PROUD GRANDPA-Westlake freshman D.J. Frees poses for a shot with his grandfather, Dan Manzer, just moments after recording a hole-in-one at the Kapalua Golf Resort in Maui.

As Westlake freshman D.J. Frees approached No. 17 and prepared to play the final two holes of the Bay course at Maui’s renowned Kapalua Golf Resort, he figured his day couldn’t possibly get any better.

After all, he was on spring break with his family and he and his grandfather had escaped for the afternoon of March 28 to play the sport he loves most on one of the country’s most breathtaking courses. The island weather was perfect, his game was on, and the setting was one of a kind.

And then his day did get better. It got way better.

Hitting a five-wood into the wind on an uphill 165-yard, par 3, Frees, a member of Westlake varsity golf team, found the pin for his first-ever hole-in-one. With his grandfather and three other playing partners looking on in disbelief, Frees retrieved his ball from the cup to confirm he had just accomplished one of golf’s rarest feats.

"It was almost surreal," Frees said, "that something like that would happen to me on that course and on that day. I mean, I’m only 14, and to make a hole-in-one. It was really special. And I was really happy to have my grandfather there with me to witness it."

Frees’ grandfather, Dan Manzer of Somos, had spent the day at D.J.’s side as an observer because a shoulder injury kept him from playing.

"He hit it good off the tee and then we saw it bounce a couple times and then roll out of sight," Manzer said. "One of the guys in the group said, ‘Hey D.J., I think the ball went in the hole.’ . . . So we drove up to the green and I told D.J. to look in the cup and sure enough the ball was in there."

As Frees tried to take it all in, his proud grandfather could hardly keep what had just happened to himself.

"I started yelling, ‘My grandson hit a hole-in-one!’" Manzer said. "And the foursome in front of us walked off the 18th green and came up to him and all shook his hand. It was an incredible experience."

"I even got them all to sign my scorecard," Frees added. "They thought it was awesome."

One of Frees’ golfing partners, who was a member at the resort, informed the course pro who came out of the pro shop to greet Frees and present him with a plaque commemorating his hole-in-one on 17.

"It was really neat, especially for a young kid like D.J. who just loves to play golf," Manzer said. "I know I’ve been playing golf for almost 40 years and I’ve never had (a hole-in-one). It really meant something to him."

Afterwards, Manzer and the rest of D.J.’s family went out for a celebratory dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Before leaving Maui, the duo enjoyed two more days of golfing at the Kapalua Resort, but nothing would come close to equaling the jubilation and excitement that came from that perfectly placed ball on hole 17.

"It’s definitely a moment I won’t every forget," Frees said. "Now I’ve just got to keep working and try to get another one."