Oklahoma State University Athletics
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Han-Hsuan Yu Aces Magical Hole At Pebble Beach
September 08, 2022 | Cowgirl Golf
Oklahoma State women's golf's Han-Hsuan Yu, a fifth-year competitor from Taoyuan, Taiwan, hit a shot she will remember for the rest of her life on Sunday in the final round of the Carmel Cup at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Widely considered to be one of the most famous par-3s in the world, Yu carded a hole-in-one on the seventh hole, a self-described "petite" hole nestled next to the Pacific Ocean that sits downhill at just 106 yards.
Home to some of the most unpredictable wind conditions around the globe, everything from lob wedges to 3-irons have been hit into the hollowed green. Even the world's best golfers know the struggles at No. 7. Famously during the 1992 U.S. Open's final round of play, only two of the final 20 professional golfers even hit the green.
Below is a story of Yu's magical shot, in her own words.
I thought it was a hard hole coming into the tournament.
I had walked the course watching my brother play a couple years ago and had of course watched many times on TV.
When they played the U.S. Open there the grass was so long. I have watched a lot of people hit it in the rough and make bogie because the grass is so long. That was the thing I remembered the most coming into the tournament.
Coming off the sixth green, I was just thinking about trying to hit it on the green on that hole. All I wanted was middle of the green. Before the first round we had a talk and Greg said anywhere on the green and you'll have a chance for a pretty putt.
Walking to the tee box, I knew what to expect. I like that hole a lot. It's my favorite one. I love the ocean and the view is so pretty. So, I was thinking wow this is a pretty hole.
We had caddies with us for the weekend, but we couldn't ask questions or receive help. Still a nice touch, though.
Stepping to the tee, the wind was helping from behind. The distance was playing 111 yards. I was hitting first, with the pin in the right portion of the middle of the green. I already knew the club – we had used it all week.
I grabbed the 52-degree wedge. I always it hit it, no matter where the pin was. I really was just hoping to hit the middle of the green. I was looking just right of the pin because the wind was downhill right to left. Plus, I always hit a little draw. So, I wanted to hit it just to the right of the flag.
Grip. Stance. Swing.
Contact.
Instantly I thought I hit it too far right. And short. All I was thinking was, 'Go, go, go.'
From there it happened very fast. It landed and it bounced in. That's what I thought. Apparently, it went over and bounced back in but from my angle it seemed like it bounced straight in.
I didn't believe it. I was like, 'No way.' It took me awhile to realize, oh that was in.
The two girls playing with me immediately celebrated with me. It was so nice; I really liked them and our round.
I think my caddie was more excited than me. I'm pretty sure that was the first hole-in-one for him. He said, 'Thank you so much for letting me experience this.' I laughed and said, 'You're welcome,' as we prepared to watch the other two hit their shots.
Ironically, one of my competitors hit hers within 6-feet of the hole. Any other day that would have been the incredible shot of the group. She laughed and said, 'That's not even a good shot anymore.' I quickly reminded her it for sure still was.
Walking to the green, we all couldn't believe it. We were just talking about how weird the huge bounce was. I still didn't know how it went in. That's when Miriam from Arkansas told me that was the third time she had watched someone hit a hole-in-one.
Jokingly, now I knew who I wanted to play the rest of rounds in my life with.
Finally on the green, there it was. I walked over to the hole and picked up the ball out of the cup. I couldn't believe it had been that easy.
It was really cool.
You can't really expect that to happen. Ever. Even if you play it 100 times you probably can't hit a hole-in-one on that hole. So, I was like I'll take it on this hole. It's the best hole to hit a hole-in-one on. It's kind of like mission complete.
My third hole-in-one, ever.
This should be my No. 1 shot now until I really hit some incredible shots in the future. On that hole?
That is memorable.
--
Han-Hsuan Yu finished the round carding a 72, to close the tournament in a tie for sixth at 1-under par in the opening tournament of the season as the Cowgirls finished in third place.
With the result, Yu now has five top-10 finishes in her last eight tournaments dating back to last season. The third-place finish for the Cowgirls gives them 17 consecutive top-3 finishes in regular season tournaments dating back to October of 2020.
