On Sunday 5 July 2026, at the St Francis Classic played at St Francis Bay Golf Club, fifteen‑year‑old Valentino Daniels achieved something extraordinary: the second recorded albatross in EP Golf tournament play history. Let that sink in for a moment, that’s three under par in a single hole.
Valentino teed it up and hit a near perfect drive down the middle. Not expecting to reach the green, he selected his three‑wood and flushed it. The ball travelled 247m with precision and dropped in on the Par‑5 6th — a hole renowned for its tiny green that’s notoriously difficult to hold. The shot was equal parts skill, nerve and a touch of magic.
An albatross is one of golf’s rarest feats, and it’s remarkable at any time — let alone under tournament pressure and at age fifteen!
The first albatross was recorded by the legendary Dennis Smith in the late 80’s on the 17th hole during the playing of the Wedgewood Vase.
To put it into perspective, there is no single definitive probability, but estimates suggest how seldom they occur:
- Professional level: roughly 1 in 500,000 to 1 in 2,000,000 rounds (about 0.00005%–0.0002%).
- Amateur level: even rarer — often estimated between 1 in 1,000,000 and 1 in 6,000,000 rounds.
Valentino, we salute you. This is a shot that you will remember forever!