Hole-in-one event in full swing (updated with results)

The defending champion and the 2002 winner have qualified for the semifinals in the 11th annual Kiwanis Club $1 million hole-in-one competition, held in conjunction with the North Bay Heritage Festival.

Defending champ Terry Shea and Dale Sheremeta, who won in 2002, finished in the top 10 after the first day of qualifying at Veteran's Field, Lee Park. In fact, Shea did it in fine style with a hole-in-one on the 105-yard hole.

The popular Northern Ontario event is jointly sponsored by several businesses including major sponsor, Dundee Wealth Management Blue Chip Growth.

The event began this morning and continues daily climaxing with the championship round Monday afternoon at Veteran's Field.

Each day, 10 golfers qualify for the Monday afternoon semifinals and final. A golfer may qualify more than once. The 50 semifinalists will be pared down to five for the championship round.

Each semifinalist will have three shots at the hole, 150 yards away.

Should a golfer score an ace with his or her first shot, they will win $25,000 towards the purchase of a vehicle at North Bay Hopper Pontiac Buick GMC.

A hole-in-one on the second shot is worth $10,000 at Saturn Isuzu of North Bay and an ace on the third shot is worth $5,000.

Of course the big prize of $1 million could be won in the championship final.

The five finalist each have one shot at the 150-yard hole. A hole-in-one is worth a $1 million, payable at $50,000 per year for 20 years.

The winner also gains entry in the Canadian $1 million hole-in-one championship in British Columbia in September.

Thursday's qualifiers:
HIO: hole-in-one
Mike Reise, Tim Morris and Terry Shea, HIO;
Bill Stevanovich, 6.5 inches from the hole; Danny Jean, 11.75 inches; Jerry Soltys, 1'.075"; John Andrews, 1'1"; Peter Chirico, 1'3.5"; Dale Sheremeta, 1'5.75"; Jamie Blanchard, 1'9.75".