<\/p>\n
Rev. Bernard R. McIlhenny, S.J., dean of admissions emeritus, has played the Falls course at the Country Club of Scranton enough times to understand its nuances and quirks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a little bit of a roll, right to left, around the green,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd then the green itself has a couple of different rolls.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Father McIlhenny hit from the tee during a round last month, he grabbed a 7-iron and swung for the green. Then, he went looking for the ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other three guys, they find their balls,\u201d Father McIlhenny said. \u201cBut I can\u2019t see mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Father McIlhenny assumed the worst \u2014 that his ball had strayed off into the rough \u2014 but was instead greeted with the best news: his ball was in the cup.<\/p>\n
Father McIlhenny, 99, had made a hole in one.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always a wonderful thing and a sheer point of luck,\u201d he said. \u201cThat started a lot of laughing, a lot of celebration and so on. That\u2019s been going on now for a couple days \u2026 it\u2019s been a lot fun connecting with it and I\u2019ve really enjoyed it honestly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Father McIlhenny was born in Philadelphia and attended St. Joseph\u2019s Preparatory School, where, he said, he wasn\u2019t much of an athletic kid.<\/p>\n
It was at West Baden College in Indiana \u2014 about 60 miles from Louisville, Kentucky \u2014 where, from 1947-50, he started playing golf with Eddie Maloney and Jack Alexander.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were from the New York province and they were very good golfers, especially Father Maloney, who was the one that taught me how to play golf,\u201d Father McIlhenny said.<\/p>\n
Father McIlhenny has played golf ever since. This was his second career hole in one; the other happened in 1955 in Baltimore, Maryland.<\/p>\n
Father McIlhenny came to Northeastern Pennsylvania in 1958 as headmaster of Scranton Preparatory School, where he served until 1966, when he was named the University\u2019s director of admissions. He served in that role through 1997 and resides at the University\u2019s Campion Hall.<\/p>\n
EDITOR’S NOTE: <\/strong>This article will be updated later in the week with a video.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n