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Sepp Straka drains hole-in-one on par-3 9th hole during U.S. Open at Pinehurst

Nikki Chavanelleby:Nikki Chavanelle•06/14/24•

NikkiChavanelle

Sepp Straka
Sepp Straka looks on a after making a putt on the second hole during the second round of the Memorial Tournament. - Adam Cairns/USA TODAY Sports

Former Georgia Bulldogs star Sepp Straka drained a hole-in-one on the par-3 9th hole on Friday at the U.S. Open. The 31-year-old golfer from Austria swung and sent his ball to the green before it rolled to the hole and sunk in.

Straka is playing in his fourth U.S. Open tournament. In his previous three appearances, he’s made the cut just once, in 2019. He finished that U.S. Open tied for 28th.

Friday’s hole-in-one for Straka during the second round went 194 yards.

Straka began the second round on Friday near the top of the pack after shooting a 70 on Thursday. American golfer Patrick Cantlay leads the field at -5 with Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg tied at -4.

U.S. Open adorns locker for Grayson Murray

The U.S. Open honored golfer Grayson Murray who died last month with a touching gesture. Event organizers set up a tribute to Murray by keeping his locker in the clubhouse along with a plaque and quote.

Murray died at his home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida at the age of 30 on May 25. He withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas the day before, citing an illness. The following day, Murray’s parents confirmed that their son died by suicide.

“We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone,” Murray’s parents said in a statement. “It’s surreal that we not only have to admit it to ourselves, but that we also have to acknowledge it to the world. It’s a nightmare.

“We have so many questions that have no answers. But one. Was Grayson loved? The answer is yes. By us, his brother Cameron, his sister Erica, all of his extended family, by his friends, by his fellow players and – it seems – by many of you who are reading this. He was loved and he will be missed.

“We would like to thank the PGA Tour and the entire world of golf for the outpouring of support. Life wasn’t always easy for Grayson, and although he took his own life, we know he rests peacefully now. Please respect our privacy as we work through this incredible tragedy, and please honor Grayson by being kind to one another. If that becomes his legacy, we could ask for nothing else.”

Murray turned pro in 2015 after competing at Wake Forest, East Carolina and Arizona State. In his career, Murray won seven professional tournaments, including two on the PGA Tour. His most recent victory came in January, placing first in the Sony Open in Hawaii.

On3’s Brian Jones contributed to this report.