Dale Whitnell experienced an extraordinary day at the South African Open on Friday at the Durban Country Club, where he managed to pull off the remarkable feat of scoring two holes-in-one during the very same round. Entering the second round with concerns about making the cut, the English golfer delivered a spectacular performance with a 9-under-par 63.
Whitnell’s journey began with an ace on the par-3 second hole, executing a perfectly struck 7-iron shot that dazzled the spectators. “Birdied the first and then hit a flush 7-iron on the second and didn’t realize it went in until down the bottom they sort of cheered. That was lovely,” Whitnell recounted. This set the tone for an impressive round that also featured an eagle, seven birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey.
The magic continued on the par-12 with Whitnell’s second hole-in-one of the day, a remarkable achievement that added to his score and excitement. Reflecting on the rare feat of two aces in one tournament round, he shared, “I’ve never had one in tournament play. To have two in one day is pretty special.” The accomplishment was unexpected, considering his level-par 72 in the event’s opening round.
This remarkable achievement places Whitnell in an exclusive group of golfers who have accomplished two aces in a single round on major tours. In 2015, Brian Harman made headlines by achieving two aces during the same round at the Barclays on the PGA Tour, and Japan’s Yusaku Miyazato managed a similar feat in 2006 at the Reno-Tahoe Open.
According to the National Hole-in-One Registry, scoring two aces in a round comes with incredibly steep odds, sitting at an astounding 67 million to 1. This makes Whitnell’s performance not only an astonishing personal achievement but also a day to be remembered in the world of golf.
