After a nearly life ending cardiac arrest just a month before, the balmy afternoon weather of Oct. 29, 2014 suddenly turned to 7th heaven for 63 year old Rolando Tiongson. Playing the 135 yards par 3 15th hole of the Pine Ridge Golf Club in Coram New York, he teed off with a 6 iron and a Titleist Prov1 ball.

The ball landed in the front left and kept tracking to the back right pin position. Slowly, the ball trickled in the cup for a Hole In One! It was witnessed by his golfing buddies Horace Ciar, Willy Tinio and myself.

Still wearing a portable vest defibrillator to regulate and monitor his heart rate, it was a fairy tale ending to his first comeback game after the dreadful attack. Having played for over 20 years without an ace, Rolando's first was a fitting metaphor to the adage: "from agony to ecstasy".

by: Al Iriberri