SAN FRANCISCO October 12, 2009: South African Brian Belchers, director at Sage Publishing and UTi Worldwide Inc., and former Cap Gemini VP, hit the first ever hole-in-one at Presidio Golf Course hole 7 during the SAABC 3rd annual “SAA Golf Classic Fundraiser” held October 12 in San Francisco. With that Belchers won the tournament hole-in-one prize—a brand new “green” 2010 Honda Insight sponsored by Ocean Honda in Santa Cruz.

“We always recommend hole 7 for the sponsorship as it is a particularly difficult hole and no-one has ever scored a hole-in-one there before,” said Becky Jensen, tournament sales manager at PGC.

Belchers and his team were stunned when his ball disappeared in front of their eyes. “There was definitely a good few seconds of silent disbelief after I had tee’d off and my ball just vanished,“ said a thrilled Belchers. “The team ahead of us saw it go in and showed us the thumbs up so I dashed down with the hole umpire to double confirm we were not all just seeing things.”

The team erupted in whoops of jubilation when it was officially confirmed that Brian had in fact shot a hole in one.

“When we first walked up to the hole 7 tee-box, the umpire asked us if we were ready to get the hole in one’” commented Stuart Clark, partner and co-chair of Litigation Practice Group at Carr & Ferrel in Palo Alto who was Brian’s tournament partner. “We all laughed and I commented that if there was anyone who could get it, it would be Brian. You can imagine our astonishment when, seconds later, he did just that!” 

The Honda Insight is a hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by Honda and the first production vehicle to feature Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system. “The Honda Insight is a valuable addition for Honda’s environmentally friendly approach and we are thrilled we could support an event with such a tremendous philanthropic focus and bring the excitement Brian’s hole in one caused so early in the day,” said Ocean Honda MD Steve John.

Belchers’ win occurred mid-morning which raised the buzz across the filed for the rest of the day. Proceeds from the fundraiser benefitted Ashoka’s Youth Venture, a social innovation program providing support to youth driven community based activities in South Africa.

“We like the triple impact of our support not only benefitting the community the projects are carried out on but also teaching valuable entrepreneur and project management skills to youth and allowing them to learn what being a change maker is all about-something that reports show, when learnt at a young age, most often stays with that individual for a lifetime” commented Jacqui Buchanan, chair of SAABC and the golf tournament. “We wish Brian a hearty congratulations and, quite frankly, thank him for lifting the excitement on the day to a whole new level. My phone did not stop ringing with people asking if I had heard the news yet. Thank you to Ocean Honda for generously making it all possible!”

Congratulations Brian!!

BELOW PHOTO: Brian Belcher's and South African golf pro David Frost with hole-in-one prize, a 2010 Honda Insight