The Cowgirls will be back in action Sept. 24 in Norman for the Schooner Fall Classic at Belmar Golf Club. Oklahoma State ran away with the tournament title last season, winning by 20 strokes, to capture the program's third victory at the event.
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Widely considered to be one of the most famous par-3s in the world, Yu carded a hole-in-one on the seventh hole, a self-described "petite" hole nestled next to the Pacific Ocean that sits downhill at just 106 yards.
Home to some of the most unpredictable wind conditions around the globe, everything from lob wedges to 3-irons have been hit into the hollowed green. Even the world's best golfers know the struggles at No. 7. Famously during the 1992 U.S. Open's final round of play, only two of the final 20 professional golfers even hit the green.
Below is a story of Yu's magical shot, in her own words.
I thought it was a hard hole coming into the tournament.
I had walked the course watching my brother play a couple years ago and had of course watched many times on TV.
When they played the U.S. Open there the grass was so long. I have watched a lot of people hit it in the rough and make bogie because the grass is so long. That was the thing I remembered the most coming into the tournament.
Coming off the sixth green, I was just thinking about trying to hit it on the green on that hole. All I wanted was middle of the green. Before the first round we had a talk and Greg said anywhere on the green and you'll have a chance for a pretty putt.
Walking to the tee box, I knew what to expect. I like that hole a lot. It's my favorite one. I love the ocean and the view is so pretty. So, I was thinking wow this is a pretty hole.
We had caddies with us for the weekend, but we couldn't ask questions or receive help. Still a nice touch, though.
Stepping to the tee, the wind was helping from behind. The distance was playing 111 yards. I was hitting first, with the pin in the right portion of the middle of the green. I already knew the club – we had used it all week.
I grabbed the 52-degree wedge. I always it hit it, no matter where the pin was. I really was just hoping to hit the middle of the green. I was looking just right of the pin because the wind was downhill right to left. Plus, I always hit a little draw. So, I wanted to hit it just to the right of the flag.
Grip. Stance. Swing.
Contact.
Instantly I thought I hit it too far right. And short. All I was thinking was, 'Go, go, go.'
From there it happened very fast. It landed and it bounced in. That's what I thought. Apparently, it went over and bounced back in but from my angle it seemed like it bounced straight in.
I didn't believe it. I was like, 'No way.' It took me awhile to realize, oh that was in.
The two girls playing with me immediately celebrated with me. It was so nice; I really liked them and our round.
I think my caddie was more excited than me. I'm pretty sure that was the first hole-in-one for him. He said, 'Thank you so much for letting me experience this.' I laughed and said, 'You're welcome,' as we prepared to watch the other two hit their shots.
Ironically, one of my competitors hit hers within 6-feet of the hole. Any other day that would have been the incredible shot of the group. She laughed and said, 'That's not even a good shot anymore.' I quickly reminded her it for sure still was.
Walking to the green, we all couldn't believe it. We were just talking about how weird the huge bounce was. I still didn't know how it went in. That's when Miriam from Arkansas told me that was the third time she had watched someone hit a hole-in-one.
Jokingly, now I knew who I wanted to play the rest of rounds in my life with.
Finally on the green, there it was. I walked over to the hole and picked up the ball out of the cup. I couldn't believe it had been that easy.
It was really cool.
You can't really expect that to happen. Ever. Even if you play it 100 times you probably can't hit a hole-in-one on that hole. So, I was like I'll take it on this hole. It's the best hole to hit a hole-in-one on. It's kind of like mission complete.
My third hole-in-one, ever.
This should be my No. 1 shot now until I really hit some incredible shots in the future. On that hole?
That is memorable.
--
Han-Hsuan Yu finished the round carding a 72, to close the tournament in a tie for sixth at 1-under par in the opening tournament of the season as the Cowgirls finished in third place.
With the result, Yu now has five top-10 finishes in her last eight tournaments dating back to last season. The third-place finish for the Cowgirls gives them 17 consecutive top-3 finishes in regular season tournaments dating back to October of 2020.
The Cowgirls will be back in action Sept. 24 in Norman for the Schooner Fall Classic at Belmar Golf Club. Oklahoma State ran away with the tournament title last season, winning by 20 strokes, to capture the program's third victory at the event.
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Players Mentioned
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