A team of four DHL Stormers players swopped out their rugby boots for golf clubs and soft spikes to take on a team of Sunshine Tour professional golfers in a three-hole match at the Royal Cape Golf Club in Wynberg on Wednesday 16 February.
The encounter, which was held in the lead up to the Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open, saw the rugby boys emerge victorious yet again. The Stormers team comprised former Helderberg resident Steven Kitshoff, Strand local Damian Willemse, Neethling Fouché and Ruhan Nel. They took on golfers Jaco Ahlers, Keenan Davidse, Benjamin Follett-Smith and Dylan Mostert, and successfully defended their title.
The rugby stars had the benefit of playing a scramble format, while the professionals had to each play their own ball. But they nevertheless delivered with some quality golf in windy conditions that even impressed their professional opponents.
“After last year’s good win for the DHL Stormers, we were very excited to take on the Sunshine Tour pros again. It gave us a lot of bragging rights during the year,” said Kitshoff, who skippered the DHL Stormers team.
Ahlers captained the Sunshine Tour team and said while a successive defeat was hard to swallow, it was another great contest. “It was great fun, especially taking them on on our turf. I think if we played rugby against them we’d definitely come second. But it’s great to have them out here and supporting the Bain’s Whisky Cape Town Open as well.”
The tournament was played at the Royal Cape Golf Club and Rondebosch Golf Club from Thursday 17 to Sunday 20 February. It was won by JC Ritchie, who became the first player to successfully defend his title in the competition’s 10-year history.
