Fore! Golfer at Dayton qualifier hits windshield, motorist drives on fairway, golfer shoots ace on next hole

Jun. 2—A golfer qualifying Monday, June 1 at Miami Valley Golf Club in Dayton for a spot in the 46th U.S. Senior Open, made a triple bogey 7 on one hole, followed by a hole-in-one on the next hole.

Mark Knecht, an amateur from Paducah, Ky., pulled his tee shot on No. 12, a hole that borders Philadelphia Drive.

The group searched for Knecht's first tee shot for the allotted three minutes. He then played his provisional, knocking it onto the green.

As the three golfers, their caddies and a rules official walked down the No. 12 fairway, they were surprised to see a red pickup truck driving toward them. The driver of the truck was upset that an errant golf ball cracked his windshield on the driver's side while he was driving near the course.

He entered the golf course property through a maintenance gate and drove toward the golfers. The driver was told to drive off the course and go to the pro shop where a report was filed with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Steve Jurick, president and CEO of the Miami Valley Golf Association that organized the qualifier, said an insurance company will handle the damages to the windshield.

Rik Cramer, head pro at Miami Valley Golf Club, was competing in the qualifier and wasn't there to see the incident. But he said the driver, due to his actions, obviously was "a little startled and emotional."

Cramer called the scenario "wild" and said Knecht probably should play the lottery.