Caddie twins shine in Sunshine Tour playoff MyZA

Veli (left) and Vuli Hlophe, twins who are both caddies on the Sunshine Tour, found themselves in a battle against each other when their players, Andrew Curlewis and Lyle Rowe, contested a playoff for the Vodacom Origins of Golf at Parys Golf and Country Estate on Friday. Photo: Petri Oeschger / Sunshine Tour

The chances of it happening in professional golf are one in a million. Or in this case two.

Friday’s final round of the Vodacom Origins of Golf tournament at Parys Golf and Country Estate came down to a playoff between Andrew Curlewis and Lyle Rowe.

But it was one of those moments in professional golf when the men carrying their bags took centre stage.

Vuli and Veli Hlophe, twins from Swaziland, found themselves competing against each other in the playoff as the caddies for Curlewis and Rowe.

And once again it was Veli who walked away the winner over his brother, with Curlewis claiming his second win on the Sunshine Tour in as many weeks.

But it was a proud moment for the tour caddies who, when the two brothers left with their players for the playoff, immediately sent somebody to go and buy a bottle of champagne to toast the twins.

Curlewis and Rowe finished regulation play tied for the lead on seven under par with respective final rounds of 68 and 72.

Curlewis thought he’d thrown the tournament when, playing the par-five 18th and tied with Rowe in the group behind him, he parred the last.

“I thought it was gone right there. I really thought I’d have to at least finish eight under to stand a chance,” said Curlewis. But then Rowe pulled his approach way left of the green and went on to also make par. Curlewis birdied the 18th as the first playoff hole to take the title.

“I’m lost for words. Winning two in a row is an amazing feeling,” he said.

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