A 1965 graduate of McCook High School, Roger Thomsen, has received national attention because of the rare feat of making two holes in one in a single nine-hole round of golf.

Thomsen's two aces -- scored Sept. 14, 2003, at the North Forty Golf Complex in Lincoln -- were featured in the "Faces in the Crowd" segment of the Dec. 15 issue of Sports Illustrated, one of the nation's most popular sports publications.

In the writeup, Sports Illustrated details Thomsen's accomplishment:

"Thomsen, 56, a state revenue agent who plays golf with his left arm because his right arm was disabled after a childhood bout of encephalitis, shot two holes in one in the same round while playing in a tournament at the North Forty Golf Complex in Lincoln."

Thomsen is the son of Adeline Thomsen of McCook and the late Wayne Thomsen, chief dispatcher for the railroad, who passed away in 1991.

On the day he made the two holes in one, Thomsen was playing in a scramble tournament with his niece Amanda Thomsen; her boyfriend, Justin White; and a friend of Justin's. Helped by Roger's two aces, the scramble foursome went on to win the tournament with a 11-under par score.

The holes in one were the first in Thomsen's golfing career, which started 35 years ago after he moved to Lincoln. He scored his first ace on the 59-yard third hole and the second on the 72-yard ninth hole. Roger used a pitching wedge for both shots.

Since taking up golf in the late 1960s, Roger has played regularly. "I usually get in one round during the week, and a round or two on the weekend," he said. That represents lots of shots for the left-handed golfer, who received the thrill of a lifetime -- and national notice -- when he made a pair of aces in one round of golf.

Below it the Sports Illustrated Dec. 15th issue article on Roger.