Reavie's 21st ace of his life is the first on No. 9 at East Lake
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 23: Chez Reavie of the United States reacts on the 15th green during the second round of the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on August 23, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Chez Reavie aces No. 9 at TOUR Championship
ATLANTA – Chez Reavie wasn’t aiming at the hole with his tee shot on East Lake’s ninth hole. It doesn’t matter. He still collected the first ace on East Lake’s long ninth hole.
Reavie was just trying to hit his hybrid in the middle of the green. It’s the sensible play on East Lake’s longest par-3, especially with the pin tucked behind a bunker on the left side of the green. The hole played 230 yards Friday, and less than half the field hit the green in regulation.
“I kind of just overdrew it a little bit. Got a fortunate bounce, kicked a little right, and got lucky and it went in the hole,” Reavie said.
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This is the 19th TOUR Championship at East Lake. Reavie’s was the first ace on the ninth hole, which used to serve as the finishing hole until the nines were flipped three years ago.
Reavie has a knack for hitting his tee shots into the hole. He said this was the 21st ace of his life, and fifth of his PGA TOUR career. His secret? “Just aim it at the hole and get lucky a few times, I guess.”
He made the turn in 30 and shot 64 on Friday, matching the low score of the tournament. Reavie was one of eight players to complete their round before play was delayed by weather. There was only one other under-par score posted Friday before the delay (67, Jason Kokrak). Reavie, winner of this year’s Travelers Championship, was in eighth place and seven shots behind Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka. The co-leaders had just made the turn when play was called.
Sean Martin manages PGATOUR.COM’s staff of writers as the Lead, Editorial. He covered all levels of competitive golf at Golfweek Magazine for seven years, including tournaments on four continents, before coming to the PGA TOUR in 2013. Follow Sean Martin on Twitter.