Cleveland Cavaliers Dylan Windler and Rick Byrd made holes-in-one in back-to-back matches
Rick Byrd and Dylan Windler accomplished a lot as coach and player respectively during their years with the Belmont basketball team but what they did recently on the golf course may have even been more rare.
Byrd and Windler each made holes-in-one the last two times they played golf together.
Byrd, who retired after 33 years as the Bruins coach in 2019, aced the 260-yard, par 4 No. 13 at Sewanee Golf Course on May 4. Windler and Sewanee Lacrosse coach Nick Bernardo witnessed that shot.
Windler, a 2019 Mid-Major All-American who now plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, returned the favor Tuesday making a hole-in-one while playing with Byrd at Nashville Golf and Athletic. His ace came on the 144-yard, par 3 No. 14.
"Dylan was obviously very excited," Byrd said. "His comment was, 'I was wondering if I'd ever make one.' The kid is only 25 years-old but it was like a weight was lifted off of him because he was afraid he'd never make one."
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Byrd made his first hole-in-one at the same age when he was the basketball coach at Maryville.
Windler, playing for only the second time with a new set of clubs, made the hole-in-one using a 50 degree wedge.
"A hundred and forty-four yards is a long way to hit that club," Byrd said. "He hits it PGA Tour length. We did not see the ball go in the hole. It's a bit of an uphill shot and the pin was in the back. We walked up to the front of the green and didn't see his ball. We could see there was no ball over the green so he said, 'That ball might be in the hole,' and it was."
Windler won the round by shooting a 3-over par 75. Byrd shot 81.
Windler's senior year at Belmont was the last of Byrd's career. They led the Bruins to a 27-6 record and the second round of the NCAA Tournament where they lost to Maryland 79-77. Windler had 35 points and 11 rebounds in that final game.
Windler played in 50 games this season for Cleveland. He averaged 2.2 points and 1.8 rebounds.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Belmont basketball alum Dylan Windler, coach Rick Byrd on golf matchup
