Recording a hole-in-one is not something you see every day, and that makes the event even more special. It is estimated that PGA star Tiger Woods has notched 18 aces in his 14-year pro career. In more than thousands of holes of golf, even the greatest has trouble reaching a feat such as a hole-in-one.

While he may not be Woods, Grand Valley State University junior golfer Travis Shooks achieved that same hole-in-one exhilaration at the Great Lakes Region Invitational No. 1, played at the Hawkshead Country Club in South Haven, Mich., on Sept. 20.

“From leaving it on the edge to flying one in and out, I’d pretty much done everything but make one,” said Shooks, who played a year at Grand Rapids Community College prior to coming to GVSU. “It was a shock. You never really expect for the ball to actually go in, but I hit a good shot and it took nice bounce and rolled in.”

As easy as it sounds coming from the golfer himself, aces have been a rarity in the GVSU program. Head golf coach Don Underwood has been coaching at GVSU for 17 years, and Shooks’ shot is believed to be the first hole-in-one in school history.

“Being right there, it was exciting to watch the ball roll into the hole,” Underwood said. “It was a good shot, and we’re happy for Travis.”

The lead-up to Shooks’ shot on the 177-yard, par-three sixth hole was one that can help any golfer’s game – success.

“I had just made four birdies in a row, so I was pretty confident going into the hole,” said Shooks, who finished the first round with a school-record tying score of 66. “The pin was in a good spot, and I just thought about getting myself within 10 feet to make another birdie.”

Shooks’ shot, which came with his coach at his side, was as close to the status-quo as golf shots come. The discussion before was short: a debate between using Shooks’ favorite club, his seven iron or an eight iron. The decision was easy; go with what was most comfortable.

The conditions were perfect, the swing was perfect and, finally, the result was perfect as the ball bounced close to the hole and rolled in. Emotions ran high following Shooks’ shot, a danger that Underwood said can ruin a round.

“I was very impressed with the way he kept it under control,” he said. “It’s something that can take a player out of their comfort zone, but he parred the next four holes and then made another birdie. He handled it great.”

Along with congratulations from his coach and others around the tee box, teammate Chase Olsen was also able to witness the historic shot firsthand.

“I hit my drive onto his tee box, so I actually saw it from 10 feet away,” said Olsen, who finished the tournament tied for sixth. “I was excited for him, and the shot itself was exciting, too.”

Aside from the fact that Shooks’ hole-in-one helped him to a record score and the team to a third-place finish at the tournament, the idea of luck being involved was not something he shied away from. Shooks said he felt it was a case of being in the right place at the right time.

“Getting an ace is just hitting a good shot, but I do think luck is involved too,” Shooks said. “Just trying to make a hole-in-one isn’t going to do it, you need to get the right roll. I’d say it’s about 75 percent hitting a good shot and 25 percent luck.”

Luck or not, Shooks is still the first player in school history to record an ace. The typical weekend golfer would cherish a hole-in-one for the rest of his or her life, and that feeling is no different for a college athlete like Shooks.

“I’ll always remember it — I can tell everyone I’ve made one now too,” he said. “It seems like everyone else I play with has gotten one, so now we’re all even. Plus, it feels good to get it in a tournament where it actually counts.”

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