New York club professional Frank Bensel Jr. has become the first golfer in USGA history to record consecutive holes-in-one during the second round of the U.S. Senior Open, achieving an improbable milestone with odds of 67 million to 1.
Frank Bensel Jr., a 56-year-old club pro from New York, has etched his name into the annals of golf history by becoming the first player ever to make consecutive holes-in-one at the U.S. Senior Open on Friday, June 29, 2024.
Bensel's extraordinary feat occurred during the second round of the tournament at Newport Country Club in Newport, Rhode Island. On the fourth hole, a 184-yard par 3, Bensel's tee shot soared through the air and dropped into the cup, eliciting a roar from the crowd. Unbelievably, Bensel repeated the feat on the very next hole, a 203-yard par 3, leaving spectators and commentators in disbelief.
History-Making Holes-in-One: Frank Bensel Jr.'s Unprecedented Feat at the U.S. Senior Open
According to the National Hole-in-One Registry, the odds of one player making two aces in the same round are an astronomical 67 million to 1. Bensel's accomplishment is a testament to his skill and the inexplicable magic that can sometimes occur on the golf course.
"I've played a lot of golf in my life, and just to see a hole-in-one in a tournament is pretty rare," Bensel said after the round. "The first one was great; that got me under par for the day. And then the second one, I just couldn't believe it. To even think that that could happen was amazing."
History-Making Holes-in-One: Frank Bensel Jr.'s Unprecedented Feat at the U.S. Senior Open
Bensel's incredible feat began on the fourth hole, a 184-yard par 3. He did the unthinkable next when he aced his next shot, a 203-yard par 3. Newport Country Club Superintendent Chris Coen and volunteer Joe Oliveria watched in awe as Bensel signed the hole cutter, the blade of which will be donated to the USGA museum as a memento of this historic day.
Despite his back-to-back aces, the day did not turn out well for Bensel. Immediately after, he made four bogeys in a row and added three more on the back nine. He finished the day at 4-over 74 and missed the cut.
History-Making Holes-in-One: Frank Bensel Jr.'s Unprecedented Feat at the U.S. Senior Open
"I didn't do anything great except for kind of those shots today," he said. "I was hoping that I could have added a lot more good scoring after that to have made the cut, but that didn't happen."
Despite an overall lackluster day, Bensel's performance still landed him in the USGA history books. He is now the first golfer ever to make consecutive holes-in-one at the U.S. Senior Open, a feat that will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come.
