fee,” said Phillips, who qualified at Ridgemark GC in Hollister.
Phillips, who had never played at Eagle Ridge before the event, told his buddy that he would give him half the money if he sank the hole-in-one. He came the closest of all the competitors.
Only four golfers registered distances from the pin without going out of bounds. Greg Paxton, of Gilroy, who qualified at Eagle Ridge, was second with a shot that was 36 feet, 9 inches from the pin. His shot sailed over the green.
In third place was Dave Petty, of Hollister, whose shot landed 75 feet, 4 inches from the cup. Petty qualified at Ridgemark.
In fourth place was Orlando Ortiz, a Ridgemark qualifier, whose shot stopped 106 feet, one inch from the pin.
Defending champion John Anderson was one of five competitors not to reach the green. Anderson, of San Mateo, qualified at Eagle Ridge with a shot that was 6 feet, 10 inches from the pin, but he did not get a clean shot in the finals.
“Just try to get in on the green. That’s what it took last year. Get it on the green and with a little luck, hopefully, it will roll in,” said Anderson before stepping up to take his shot. “It’s a tough hole. It plays a little longer than 165. Last year, I used a four iron. Who knows I could use a 5 or 6 iron whatever feels comfortable.”
2003 Gilroy High graduate and varsity golfer Alejandro Rodriguez, whose qualifying shot at Eagle Ridge landed one foot, 6 inches from the cup, was another second-time participant. Rodriguez did not get a clean shot off, either.
Other participants who all received prize packages were: Jerry Quintos, of Gilroy; Dave Petty, of Hollister; Chris Simmons, of Hollister; Jim Howell, of San Jose; and Peter Voss, of Aromas.
There were 700 golfers who took qualifying shots at either Eagle Ridge or Ridgemark GCs. One finalist was selected from Friday’s Jeff Garcia Golf Open at Eagle Ridge, but Patrick Cassady, of San Jose, was a no show.
In addition, Jose Rosales, of Hollister, an automatic qualifier from South County Auto Group arrived past the 6 p.m. check-in and did not partake.
