Teen scoops hole-in-one jackpot on gap year break

Luca Walton, third left, won NZ$10,000 (£4,400) by hitting a hole-in-one at Lake Taupo in New Zealand

A British teenager who struck lucky when he beat a hole-in-one golf challenge while on a gap year trip in New Zealand said the "special" feat which won him thousands of dollars will help him treat himself and his friends on his travels.

Luca Walton, from Woking, Surrey, scooped NZ$10,000 (£4,408; US$6,000) by hitting a golf ball into a hole on a floating pontoon on Lake Taupo on New Zealand's North Island.

The 18-year-old, who is on a gap year with friends before heading to university, said he was shocked after completing the challenge which has only been done 14 times since 1993, according to Hole in One Lake Taupo.

"When I won, it shocked me for the whole day, it was special," he said.

"When the money arrived three days later that's when it hit me - now I owe it to my friends that we treat ourselves here and there.

"They let me keep the club and ball, so I've been lugging that around for the past two weeks."

Walton, who plays occasionally with friends at Chobham Golf Club when at home, said he only took part in the challenge to pass the time on a rainy day in New Zealand.

It involves hitting a ball from the lake shore 104m (341 ft) on to a pontoon in the lake.

Walton said staff were more excited than he was after he made the shot, as he "had no idea what was going on".

Hole in One Lake Taupo later presented him with a giant novelty cheque, and Walton's first call after was to his father, who he woke up at 01:30 GMT to tell him the good news.

Walton now says he and his friends will be heading to Australia, Thailand and Vietnam, and he will then be looking to go to university when he returns.

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.