Mbombela Golf Club caddy Thomas Mkhatshwa won this year’s annual Caddy Challenge on Monday, which saw caddies from across the Lowveld taking part.

An annual tradition that dates back nearly 50 years at Mbombela Golf Club, the annual Caddy Challenge presents the men who are typically tasked with carrying the bag for others with a chance to hit the fairways and greens themselves. It is also the competition that determines which caddy will go on to take part in the GolfRSA Champion of Champions tournament, which takes place in October next year.

No fewer than 72 caddies from Mbombela, White River Country Club, Kruger Park Lodge Golf Club, Malelane Golf Club, Kambaku Golf Club and Barberton Golf Club took part in the special event. The format was individual Stableford (points) and the caddies were treated to cool and slightly wet conditions on the course while they battled it out.

The local caddies took full advantage of their knowledge of the course at Mbombela Golf Club, putting it to good use. The top seven finishers were all within four points of one another, but Thomas Mkhatshwa was the man who came out on top, scoring 33 points to win first prize.

Solomon Mkhatshwa was second on 32 points followed by Thuza Makagula (32, count out) in third. Jimmy Gwebu of Malelane finished fourth (31 points) and was the only non-Mbombela caddy among the top seven. Marcus Mdluli was fifth (30), Sam Mabuza sixth (30, count out) and Forman Matsebula seventh (29).