Fresno teen scores pair of holes-in-one

Peter Kuest Jr., an incoming freshman at Clovis West High, hit holes-in-one on two courses — River Park Golf Center and Riverbend.

Most golfers never even witness a hole-in-one, let alone make one.

Peter Kuest Jr. has watched two of his tee shots drop into the hole on the same day, recording aces on two Fresno-area courses Tuesday.

The 14-year-old Fresnan, who will be a freshman at Clovis West High, made his first career hole-in-one on his first swing of the day, using a pitching wedge to ace the 90-yard first hole at River Park Golf Center.

Younger brother Kyle, 11, and friend Kyle Wall, 10, witnessed the shot that bounced onto the green and rolled up to the pin, appearing to stop before falling into the hole as the threesome walked off the tee box.

“I was in shock and didn’t really believe it at first,” Kuest Jr. said. “I hit a good shot and got lucky.”

After shooting a 2-under 25 over nine holes at River Park, Kuest Jr. and his partners met up with their fathers — Peter Kuest Sr. and Tim Wall — for a round at Riverbend Golf Club.

And on the 155-yard third hole, Kuest Jr. hit a 4-iron into the wind that landed on the green, hit the pin and rolled in.

Kyle Kuest sprinted from the tee box to the green, pumping two fists into the air after finding the ball at the bottom of the cup.

“In 25 years of playing golf, I had never had one or witnessed one,” Kuest Sr. said. “It was shock and disbelief, but certainly very proud of him.”

Kuest Jr.’s pair of aces come a little more than three months following surgery on an elbow he fractured while pitching in a baseball game for Kastner Intermediate School.

After healing and completing physical therapy, Kuest Jr. attended a weeklong clinic at his favorite course, Silverado Golf Resort in Napa, earlier this summer.

The clinic helped Kuest Jr. improve his skills and regain his confidence on the course, paving the way for him to shoot a career-best 3-over 75 at Riverbend on Tuesday. Kuest Jr. said he normally shoots in the low 80s.

“It was my day to golf that day,” said Kuest Jr., who added he wasn’t sure yet if he would play golf or baseball next spring at Clovis West.

By Nick Giannandrea