English golfer Dale Whitnell. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
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 in the 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 was 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.
New Zealand's Kazuma Kobori is tied for 50th, 10 shots from the leader.
- Reuters
