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Golfer on DP World Tour has not one but two holes-in-one in the same round

Golfer on DP World Tour has not one but two holes-in-one in the same round

USA Today02-03-2025
Golfer on DP World Tour has not one but two holes-in-one in the same round
This might be one of the crazier scorecards you'll see.
It might also be one of the few times you'll ever see a golfer record two aces.
Dale Whitnell of England opened with a birdie Friday in the second round of the Investec South African Open Championship at Durban Country Club in South Africa.
On his next hole, he recorded a hole-in-one. Three swings, one putt and he was 3 under.
On the par-5 third, he made eagle, so he was then 5 under through three holes. Talk about your hot starts.
From there, Whitnell made three pars and a bogey before two more birdies, thus making the turn in 30.
Then on the par-3 12th, he struck again, making his second ace of the day. According to the National Hole-in-One Registry, the odds of one player making two holes-in-one in the same round are 67-million-to-1.
"I got off to a hot start as they say. I birdied the first and then hit a flush seven iron on the second and didn't realise that it had gone in until down the bottom [greenside] they cheered so that was lovely," he said. 'I hit two hybrid, hybrid into the par five and made eagle there so I was five under through three which I have never done before and then managed to get another hole in one at the 12th. It was bizarre."
Whitnell also had a late double-bogey and when he signed for a 9-under 63, his scorecard had a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and a 6. He's also 9 for the tournament, tied for eighth, five shots back of leader Shaun Norris.
"I had everything today. An air shot, two bogeys, a double bogey, three eagles and I come out nine under par so I can't complain.'
Whitnell says he now has five aces but never before in competition. Andrew Dodt in 2013 was the first player on the DP World Tour to make multiple holes-in-one in the same round.
Later in the clubhouse, there was a nice selection of beverages courtesy of Whitnell.
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Watch: Nicolai Hojgaard holes out for eagle twice in three holes on DP World Tour

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Ben Healy on his stellar Tour de France: ‘I was climbing up the Hautacam with a massive smile on my face'

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