Ace is wild! Lester sinks hole-in-one on links
MESA, Ariz. -- Jon Lester is the new ace of the Cubs' pitching staff, and on Wednesday, he scored his first ace.
Lester was playing golf with Cubs pitcher Travis Wood, coach Eric Hinske and the Rays' Evan Longoria, and according to Longoria, the new Cubs lefty had a hole-in-one at the seventh hole at Estancia Golf Club. Longoria tweeted:
"Golf w/Eric Hinske, Travis Wood and @JLester34. Lester just aced #7 at Estancia!"
Golf w Eric Hinske, Travis Wood and @JLester34 . Lester just aced #7 at Estancia!
- Evan Longoria (@Evan3Longoria) February 11, 2015Lester responded: "Believe it!!!"
Lester also posted a photo of the ball and his scorecard, and he noted it was his first round of golf for the year. Apparently, he's adjusting well to the desert. This will be Lester's first Spring Training in Arizona after spending his career preparing with the Red Sox in Florida.
@Titleist 1st hole-in-one today on the 7th at Estancia! @Evan3Longoria was an eye witness! Look out @Keegan_Bradley! pic.twitter.com/gPTtyPVdbA
- Jon Lester (@JLester34) February 12, 2015According to the Estancia website, the seventh hole is a 174-yard par 3: "This hole leaves little room for errant shots. From the tees sitting high above a desert wash, you have some of the best views on the golf course with Pinnacle Peak looming far above, and towering saguaros surrounding the green. Pinpoint accuracy is required if you are to fulfill any birdie aspirations. Once again, things are not what they seem on this green."
That makes Lester's accomplishment even more impressive.
Estancia is located in north Scottsdale, near Pinnacle Peak. The golf course was designed by Tom Fazio, and Golf Digest ranked it No. 61 in its "America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses list for 2013-14."
Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel congratulated Lester on Twitter, joking that the hole-in-one didn't count if it was on the putting green. But it wasn't. Someone else pointed out that Lester now has more aces on the golf course than big league hits. He's 0-for-36 in his career at the plate.
"I have more hole-in-ones than any kind of hit," Lester replied.