Sangerville man wins car

Memorable hole-in-one, gives it to his mother

Wayne Clukey desperately needed a bathroom break, so instead of being the last player in his foursome to tee off during a Jimmy Fund scramble at the Foxcroft Golf Club earlier this month, the Sangerville native hit second.

Courtesy of David Clukey

HOLE-IN-ONE — Wayne Clukey of Sangerville (right) is congratulated by tournament director Tim Richardson after Clukey made a hole-in-one during the Jimmy Fund tourney held Aug. 8 at Foxcroft Golf Club in Dover-Foxcroft.

 A few minutes later, he learned he had registered his first hole-in-one. The shot earned him a new Chevy Cruze from Hight Chevrolet in Skowhegan and a lucrative prize package of travel, golf and other perks, including gift cards, Red Sox tickets and free coffee for a year.

Wayne Clukey, who turns 28 on Sunday, used a 7-iron to accomplish the feat on the par-3, 168-yard seventh hole.

“He was hunched over (because he had to take a bathroom break) and said he had to play right then. He hit it right at the pin,” said his father, David Clukey of Dover-Foxcroft, who had teed off first.

“I didn’t have the car in my mind at all. I just stepped up and hit it,” said Wayne Clukey, who forgot about his planned bathroom break after finding his ball in the hole “because I was so pumped up.”

“I thought it was close but it was an elevated green so we didn’t see it go in,” said Wayne Clukey. “It was cool.”

“The expression on his face (after learning he made a hole-in-one) was priceless. I was overcome with emotion,” David Clukey said. “It was unbelievable. You always want what’s best for your kids, no matter what age they are.”

Spotters Don Moulton and Bill Robinson were waving their arms as the group approached the green.

Along with Moulton and Robinson, the other members of his foursome, Brian Inch, David Clukey and Mike Wasilewski, witnessed the shot, as well as Brian’s son Riley Inch.

Wayne Clukey played on the golf team at Piscataquis Community High School in Guilford. He also played basketball and baseball for the Pirates.

He’s a member at the Piscataquis Country Club in Guilford and said he tries to play every day. But he said he hadn’t played at Foxcroft Golf Club in at least 10 years.

He said that the hole-in-one meant more to him than the car or the prize package. Clukey’s team also won the scramble.

But it almost didn’t happen. Wayne Clukey initially wasn’t sure if he could play in the tournament, but then decided to do so with Brian Inch, his summer league softball coach, who wanted to play.

“Wayne called me at 2 in the morning on the day of the tournament and asked me if I could play,” said David Clukey. “I told him if he could get Mike Wasilewski to play, I’d play.

“He let me know at 8 the next morning that Mike was going to play. But I said I wasn’t going to. He asked me if I could withdraw some money from his account so he could play,” said David Clukey. “I did and took the money up to the Piscataquis Country Club where they were getting in some practice swings. Then I decided to play. It was 11 and we had a noon tee time.

“Things happen for a reason,” said David Clukey.

After picking up his new car on Monday, Wayne Clukey promptly gave it to his mother, Debbie Somers.

“My grandparents (Ray and Marie Somers) are going to Florida this winter but they don’t have a reliable enough car to make the trip. I gave the car to my mom so she could give hers to my grandparents,” explained Wayne Clukey.

“I’m a very lucky mom,” said Debbie Somers.

Debbie Somers said she was “really surprised” when she found out her son was giving her the car but said it is the type of thing he would do.

“Wayne is a very giving person,” said Debbie. “This couldn’t have happened to a better kid. Wayne is a really good kid.”

“He has heart of gold,” said his father.

“When something crazy like that happens, it puts things into perspective,” said Wayne Clukey. “My mom had been looking to buy a car next year but couldn’t afford it. Everything clicked in.”

Courtesy of David Clukey

 PLAYING PARTNERS — Wayne Clukey of Sangerville (second from left) poses with playing partners (from left) Mike wasilewski, Brian Inch, Riley Inch (front) and David Clukey after Wayne Clukey shot a hole-in-one during the Aug. 8 Jimmy Fund golf tournament at Foxcroft Golf Club in Dover-Foxcroft.