Underwriters Sue Over Greenbrier Classic’s Hole-in-One Jackpot in W.Va.

Insurance underwriters claim they shouldn’t be responsible for reimbursing a charity for payouts to golf fans for two holes-in-one made during the PGA Tour’s Greenbrier Classic in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, because the aces weren’t long enough.

The tournament’s insurance underwriters filed a lawsuit Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Beckley, West Virginia, against Old White Charities, The Greenbrier Classic’s nonprofit financial arm.

Under a tournament-sponsored program, fans seated in the grandstands on the 18th hole of the Old White TPC course in White Sulphur Springs receive payouts of $100 for the first hole-in-one during the tournament, $500 for a second ace and $1,000 for a third.

George McNeill and Justin Thomas each made holes-in-one from 137 yards with pitching wedges hours apart on the par-3 18th on July 2.

After both holes-in-one, tournament chairman and The Greenbrier resort owner Jim Justice went through the grandstands handing out cash. The PGA Tour announced that total payouts of $192,000 were made. The tournament also gave McNeill $25,000 and Thomas $50,000 for the charities of their choice.

The lawsuit said Old White Charities’ policy stipulated a minimum distance of 170 yards on the 18th hole and that the underwriters shouldn’t be responsible for the cash payouts last month.

The lawsuit also said Old White Charities never paid its premium of $106,470 by a July 1 deadline.

A message left for Old White Charities in White Sulphur Springs wasn’t immediately returned Thursday.

The lawsuit was filed by Talbot 2002 Underwriting Capital Ltd., White Mountains Re Sirius Capital Ltd. and Markel Capital Limited, all based in London.