Herman Loubser joined the long list of illustrious winners on the Vodacom Origins of Golf series when he beat Yurav Premlall on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff at the Parys Golf & Country Estate on Sunday.
Related: Yurav Premlall hunting Vodacom Origins title defence
Loubser and Premlall finished regulation play tied for the lead on eight under par after their respective final rounds of 69 and 72.
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Loubser then took the title with a birdie on the first playoff hole, the par-five 18th. His caddie Lloyd Gaya was also rewarded with a champion’s medalion as part of the Sunshine Tour’s recognition of the winning caddie.
“Yurav and I are good mates, so it’s a bit of a bitter-sweet victory. He had a bad lie off the tee and had to lay up. I had two putts left for birdie after a good second shot. Yurav didn’t make his birdie, so I ended with the win,” Loubser said.
Pieter Moolman (67), George Coetzee (71) and England’s Joe Long (71) finished joint third on six under par.
Nadia van der Westhuizen closed with a 72 to finish as the leading Sunshine Ladies Tour professional on two-over-par.
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Defending champion Premlall went into the final round with a two-stroke lead, but struggled to maintain that form as Loubser opened with four birdies in his first five holes. But Loubser’s double bogey on the par-five ninth led to a thrilling back nine before he sealed it in the playoff.
“I’m over the moon with today – super happy,” said Loubser. “It’s my first win since 2022. It’s quite a long time. It almost feels like you’ve forgotten how to win. To get over the line after two recent second places really feel amazing.”
“It takes a bit of pressure off, and I’m playing good golf. Hopefully I can just continue playing well.”
