A SENIOR golfer at Prudhoe has more reason than most to want to tick a hole-in-one off his sporting bucket list.

For Richard Hannam, a past captain at the club, has the chance to win $1m if he successfully cards an ace at Ryder Cup venue, the Belfry, next month.

Hannam is one of 10 qualifiers from across the country for the national final of The Million Dollar Hole in One (TMDHIO) challenge, in conjunction with American Golf.

To qualify, whoever bagged a hole-in-one or was closest to the pin using a Foresight GC2 simulator of the seventh hole at the Belfry at an American Golf store would get the chance to swing for a million at the final on Thursday, September 7.

And Hannam was just six inches away from recording the ace when he visited the company’s MetroCentre store, his shot actually hitting the pin before rolling away.

Yet the distance of six inches saw him fourth closest from the pin from a staggering total of 6,800 entrants.

He said: “You go and play a competition and, if you’re lucky, you might win ahead of 150 or 200 players, which is a great achievement. But to do so well when there’s nearly 7,000 participants is something else!

“The way it worked was that you had three shots, and I came close on my third. I know the course so after hitting two normal shots, I hit what I call a Royal St George’s special, which is my home course.

“I was absolutely on the pin but I think I hit it a little hard and it rolled to within six inches.

“It certainly wasn’t a lucky shot where it bounced off a tree or anything like that. Saying that, I wouldn’t care what it bounced off if I was to win $1m at the Belfry!”

Recording a hole-in-one has been the main objective for Hannam this year as he set himself three targets for what is his 50th year playing golf.

Number one goal was ticked off when he carded a round of 69 at Allendale in May, shooting his age in gross rather than nett. His other aim is to play a round at St Andrew’s.

Since setting the targets, he has been within inches of achieving his goal on three occasions, the shot at the MetroCentre the latest attempt.

He is now hoping he can turn on the magic at the world famous golf resort to claim the big prize, which will be paid as an annuity over 20 years.

Hannam’s trip to the Belfry will mean he will miss two big events in Prudhoe’s golfing calendar.

He will be unable to join the seniors in their annual trip away, this time to Ravensworth, and the popular Rotary Club of Tynedale’s charity golf day in aid of the Great North Air Ambulance Service the following day.

The firm behind MDHIO, Million Dollar Holdings, recently made a big signing when it snapped up football legend Alan Shearer as a brand ambassador.

david.coulter@hexham-courant.co.uk