GOLF : First Hole-in-One Comes Just at Right Time

Sinking a hole-in-one in the L.A. City men’s golf championship was a thrill, but K. S. Kochar’s real surprise was making the two-round cut at 145.

“I really thought the cut would be 147 or 148 and that I had made it easy,” Kochar said. “I had no idea it was going to be 145.”

Kochar needed the eagle on the par-3, 150-yard 13th hole at Balboa Golf Course to advance to this weekend’s final 36 holes of the City championship. Kochar’s 3-under-par 67 Sunday, combined with his opening-round 78 at the Encino Golf Course, put him in the championship flight of 50.

Along the way, Kochar just happened to make a little history by sinking the only hole-in-one shot at the Balboa course during a City men’s championship tournament. It was also a first for the 2-handicap golfer.

“It took a couple of holes for me to realize what had happened,” Kochar said. “I had made 12 greens in regulation going into 13 and hadn’t made a birdie so it was justice, I guess, that it went in.”

Kochar played a 7-iron into the 13th hole and watched his tee shot bounce once on the green before dropping in the hole. He birdied the next two holes to clinch a qualifying spot for the final two rounds at Rancho Park Golf Course.