Latest news with #InvestecSAOpen
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Naidoo wins South Africa Open in playoff with Canter
Dylan Naidoo's victory in the rain-hit South African Open is the first win by a player of Indian heritage in the tournament and has been achieved on the course where one of the uglier incidents in apartheid sport played out decades earlier. The 27-year-old Naidoo took the biggest prize in South African golf in Sunday's play-off against Laurie Canter of England at the Durban Country Club. It was at this venue where another South African golfer of Indian ethnicity once had to collect his prize in the rain because racial laws meant he was not allowed in the club house. Dylan Naidoo wins the Investec South African Open Championship 🏆#InvestecSAOpen — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) March 2, 2025 Papaw Sewgolum had won the Natal Open on the same course 62 years ago after overcoming a series of humiliations. He had learned the sport as caddie at the club, one of the country's most famous courses, after being given a set of second-hand clubs and allowed to play on a Monday along with the other caddies. Such was his obvious talent that a benefactor sponsored him to play in Europe, where he got an entry to The British Open and won the 1959 Dutch Open. He was prohibited from playing professionally in South Africa, however, where apartheid laws allowed no mixing of race groups in sporting arenas. After pressure from members, he was allowed to enter the 1963 Natal Open at the Durban Country Club under strict conditions, forced to change in a mini-van and eat his meals with the Black caddies as he was not allowed into the clubhouse, which was for white people only. When he won against the odds, the prize giving ceremony that should have taken place inside because of the poor weather was conducted outside in the rain. Sewgolum, who died aged 48 in 1978 from ill-health, was a sporting hero among South Africa's large Indian population, who were treated as second-class citizens in the apartheid era. Indians first arrived as labourers during the late 1800s and Durban is one the largest ethnically Indian-populated cities outside of India. So it was no surprise then that Naidoo enjoyed extensive support at the course during his win. Welcome to the winners circle, Dylan! 🏆#InvestecSAOpen — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) March 2, 2025 "This is a special moment for me, it's a special moment for everybody here in Durban - it's overwhelming," he said. "I said yesterday it felt like I was Tiger Woods. There were so many people following me and that gave me energy. I can't thank everyone enough for coming out." Naidoo's triumph was made more poignant by the fact he is a graduate of a development programme which carries Sewgolum's name and is aimed at helping young golfers from disadvantaged communities reach the professional ranks. Naidoo and Canter led the tournament after the third round on 14 under par and went head-to-head after the fourth round was abandoned on Sunday because of torrential rain which left parts of the course under water. The 27-year-old Naidoo birdied the par-four 18th after a pitch to the green put him almost on top of the pin. The second and third rounds were completed on Saturday. The final round began at 6.10am on Sunday but only Chris Paisley, playing on his own, managed to complete his round before play was suspended three hours later. It was decided to abandon the round and get the co-leaders play off for the title once the rain cleared on Sunday afternoon.
Telegraph
28-02-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Watch: English golfer hits 67 million to one two holes-in-one
Englishman Dale Whitnell carded two holes-in-one during a once-in-a-lifetime round on day two of the South African Open. The 36-year-old, whose DP World Tour breakthrough came in the 2023 Scandinavian Mixed, aced the 179-yard second in soft, calm conditions at the Durban Country Club, and then repeated the feat at the 149-yard 12th. It is estimated the odds of making two holes-in-one in the same round are 67 million to one. Both of @Dale_Whitnell 's holes-in-one from the second round 🤯 #InvestecSAOpen — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 28, 2025 At one stage Whitnell, who immediately followed his first ace with an eagle, needed birdies at his final three holes to card a 59 but that quest fell apart after flying the 16th green. In attempting to chip in for birdie from an awkward side-hill lie, the club head slid completely under the ball and moved it only a couple of inches and he took another three shots to get up and down for a double-bogey six. He signed for a nine-under 63, having shot level par in the first round. Although the odds of double aces are high, there have been a number of instances of them occurring. Dale Whitnell appreciation post 🍻 #InvestecSAOpen — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 28, 2025 Fellow Englishman John Hudson registered two at the European Tour's Martini International at Royal Norwich in 1971. Brian Harman, who would go on to become Open champion in 2023, became the third man to achieve the feat on the PGA Tour with two aces at the Barclays in 2015, while last year Frank Bensel Jnr made back-to-back holes-in-one during the second round of the US Senior Open in Rhode Island. 'I hit a flush seven-iron on the second and I didn't realise it had gone in until down the bottom they cheered,' Whitnell, who took 11 years to earn a full DP World Tour card after turning professional in 2009, said in his post-round interview. 'It's a weird feeling. Obviously the adrenalin is pumping, but you have to focus on your job and I managed to do that today. 'I've never had one in tournament play. I've had one in practice at Le Golf National in Paris, but to have two in one day is pretty special. 'I've had everything today: an air shot, two bogeys, a double, three eagles and come out nine-under par, so I can't complain.'
