Hauppauge’s Rob Martin knocks in hole-in-one

It takes a lot to slow down 6-foot-6 Rob Martin.

But the Hauppauge sophomore did just that to himself after he recorded a hole-in-one at the par-3, 134-yard third hole at the Colonial Springs Golf Club Pines course with a pitching wedge on Wednesday afternoon.

Things got a little blurry for Martin after he hugged and high-fived his teammate Connor Madison following his first-ever hole-in-one.

“We were screaming and going crazy,” Martin said. “Then I hyperventilated and had to sit down.”

Martin recovered and shot a career-low, 3-over 39 as Hauppauge knocked off Deer Park, 7-2, in Suffolk League I golf.

“It was a high fade and exactly how I wanted to hit it,” said Martin, Hauppauge’s No. 3 golfer. “It landed five-to-six feet to the left of the hole — hit the ground once — rolled and dropped straight into the hole.”

Madison, Hauppauge’s No 4 golfer, was prophetic while the ball was in the air.

“He said, ‘It’s in the hole,’” said Martin after his round.

Hauppauge coach Steve Atkinson was two groups behind Martin on the course when he heard a commotion.

“I was wondering what had happened,” said Atkinson, the seventh-year coach. “I thought, ‘Maybe someone got a hole-in-one? Nah.’ But then we heard it was Rob. . . . I’ve never seen a hole-in-one, personally, and we’ve never had one of those in my time as coach.”

Interestingly, Martin, who has played golf since he was 8 years old, was an offensive tackle for the JV football team this fall for the Eagles. However, next season, all Suffolk boys golf teams will play in the fall. (Currently, only nine Suffolk boys teams play in the spring.) Martin is faced with a decision, but he didn’t have to think about it too long.

“I love golf,” said Martin, who has played varsity golf since seventh grade. “So I won’t be playing football.”

Martin and Hauppauge (10-4) have two more league matches before the Suffolk league championships next Wednesday at Rock Hill.

“This gives me so much confidence,” Martin said. “This shows that after all these years I do know how to play golf.”