Local teen's ace highlights first day of Dominion Energy Charity Classic Pro-Am

Getting a hole-in-one on the golf course is very rare and incredibly difficult for even the most seasoned golfer. But for 16-year-old Meg Lavinder – a sophomore at Mechanicsville High School – the excitement of achieving the feat hasn’t quite set in.

Lavinder sunk her shot on the 205-yard, par three hole Oct. 20 during the first day of the 2021 Tom Farrell Memorial Pro-Am at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic at The Country Club of Virginia's James River course in Henrico.

“This is my first hole-in-one. I hit it, it felt good, the face was square, it had a nice little draw on it. Then I heard it hit the green,” said Lavinder. “I kind of turned away from the ball afterwards – then people started shouting it went in. It still hasn’t set in for me.”

Each year, the pro-am, during which amateur golfers can play with professional golfers, is the most popular component of the Charity Classic. The 2021 Tom Farrell Memorial Pro-Am is being held Wednesday and  Thursday in advance of the actual tournament, which runs Friday through Sunday. The DECC is a part of the playoff stretch for the PGA TOUR Champions division, which is open to players 50 and older. Phil Mickelson won the delayed 2020 event, which was held earlier this year, and he is again in the field this week.

The hoots and hollers from Lavinder's foursome could be heard echoing across the course. By the time she concluded her match, a crowd had gathered. Folks were lining up to meet her and get their picture taken, including legendary golf pro John Daly, and David Shuford, general chairman of the Dominion Energy Charity Classic for 2021.

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Lavinder teed off Wednesday at 7:25 a.m. with brisk temperatures just under 50 degrees. She was playing in an all-women’s foursome with professional Scott Dunlap.

Dominion Energy Vice President Katharine Bond led the team, which also included Brittany Woo, Kelly McAnally and Lavinder. Lavinder’s father, Scott, served as his daughter’s caddie.

“I was nine years old when I started getting interested in golf and my dad got me out on the range,” said Lavender. “It’s beautiful out here. The greens are really, really hard and I’m not used to them – but my putter has been working for me today.”

Although she may decide to play college golf, Lavinder isn’t sure after that. But she does have advice for other young women who may want to pursue the sport:

“Don’t give up on yourself,” she said. “It’s hard to be in a more male dominated sport. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that you can’t.”

Bond, the foursome captain said: “I’m glad that when she gets older, I can say I knew her when… Today has been a pleasure. Tom Farrell [the former chairman, president and CEO of Dominion Energy, who died earlier this year] would be proud of Meg Lavinder.”

Since its debut in 2016, the Dominion Energy Charity Classic has generated more than $5.1 million in charitable impact to the Richmond  region. Non-profits serving military veterans, one of Farrell's favorite charitable causes, have received much of the donation.  Beneficiaries have included the Virginia Veteran's Services Foundation and the Richmond Fisher House.

Tickets for the DECC tournament are available online.