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Watch: English golfer hits 67 million to one two holes-in-one
Englishman Dale Whitnell carded two holes-in-one during a once-in-a-lifetime round on day two of the South African Open. The 36-year-old, whose DP World Tour breakthrough came in the 2023 Scandinavian Mixed, aced the 179-yard second in soft, calm conditions at the Durban Country Club, and then repeated the feat at the 149-yard 12th. It is estimated the odds of making two holes-in-one in the same round are 67 million to one. Both of @Dale_Whitnell's holes-in-one from the second round 🤯#InvestecSAOpen — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 28, 2025 At one stage Whitnell, who immediately followed his first ace with an eagle, needed birdies at his final three holes to card a 59 but that quest fell apart after flying the 16th green. In attempting to chip in for birdie from an awkward side-hill lie, the club head slid completely under the ball and moved it only a couple of inches and he took another three shots to get up and down for a double-bogey six. He signed for a nine-under 63, having shot level par in the first round. Although the odds of double aces are high, there have been a number of instances of them occurring. Dale Whitnell appreciation post 🍻#InvestecSAOpen — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 28, 2025 Fellow Englishman John Hudson registered two at the European Tour's Martini International at Royal Norwich in 1971. Brian Harman, who would go on to become Open champion in 2023, became the third man to achieve the feat on the PGA Tour with two aces at the Barclays in 2015, while last year Frank Bensel Jnr made back-to-back holes-in-one during the second round of the US Senior Open in Rhode Island. 'I hit a flush seven-iron on the second and I didn't realise it had gone in until down the bottom they cheered,' Whitnell, who took 11 years to earn a full DP World Tour card after turning professional in 2009, said in his post-round interview. 'It's a weird feeling. Obviously the adrenalin is pumping, but you have to focus on your job and I managed to do that today. 'I've never had one in tournament play. I've had one in practice at Le Golf National in Paris, but to have two in one day is pretty special. 'I've had everything today: an air shot, two bogeys, a double, three eagles and come out nine-under par, so I can't complain.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
English golfer makes two holes-in-one in same round
English golfer Dale Whitnell has achieved the extraordinary feat of making two holes-in-one in the same once-in-a-lifetime round at the South African Open. The 36-year-old, whose European tour breakthrough came with victory in the 2023 Scandinavian Mixed, aced the 179-yard second in soft, calm conditions at the Durban Country Club on Friday, before repeating the feat at the 149-yard 12th. It's estimated the odds of making two holes-in-one in the same round are 67 million to one. Both of @Dale_Whitnell's holes-in-one from the second round 🤯#InvestecSAOpen — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 28, 2025 At one stage, Whitnell, who immediately followed his first ace with an eagle, needed birdies at his final three holes to card a 59, but that quest fell apart after he flew the 16th green. In attempting to chip in for birdie from an awkward side-hill lie, the clubhead slid completely under the ball and moved it only a couple of inches and he took another three shots to get up and down for a double-bogey six. He still signed for a nine-under 63, having shot a level-par in the first round. Although the odds of double aces are high, there have been a number of instances of them occurring. Fellow Englishman John Hudson registered two at the European Tour's Martini International at Royal Norwich in 1971. Well, that was fun... 😅@Dale_Whitnell with one of the craziest scorecards you'll see for a while, including TWO aces! #InvestecSAOpen — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 28, 2025 Brian Harman, who would go on to become Open champion in 2023, became the third man to achieve the feat on the PGA Tour with two aces at The Barclays in 2015. Last year, Frank Bensel Jr made back-to-back holes-in-one during the second round of the US Senior Open in Rhode Island. "I hit a flush seven-iron on the second and I didn't realise it had gone in until down the bottom they cheered," Whitnell, who took 11 years to earn a full European tour card after turning professional in 2009, said in his post-round interview. "Five under through three. Never done that before. Then I got another hole-in-one. Bizarre!" Hear from the man himself after one of the craziest rounds you'll ever see 🔊#InvestecSAOpen — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 28, 2025 "It's a weird feeling. Obviously, the adrenaline is pumping but you have to focus on your job and I managed to do that today. "I've never had one in tournament play. I've had one in practice at Le Golf National in Paris - but to have two in one day is pretty special. "I've had everything today: an air shot, two bogeys, a double, three eagles and I've come out nine-under par, so I can't complain."
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dale Whitnell hits two holes-in-one during DP World Tour stop in South Africa
The National Hole-in-One registry says tour players have 3,000 to 1 odds of making an ace during tournament play. But two? Well, that shoots up to 67 million to 1 and Dale Whitnell made it happen during the DP World Tour's stop this week in South Africa. The 36-year-old Whitnell registered a pair of aces on Thursday during the opening round of the South African Open at Durban Country Club. Whitnell's first came from 185 yards out on the second hole using a 7-iron. His second ace was from 128 yards on No. 12 using a 50-degree wedge. Both of @Dale_Whitnell's holes-in-one from the second round 🤯#InvestecSAOpen — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 28, 2025 'Never had one in tournament play,' Whitnell said afterward. 'So to have two in one day is pretty special.' Whitnell finished the day with a 9-under 63 that featured seven birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey as he heads into the second round in the top 10. 'I had everything today,' Whitnell said. 'To come out 9 under par, I can't complain.' As is tradition, Whitnell provided the drinks after his historic day. Dale Whitnell appreciation post 🍻#InvestecSAOpen — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) February 28, 2025 Only two players — Andrew Dodt (2013) and John Hudson (1971) — have ever made two holes-in-one in a single round on the DP World Tour. Bill Whedon (1955), Yusako Miyazato (2006) and Brian Harman (2015) did it on the PGA Tour.
