Ben Schmidt made his first hole-in-one in competition during the opening round of the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.
On the back of a solo third-place finish at the Danish Golf Championship, his best finish in his rookie season on the DP World Tour, the 23-year-old Englishman had more reason for cheer on his return to home soil.
One over for the tournament as he reached the final par three of the Brabazon course at The Belfry Hotel & Resort, Schmidt produced a moment of perfection at the 182-yard 14th with an eight iron.
His tee shot never left the flagstick, landing 15 feet short before rolling out and trundling into the centre of the cup at dead weight, resulting in a celebratory hug with his brother and caddie Luke.
“It was the perfect number for me,” he said. “I thought with a bit of helping wind it should be a good number for me, hit a good shot and watched it go in.
“I was tracking it down and I knew it was tracking on a pretty good line. When it hit the green, just watching it roll out, it was perfect.”
Having birdied two of his opening five holes earlier on Thursday, playing in the first group out of the day, back-to-back bogeys at the eighth and ninth saw Schmidt hit the turn at level par.
He bounced back with a birdie at the short tenth, only for a double-bogey at the 12th to momentarily see him fall over par, before his ace followed by a birdie at the par-five 17th saw him sign for a two under 70.
Touted as one of England’s brightest golfing prospects, having won the Brabazon Trophy at 16, Schmidt earned his DP World Tour card for this season through the Qualifying School last year.
With the ace, Schmidt helped raise £50,000 for Guide Dogs, Official Charity Partner of the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, through a pledge by tournament Title Partner Betfred.
"That's absolutely fantastic," Schmidt added. "I love dogs, my girlfriend loves dogs as well so it is just great to give back. I am really happy it was on that hole."
In 2024, Guide Dogs benefitted from £60,000 of fundraising through activations organised at the tournament.
Guide Dogs helps people with sight loss live the life they choose. Whether it’s children or adults, friends or family. Whoever they are, the expert staff, volunteers and life-changing dogs are there to help them.
Founded in 1934, following their first partnership in 1931, Guide Dogs is a charity that is almost entirely dependent on donations. Find out more at guidedogs.org.uk.
