DURBAN, South Africa — Dale Whitnell made two holes-in-one in the same round at the DP World Tour’s South African Open on Friday, having entered the day worrying about just making the 36-hole cut.
The 36-year-old Englishman aced the par-3 second and 12th holes at Durban Country Club in a wild 9-under 63 second round that included an eagle, seven birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey. At 9-under 135 overall, he was five shots out of the lead but assured of sticking around for the weekend.
“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,” said Whitnell, who is No. 545 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
“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. That was lovely.”
Whitnell then eagled the par-5 third and would have to wait a whopping nine holes for his second ace.