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Khaleej Times
04-03-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Lightning Strikes Twice: Dale Whitnell's ‘bizarre' two-hole-in-one feat on the DP World Tour
Dale Whitnell carved his name into golf's history books with a feat that almost defies belief - two holes-in-one in the same round at the Durban Golf Course. The Englishman stunned the field at the Investec South African Open Championship, acing both the par-three second and 12th holes. Local favourite Dylan Naidoo won the rain-plagued event on the first playoff hole Sunday against England's Laurie Canter. Hole-in-ones are already a special moment for any golfer, but making two in a single round? That's the kind of stuff legends are made of. Whitnell becomes only the second player in DP World Tour history to achieve the feat, following Andrew Dodt's similar accomplishment at the Nordea Masters in 2013. Unlikely Achievement What made the moment even more astonishing was that Whitnell had never recorded an ace in tournament play. 'After shooting level par and coming back in the morning to complete my first round, I knew I needed to play well just to make the cut,' Whitnell said. 'I got off to a hot start, made a birdie at the first, then hit a flush seven-iron on the second. I didn't realize it had gone in until I heard the cheers from down by the green. That was lovely.' His second ace came at the 12th, where he holed out from 128 yards with a 50-degree wedge, pulling off one of golf's most unlikely feats. 'To make one is special, but to make two? It's bizarre,' Whitnell added. 'You don't really know how to react. You're buzzing, the adrenaline is pumping, but at the same time, you've got to focus and keep playing.' Unconventional Round His round was far from a conventional one. Beyond the two aces, he also carded three eagles, seven birdies, two bogeys, a double bogey, and even an air shot - ultimately finishing with a remarkable nine-under-par 63 on a historic day. Whitnell's feat comes in a season already filled with memorable aces. His two additions bring the tally of holes-in-one on the 2025 Race to Dubai to seven, following MK Kim, Daniel Gavins, Adrien Saddier, Pablo Larrazábal, and Eddie Pepperell. While Whitnell didn't take home the win, he now has a permanent place in golf history. Lightning might not strike twice in the same spot, but it sure did for him.
Reuters
28-02-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Whitnell sinks two hole-in-ones in second round of SA Open
Feb 28 (Reuters) - Englishman Dale Whitnell may well toast his good fortune with a few expensive rounds in the clubhouse after making not one but two holes-in-one at the DP World Tour's South African Open at the Durban Country Club on Friday. Whitnell had never made a hole-in-one in tournament play, but aced the second and the 12th in his second round, both par threes, in a rollercoaster 63 that leaves him on nine under-par for the tournament, five shots behind the clubhouse leader Shaun Norris (64) from South Africa. Whitnell is the second player in tour history to make multiple holes-in-one in the same round after Andrew Dodt at the Nordea Masters in 2013. "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 (at the green) they cheered, so that was lovely," Whitnell said. "I was five under through three (holes) which I have never done before and then managed to get another hole in one at the 12th. It was bizarre. "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." South Africa's Dylan Naidoo carded a superb 61 that included 10 birdies and an eagle, and is in second place, one shot behind Norris.
