SAMMAMISH, Wash. — You could hear the roar from a few fairways over, as fans went nuts for Pajaree Anannarukarn.
The 25-year-old Thailand native aced the par-3 13th hole on Saturday at Sahalee Country Club, holing out from 153 yards with an 8-iron during the third round.
It is Anannarukarn’s first hole-in-one on the LPGA Tour since she aced the 14th hole at Mission Hills Country Club at the 2020 Chevron Championship, and after what was a tough round of golf up to that point, the ace was a breath of fresh air for the two-time LPGA Tour winner.
“I honestly didn't see the ball went in,” said the 2023 T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards champion. “I thought, okay, it's a good shot, and just pick up the tee, and then I think it was third bounce or something it went in. I tried to hit a 150 shot. There is a bit of a slope back there, so that's probably where I was planning to do it. It was a lucky shot because to hit a hole-in-one, it's probably one of those days. It wasn't my best day, but then I had some really good memories.”
But her ace isn’t the only positive result that Anannarukarn has had on the 13th hole this week at Sahalee. “I made a really good (birdie) putt on the first day and the second day I birdie,” she said. “Hopefully, it will be a good hole for me tomorrow, as well.”
In honor of Anannarukarn’s ace, CME Group will be making a $20,000 donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as part of their CME Group Cares Challenge – Score 1 for St. Jude, raising the 2024 total to $180,000. The Challenge is a season-long charitable giving program that turns aces into donations with a minimum guaranteed donation of $500,000 to St. Jude's, which is leading the way in how the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and life-threatening diseases.
While Anannarukarn was thrilled with her hole out in Washington, the incredible moment means even more considering she gets to contribute to something as important as childhood cancer research and help others while competing as a professional athlete.
“I think we all want to get a hole-in-one,” said Anannarukarn. “On top of that, it's actually helping back with the community. So, it's a great honor that I was able to do so.”
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