GOLF ACE NO. 7 FOR SCHWENT

Golf aces might not quite come naturally for Ed Schwent -- it only seems that way.

The 67-year-old Cape Girardeau resident recorded his seventh hole-in-one Monday as he used a 9-iron on the 156-yard No. 18 hole at Kimbeland Country Club in Jackson, Mo. All seven aces have come since 1987.

Asked to explain his success, a laughing Schwent said, "It's just luck. I think it's about one percent skill and 99 percent luck. One percent is hitting it at the green and the rest is luck."

Schwent, who retired from Proctor & Gamble seven years ago, said he has been golfing for about 30 years. He normally plays three or four days a week with a regular group at Kimbeland.

"I just really enjoy the game," he said. "It's a lot of fun."

Schwent said he gets most of his golfing skills from his son, also named Ed, who is the golf coach at St. Louis University and also a club professional in St. Peters, Mo.

"I learned most of my golf from my son," he said. "I attribute it all to him."

Five of Schwent's aces have come at Kimbeland, with the other two recorded in Florida while he was vacationing. Monday's hole-in-one was the first for him in about two years, but he hopes it's not his last.

"I hope to get a few more," he said.