Not everything stays in Vegas – like the 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque SUV SportsCenter anchor Jay Harris won Tuesday with his first-ever hole-in-one at the inaugural Coach Michael Woodson Las Vegas Invitational.
“My reaction was shock — my team yelled and jumped on me — I was speechless,” Harris said.
Hitting a 6-iron on the par three, 190-yard 17th hole at Southern Highlands Golf Club, Harris’s shot hit the hill to the left of the green, rolled on and rolled in.
“I actually put a good swing on the ball,” said the 18-handicap golfer. “It was the right distance.”
It was also the tournament’s lone ace.
The three-day event was begun by Woodson, the former NBA player and New York Knicks head coach and current Los Angeles Clippers assistant. Harris helped tee-off the fundraiser by co-hosting Monday night’s Celebrity Welcome Party which featured a live performance by recent ESPYS entertainer Brian McKnight.
“I met the organizers, Nisha and [pro golfer] Seema Sadekar, and Coach, too, at a charity golf tourney years ago,” Harris said. “There were too many current and former athletes to name who played yesterday — lots of Coach Woodson’s friends from his life and career.”
“@jeremyrfb: @JayHarrisESPN @CWLVI @ESPNTop
Jay Harris just won a car! 4 iron 198 #imnotkidding! pic.twitter.com/asV77c1DkN” 6 iron 🙂
— Jay Harris (@JayHarrisESPN) July 22, 2014
Count those folks as new friends of Harris as well.
“I got a standing ovation when I walked into the clubhouse,” he said. “Then Coach Woodson presented me with a $550,000 bar tab” to celebrate the time-honored tradition of buying the clubhouse drinks after hitting an ace.
“Thankfully, it was a joke!” said Harris. “[Former NBAer] Reggie Theus told me at the party that his ball on 17 landed about 14 inches from the cup. I told him mine went in the cup. Then he said something to me that I can’t repeat!”
Of being one of the rare people to escape Vegas as a winner, Harris said, “It’s smaller than my Toyota Highlander, which my 15-year-old son has already asked for. It’s so nice of him to let me keep the new one.”
My first ace. Still in shock. @CoachWoodsonInv #par3holeinone #iwonarangerover #vegas #6iron190yards pic.twitter.com/6AuNnYCmrq
— Jay Harris (@JayHarrisESPN) July 23, 2014
