A Saskatchewan golfer hit his first ever hole-in-one en route to a win at the National Special Olympics.
Taylor Carter, who lives in Regina, joined the Special Olympics team in 2013, but has been playing golf since he was four years old. He said this moment, which happened at the Medicine Hat Golf and Country Club on Friday, will stay with him forever.
“It’s still surreal. I still look out and think I didn’t even do it, but every time I watch the video it just makes me emotional,” Carter said.
“I want to cry every time I see it.”
Ashton Carter is Taylor’s caddy and nephew.
As the competition neared its end, they reached the 135-yard 16th hole. They chose a nine-iron and Taylor just went for it.
“I saw the shot and I immediately knew it was good,” Ashton said.
Taylor’s brother was standing near the hole and was the first to call it out.
“I heard my brother say the words ‘hole-in-one’ and my family started going bananas,” Taylor said.
Kyra-Lee Carter, Carter’s sister-in-law, was there to capture the moment on video.
Sask. golfer nails hole in 1 at Special Olympics Canada Summer Games
The video captures an emotional hug between Taylor and his best friend Jason, who had also travelled to Medicine Hat to be there for him.
“We were in Berlin, Germany, competing together,” Taylor said. “It was really special to have my best friend there.”
Taylor’s mom Charlene said she couldn’t believe it, but it meant everything for her.
“To be able to do that at a national event, pretty great time to get a hole-in-one,” she said.
He later noticed that he’d received a notice from his phone, which had seen a spike in his heart rate and thought he was having a medical emergency.
“I actually did not realize that until way later,” said Carter. “I can’t believe that even happened either.”
Taylor still had to finish out the round. He and his nephew said they focused hard to manage the excitement and finish the competition strong.
“We both were full of adrenaline and we had to calm down and tried to regroup,” Taylor said. “Luckily I did. I wasn’t really expecting to calm down, but it worked out pretty good.”
Carter finished the three-day tournament with a total score of 162 over three rounds, taking the gold medal for his division by two strokes.
Ashton said this experience was truly amazing.
“Seeing all the athletes playing, their confidence, and getting just to be themselves kind of really helps you with your own confidence,” he said.
“If I get another opportunity to caddy for my uncle, I’d love to.”
Taylor is wearing his medal with pride and said he’s thankful for everyone who has been beside him to make this possible.
“I might be going to another competition, but I’m not 1,000 per cent sure yet,” he said.
“For now, I’m just gonna practise and celebrate with my family and my friends, because that’s important.”
Hole in 1 helps Sask. golfer take gold at Special Olympics Canada Summer Games
