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Parys - A picture-perfect approach shot to inside 10 feet on the first play-off hole on Friday saw Andrew Curlewis win the R600 000 Vodacom Origins of Golf tournament at Parys Golf and Country Estate.
He missed the eagle putt, but with Lyle Rowe in deep trouble on the banks of the Vaal River, he only needed two putts to take his second Sunshine Tour title title in two weeks – and that after a wait of more than six years after his maiden win in the Vodacom Origins of Golf series at Arabella in April 2007.
"After I made par on 18 in regulation, I thought that was just one too many," said Curlewis.
"I thought I needed to get to eight-under to have a chance."
But in the end, Rowe’s nerves slowed down his charge towards a maiden victory: He pulled his approach way left of the green in regulation on 18, and it was only a good creative chip, a delicate approach putt and then a solid par-saver which got him into the clubhouse level with Curlewis.
"Once I was in the play-off, I was fairly relaxed," said Curlewis.
"After all, the worst you can do is come second! And I hit two great shots to set myself up."
Rowe, on the other hand, watched helplessly as his approach from the middle of the fairway flew right and landed on matted reeds and amongst rocks next to the river.
He had no shot, so took a penalty drop, and pushed his par putt five feet past the hole – and all Curlewis had to do was hit his eagle attempt close.
"I feel for Lyle," said Curlewis.
"I have never lost in a play-off, so I can’t say I know what it feels like, but it can’t be great.
"His time will come. He had a great second round, and he will close the deal sometime soon now."
Behind Curlewis and Rowe, Daniel Greene and Ulrich van den Berg shared third place after closing rounds of 70 and 71 respectively for a total of five-under-par 211 in the 54-hole tournament. Michael Hollick rounded out the top five with his closing 71 to finish a further stroke back.
It was a tough day, with Curlewis’ four-under-par 68 by far the best round in swirling windy conditions.
"It was very difficult out there – really windy," said Curlewis.
"But once I got over my shaky start, I knew the windy conditions would be in my favour."
The win boosted him to 18th on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit – and while he’s too modest to say so, he’s positioning himself nicely for some strong performances in the looming Sunshine Tour summer schedule.
Scores (RSA unless specified):
209 - Andrew Curlewis 72 69 68
209 - Lyle Rowe 72 65 72
211 - Daniel Greene 69 72 70, Ulrich van den Berg 71 69 71
212 - Michael Hollick 70 71 71
213 - Wallie Coetsee 71 71 71, Dean Burmester 69 69 75
214 - Anthony Michael 66 72 76
215 - Jean Hugo 72 71 72, Doug McGuigan 68 73 74
216 - Toto Thimba (Jnr) 74 70 72
218 - Jacques Blaauw 77 70 71, Mark Murless 73 73 72, Jake Roos 72 72 74, Titch Moore 71 72 75
219 - Ryan Cairns (ZIM) 73 74 72, Trevor Fisher Jnr 74 72 73, Derik Ferreira 74 70 75, Drikus Bruyns 73 71 75, PH McIntyre 69 73 77, Colin Nel 70 71 78
220 - Justin Harding 72 74 74, James Kamte 74 72 74, Vaughn Groenewald 70 75 75, Desvonde Botes 69 75 76, Jaco Ahlers 71 71 78, Attie Schwartzel 67 71 82
221 - Pieter Moolman 72 72 77, Brandon Pieters 68 75 78, Alex Haindl 73 69 79
222 - Riekus Nortje 73 73 76, JJ Senekal 75 71 76, Divan Gerber 72 74 76
223 - Graham van der Merwe 75 72 76, Neil Schietekat 76 70 77
224 - Andre Cruse 71 76 77, Thabang Simon 69 75 80
225 - Merrick Bremner 72 75 78, Steven Ferreira 73 73 79
230 - Drikus van der Walt 72 75 83
He missed the eagle putt, but with Lyle Rowe in deep trouble on the banks of the Vaal River, he only needed two putts to take his second Sunshine Tour title title in two weeks – and that after a wait of more than six years after his maiden win in the Vodacom Origins of Golf series at Arabella in April 2007.
"After I made par on 18 in regulation, I thought that was just one too many," said Curlewis.
"I thought I needed to get to eight-under to have a chance."
But in the end, Rowe’s nerves slowed down his charge towards a maiden victory: He pulled his approach way left of the green in regulation on 18, and it was only a good creative chip, a delicate approach putt and then a solid par-saver which got him into the clubhouse level with Curlewis.
"Once I was in the play-off, I was fairly relaxed," said Curlewis.
"After all, the worst you can do is come second! And I hit two great shots to set myself up."
Rowe, on the other hand, watched helplessly as his approach from the middle of the fairway flew right and landed on matted reeds and amongst rocks next to the river.
He had no shot, so took a penalty drop, and pushed his par putt five feet past the hole – and all Curlewis had to do was hit his eagle attempt close.
"I feel for Lyle," said Curlewis.
"I have never lost in a play-off, so I can’t say I know what it feels like, but it can’t be great.
"His time will come. He had a great second round, and he will close the deal sometime soon now."
Behind Curlewis and Rowe, Daniel Greene and Ulrich van den Berg shared third place after closing rounds of 70 and 71 respectively for a total of five-under-par 211 in the 54-hole tournament. Michael Hollick rounded out the top five with his closing 71 to finish a further stroke back.
It was a tough day, with Curlewis’ four-under-par 68 by far the best round in swirling windy conditions.
"It was very difficult out there – really windy," said Curlewis.
"But once I got over my shaky start, I knew the windy conditions would be in my favour."
The win boosted him to 18th on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit – and while he’s too modest to say so, he’s positioning himself nicely for some strong performances in the looming Sunshine Tour summer schedule.
Scores (RSA unless specified):
209 - Andrew Curlewis 72 69 68
209 - Lyle Rowe 72 65 72
211 - Daniel Greene 69 72 70, Ulrich van den Berg 71 69 71
212 - Michael Hollick 70 71 71
213 - Wallie Coetsee 71 71 71, Dean Burmester 69 69 75
214 - Anthony Michael 66 72 76
215 - Jean Hugo 72 71 72, Doug McGuigan 68 73 74
216 - Toto Thimba (Jnr) 74 70 72
218 - Jacques Blaauw 77 70 71, Mark Murless 73 73 72, Jake Roos 72 72 74, Titch Moore 71 72 75
219 - Ryan Cairns (ZIM) 73 74 72, Trevor Fisher Jnr 74 72 73, Derik Ferreira 74 70 75, Drikus Bruyns 73 71 75, PH McIntyre 69 73 77, Colin Nel 70 71 78
220 - Justin Harding 72 74 74, James Kamte 74 72 74, Vaughn Groenewald 70 75 75, Desvonde Botes 69 75 76, Jaco Ahlers 71 71 78, Attie Schwartzel 67 71 82
221 - Pieter Moolman 72 72 77, Brandon Pieters 68 75 78, Alex Haindl 73 69 79
222 - Riekus Nortje 73 73 76, JJ Senekal 75 71 76, Divan Gerber 72 74 76
223 - Graham van der Merwe 75 72 76, Neil Schietekat 76 70 77
224 - Andre Cruse 71 76 77, Thabang Simon 69 75 80
225 - Merrick Bremner 72 75 78, Steven Ferreira 73 73 79
230 - Drikus van der Walt 72 75 83
