Even aces come in threes

It's never easy to make a hole-in-one, but apparently it helps to be in Jack Leone's group.

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Leone, a 75-year-old Augustan, has witnessed "at least" 15 aces, not counting the five he has made.

Leone's most recent hole-in-one came over the summer, and not surprisingly, it was sandwiched between aces made by playing partners.

All of them came on Leone's home course, Forest Hills Golf Club, and all were on No. 13.

They came in rapid succession - a span of 19 days.

First, Vince Tedhams made an ace, which Leone matched five days later. Two weeks later, Leone was in the group when Beanie Morris made an ace.

"It's pretty unusual, to have one (ace) and witness two all in less than a month," Leone said.

Leone didn't know what to say after Morris made his ace, completing the trio.

"You're kind of stunned; it's sheer luck," Leone said.

Tedhams and Morris also witnessed Leone's ace, as did Don Reif, the only one of the group who didn't make an ace during that time.

"I guess I'm lucky with everybody except Reif," said Leone, who noted that Reif nearly made an ace last week in his group.

Leone has been a good-luck charm for a long time. In 31 years in the Army, Leone said he played at military courses wherever he was stationed. He witnessed at least one hole-in-one ace at each of the 10 courses.

During his time in the Army, though, Leone never made an ace, just watched them.

"That was just one of those things," he said.

Things changed after Leone retired in 1992 at age 62. He had aces on No. 13 at Forest Hills in Jan. 1993, Dec. 1993, and an ace on No. 4 at Forest Hills in May 2004. In April 2005, he aced No. 13 again.

"Before I retired, I probably played one or two times a week and then I started playing three or four times a week," said Leone, a 15-handicapper whose low round is 78.

At age 65, Leone moved up to the gold, senior tees.

"That made a difference," said Leone, who has made three of his aces from the senior tees.

Leone's latest ace on No. 13, which requires a carry over water and a gaping bunker, came with an 8-iron shot. The hole was playing 106 yards that day, and the pin was in one of the most difficult spots: the back, left corner.

"It was a tough pin," Leone said. "You're just trying to hit the green, but you go for the pin. I'm not good enough to really go for the pin, but you always aim at it. It's like Lee Trevino said, 'that wasn't lucky; I was aiming for the hole.'"

- Jack Leone, No. 13, 106 yards, 8-iron. Witnesses: Beanie Morris, Don Reif and Ray Carter.

- Vince Tedhams, No. 13, 120 yards, 8-iron. Witnesses: Jack Leone, Walt James and Alton McFeely.

- Beanie Morris, No. 13. Witnesses: Jack Leone, Don Reif and Dixon Blyler.

- Larry Nichols, No. 13. Witnesses: Eddie Williamson, Ralph Roper and Fred Hammond.

- Buddy Ansley, No. 7, 194 yards, 7-wood. Witness: Todd Orander.

- Tracy Atkinson, No. 4. Witnesses: Jimmy McLeod, Joe Taylor and Joe Hardy.

- Bryan Wilson, No. 13, 156 yards, 8-iron. Witnesses: Chris Butler and Mark Givens.

- John Powell, No. 4, 8-iron, 155 yards. Witnesses: Mrs. McClure, Mrs. Chirkinian.

- Stoney Gilmore, No. 13, 188 yards, 7-iron. Witnesses: Bubba Climer and Philip McLain.

- Bob Collez, No. 8, 155 yards, 7-iron. Witnesses: Leon Barfield, Doug Herman and Chuck Williams.

- Don Winchester, No. 4, 158 yards, 9-wood. Witnesses: Keith Matthews, Bob Banks and Scott Buff.

- Don Winchester, No. 4, 158 yards, 9-wood. Witnesses: Keith Matthews, Bob Anks and Scott Buff.

- Edith Parkman, No. 4, 121 yards, 7-iron. Witness: Jackie Poteet.

- Aaron Cobb, No. 9, 214 yards, 4-iron. Witnesses: Robert Berry, David Jopling and Brent Cushman.

- Don Strosneider, No. 17, 128 yards, 9-iron. Witnesses: Jimmy Kilpatrick, Earl Carr and Jimmy Howard.

- Darwin Osborne, No. 11, 101 yards, pitching wedge. Witnesses: Cindy Osborne and Keith Wall.

- Roger Hobbs, No. 17, 135 yards, 8-iron. Witness: David Bowen.

- Drew Bokowy, No. 2, 92 yards, 7-iron. Witnesses: Brian Bokowy, Stephanie Bokowy, Alicia Bokowy and Emma Bokowy.

- Donald Brantley, No. 6, 144 yards, pitching wedge. Witness: Roy McGaha.

- Xavier Hamilton, No. 2, 125 yards. Witnesses: Garreth Carpenter and Austin Stokes.

- Jeffrey Tran, No. 1, 119 yards. Witnesses: Sterlling Tran and Matt Bieiewicz.

- Aaron Umansky, No. 4, 182 yards, 5-wood. Witness: Bo Nimmons.

- Laura Farmer, No. 6, 117 yards, 6-iron. Witness: Jim Farmer.

- Bubba Helton, No. 4, 135 yards, 8-iron. Witnesses: David Jones, Richard Welsh and Scott Benjamin.

- Rev. Steve Dodson, No. 12, 203 yards, 4-iron. Witnesses: Rev. David Hunter, Brian Hunter and Michael Hunter.

- Wink Jenkins, No. 2. Witness: Bill Fair.

- Randy Howell, No. 6, 165 yards, 5-iron. Witness: Chris Klein.

- Erich Haskell, No. 12, 150 yards. Witnesses: Chad Feuerhahn, Ann Brazier and Pete Carroll.

- Ray Triano, No. 2. Witnesses: Andy Beaudoin and George Fritschle.

- Doug Mayenschen, No. 14, 3-wood. Witness: Chandler Mayenschen.

- Bill Anderson, No. 8, 9 -iron. Witnesses: Art Rahn and Earl Tingle.

- Paul Faulk, No. 8, 7-wood. Witnesses: Randall Davis and Jordan Baker.

- Al Gelinas, No. 9. Witnesses: Richard Clark and Bill Amerson.

- Rob Brewer, No. 14, 100 yards. Witnesses: Ronnie Smith, Bill Bannister and Randall Edmunds.

- Lee Dun, No. 14, 110 yards. Witnesses: Jimmy Cushman and Dale Sprowls.

- Evan Usry, No. 7, 161 yards, 4-iron.

- Jeffrey Kyle Pagac, No. 4, 184 yards. Witnesses: Keith Paulos and Chris Gallagher.

- Bill Windsor, No. 8, 188 yards, 5-iron. Witnesses: Craig Canada and Manuel Gonzalez.

- Dick Schultz, No. 8, 160 yards, 5-iron. Witnesses: Bruce Ellen, Bob Oliver and Gene Johnson.

- Bobby Price, No. 6, the Pines, 8-iron. Witnesses: Jeff Adams and Clyde Bullfinch.

- Larry Carr, No. 8, the Island. Witnesses: Vernon McLeod and A.R. Miller.

- Wilbur Stephens, No. 5, 143 yards, 8-iron. Witnesses: Hinis Green and Leonard Leath.