Suffice it to say that Keith Horne enjoys playing the 12th hole at Leopard Creek Estate, site of this week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship.
During Friday’s second round, the 41-year-old stepped to the tee and recorded an ace on the 192-yard, par-3 hole. In Saturday’s third round, the South African improbably repeated the feat.
‘Unbelievable. It was the same club, but the wind was different, so I had to hit full eight-iron this time,’ said Horne, who sits in sixth place after a third-round 68. ‘It was in all the way – never looked like missing. Went in a bit faster this time so I didn’t get to admire it as much as yesterday, but it really got the adrenaline going much more.’
The tournament had originally planned to offer a new BMW car for a hole-in-one on the 12th hole – but only in Sunday’s final round. After consulting with sponsors, they decided to award a car to Horne for his remarkable efforts.
‘I’m really chuffed,’ he told reporters. ‘It was very kind of them to recognize that two holes-in-one were worthy of giving me the car. I wasn’t expecting it, so I’m over the moon.’
Though 12 shots off the lead held by Charl Schwartzel, Horne will go for three in a row on the 12th hole Sunday.