I was playing in a charity golf tournament the other weekend and we strolled up to the hardest part three of my home golf course. Hole 8 at Thief River Golf Club near Thief River Falls, MN is a 207 yard par three that crosses our local river and protected by oak trees on both sides. I have only birdied this hole 4 or 5 times in the 10 years that I've played golf at this course. My teammate had hit a safe shot about 30 feet to the left of the pin so I took aim with my 4 iron. When I struck the ball I knew it was a good shot and it was directly on the pin from the beginning. As it got closer we heard a loud "BANG!" as it hit the center of the pin about two feet up the flag. I turned to my brother and he asked "Did that hit the pin?" to which I responded "Yes, really hard!" As we were driving across the bridge to go check my brother proclaimed that he thought the ball was in the hole to which I replied "Don't say that!" as I didn't even want to think it was possible. As we walked up to the green I did not see a ball anywhere near the hole or off the green and when I walked up to the hole and peered down, there it was, my first hole in one in 16 years of golfing! A memory I'll never forget! It cost me $220 to buy drinks for the tournament participants but it was money well spent!! As a side note, we also won the tournament with a combined score of -16. Jake Peterson