Bob Mitrowski wasn’t the Mega Millions winner, but he accomplished something almost as rare as winning a billion dollars.
The 82-year-old Holyoke resident recorded two holes-in-one in the same round.
Mitrowski accomplished the feat at The Ledges Golf Club in South Hadley, Wednesday.
The odds of winning Mega Millions is about 1 in 300,000,000. The odds of a low-handicap golfer sinking two aces in the same round is 1 in 67 million, according to Golf Digest. Mitrowski plays to a 12 handicap.
Mitrowski was on cloud nine, enjoying his accomplishment with his wife, June, Wednesday night.
“I’m not down yet,” he said.
They were the first two aces of his career, which started about 35 years ago. Mitrowski plays about three times a week in various leagues at The Ledges. He was playing a normal round Wednesday with Butch Beaudin and Dave Daly, both of South Hadley, and Skip Pudlo, Belchertown.
All three also play in the leagues with Mitrowski.
“On my way home (Tuesday) I stopped and bought a handful of tickets. I told them if I hit they are instant millions,” Mitrowski said.
“The holes-in-one were a little easier,” he joked.
His first ace came on the 95-yard seventh hole. Mitrowski used a pitching wedge from the gold tees. He hit third in his group.
“I felt outstanding,” Mitrowski said. “I was ready to quit, but I had to play the entire round to make it official, I guess.”
His second ace came on the 125-yard 14th hole. Mitrowski used an 8-iron and hit third again.
“I fell down to the ground on my knees. I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “The guys that were with me were elated.”
Dave Sroka also witnessed the shot. Sroka works at The Ledges and was blowing leaves off the green before Mitrowski made his hole-in-one.
“He almost fell down, he couldn’t believe it,” Mitrowski said.
Mitrowski finished his round with a season-best 2-over-par 74.