Historic Golf Feat: Dale Whitnell Achieves Two Holes-in-One at South Africa Open

In an extraordinary display of skill and precision, English golfer Dale Whitnell achieved two holes-in-one during the second day of the South Africa Open at Durban Country Club. Whitnell aced the 179-yard second hole and followed it with another on the 149-yard 12th hole. Initially, Whitnell wasn't even aware the first shot had gone in until he heard the cheers from the spectators below.

This rare accomplishment was a first for Whitnell, who had never previously made a hole-in-one in competitive play. 'It's a weird feeling, everything in one. I was excited and adrenalin was pumping, but I had to focus on my job and managed to do that OK,' Whitnell shared with the DP World Tour. The odds of making two holes-in-one in the same round are staggering at 67 million to one, according to the US-based National Hole-in-One Registry.

Whitnell's performance didn't stop there; he immediately followed his first hole-in-one with an eagle and was pursuing a record 13-under-par 59 until a double bogey on the 16th hole. His final score for the day was a remarkable 63, beating his previous round by nine shots.

This historic achievement places Whitnell in the same league as John Hudson, the only other Englishman to achieve two holes-in-one in the same round during professional competition, back in 1971. Additionally, American Frank Bensel Jr replicated this feat at the 2024 US Senior Open, demonstrating the extraordinary nature of Whitnell's accomplishment. Whitnell’s phenomenal round not only highlights his skill but also underscores the unpredictable and thrilling nature of golf.