Dale Whitnell, a 36-year-old English golfer, made headlines with an extraordinary performance at the South African Open held at the Durban Country Club. On an eventful day, Whitnell achieved the rare feat of making two holes-in-one in the same round. His spectacular shots came on the par-3 second and 12th holes, catapulting him to a remarkable 9-under 63 in his second round. Ranked No. 545 at the time, Whitnell entered the day concerned about merely making the cut at the challenging European tour event.
Whitnell's achievement is even more remarkable given his mixed performance earlier in the tournament. He shot a level-par 72 in the opening round, which left him needing a stellar performance to stay in contention. Rising to the occasion, he started his second round with a birdie on the first hole and soon after, made an ace on the second hole with a flawless 7-iron shot.
"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," – Dale Whitnell
Whitnell's round was not only highlighted by his two aces but also included an eagle on the par-5 third hole, seven birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey. The combination of exceptional shots and unexpected setbacks made for what he described as a "wild" round. His second ace on the 12th hole came after a nine-hole wait following his first hole-in-one, adding another layer of excitement to his already impressive performance.
"I was struggling to make the cut so I knew I needed to go out and play well and got off to a hot start as they would say," – Dale Whitnell
Whitnell's dual aces are considered "pretty special" in the golfing world, highlighting his ability to perform under pressure despite earlier inconsistencies. The European tour event posed significant challenges, yet Whitnell's resolute spirit and skillful play ensured his place in golf history with this rare accomplishment.
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