Dale Whitnell made headlines at the South African Open by scoring two holes-in-one during the same round. His exceptional 9-under 63 second round included one eagle, seven birdies, as well as two bogeys and a double bogey. Whitnell, who was initially worried about making the cut, expressed his elation over this rare achievement in tournament play.
Dale Whitnell, a 36-year-old golfer from England, achieved a remarkable feat by scoring two holes-in-one during the same round at the South African Open. This event took place on Friday at the Durban Country Club, where he completed his second round with an impressive score of 9-under 63. He started the day concerned about making the cut for the European tour event, but his performance exceeded all expectations, highlighted by an eagle, seven birdies, two bogeys, and one double bogey.
Whitnell’s first hole-in-one came at the par-3 second hole, where he struck a perfect 7-iron shot. He only realized he had made an ace when the crowd began cheering at the bottom of the hole. Following this, he eagled the par-5 third hole before waiting for nine holes to score his second hole-in-one, which he described as an extraordinary achievement, having never before recorded an ace in tournament play.
“I’ve never had one in tournament play. To have two in one day is pretty special,” Whitnell noted, a day after he had shot a level-par 72 in the first round. His exceptional performance positioned him favorably in the tournament, shifting his focus from merely making the cut to potentially competing for a higher finish.
Dale Whitnell’s extraordinary achievement of two holes-in-one in a single day at the South African Open underscores his remarkable skill and ability to perform under pressure. His 9-under 63 second round dramatically improved his standing in the tournament, reflecting his turnaround from struggling to make the cut to excelling in play. This memorable golfing day not only marks a significant milestone in Whitnell’s career but also highlights the unpredictability and excitement of professional golf.
Original Source: apnews.com
