SUVA golfer Olaf Allen Jr carded a hole in one on the 156 metres par three 7th hole at the Natadola Bay Championship Course during round one of the 2018 Sheration Golf Classic. Allen Jr aced the hole using a nine iron. The 32-year-old made five hole in one in his career previously and the latest at Natadola he regards as his best. The former Fiji amateur number one is making a comeback in the sport and is eyeing a spot in the Fiji team for the Pacific Games in Samoa next year. Allen Jr believes Fiji stands a good chance of winning gold medal at the regional games. “A hole in one is never to be forgotten,” he said. “Many golfers never hit a hole in one in their whole life. “This one at Natadola is my favourite. I have recorded hole in one at the Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort course and Fiji Golf Club course in Vatuwaqa. “Four have been in tournaments and two have been during practice sessions. “I would like to thank my sponsors Crest Chicken and Goodman Fielder also Raymond Singh of Islands Electric for supporting me.” The late Rossco Greenville, one of the founding members of the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Club, was the first to record a hole in one on the 7th hole. Allen Jr is ranked as the number two amateur golfer in the country behind Nadi’s Abid Hussain. He has a world amateur ranking of 3420 while Hussain is ranked 1311. “My form hasn’t been too good lately so I’m getting back to practising more golf and participating in regular tournaments,” Allen Jr said. “I’m looking forward to representing Fiji again. I’m trying to get my fitness back. Representing Fiji is a proud moment for anyone. “Abid has set the pace in the past two seasons but I haven’t played much against him. “The Pacific Games is next year and Fiji has a strong chance of winning the gold medal.” Allen Jr’s passion for golf started at the tender age of nine years when he used to caddy for his father, Olaf Allen Sr every Saturday at the Vatuwaqa course. According to Allen Sr after caddying for a few Saturdays, the youngster requested him for a golf set. “So I bought him a set and he excelled from then on in the sport which has seen him travel the world,” Allen Sr said. In his career Allen Jr has won a number of major titles including the Heilala Open (Tonga), Lautoka Open, Ba Open, Nadi Open, Suva Open, Pacific Harbour Open and Fiji Open. He represented Fiji at the Pacific Mini Games (2009), Pacific Games (2011, 2015), Nomura Cup (2011), three Asian Amateur Championships (Japan 2010, Singapore 2011, Thailand 2012). Allen Jr has also competed at the New Zealand Amateur (2010), Greg Norman Junior Masters (2012) and the Australia Master of the Amateurs (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012). Among his greatest achievement was representing Fiji at three World Amateur Team Championships playing for the Eisenhower Trophy (Cape Town 2006, Adelaide 2008, Turkey 2012).
