Identical twins followed identical twins at LPGA event in L.A., and their meet-up could not have been more adorable

TARZANA, Calif. — There were double takes after double takes on Saturday when the Japanese identical twins who are rookies on the LPGA Tour finished the round they’d played together in the JM Eagle LA Championship. Akie and Chisato Iwai were among the afternoon’s biggest attractions at El Caballero Country Club, and at one point they looked over and saw a pair of young girls outside the ropes. They couldn’t quite believe it. For the first time that they could remember, the Iwais were being trailed by identical twin fans.

After they’d signed their cards—Akie with a 64 that tied her for the lead and Chisato with 70 that put her T-12—and conducted interviews with the Japanese media, the Iwais made their way to a secure area where they were able to meet the “other” twins and pose for photos.

Gabi and Dani Mora, 13-year-old seventh graders from Rancho Cucamonga, 60 miles east of El Cab, attended the LA Championship last year at Wilshire Country Club, and their dad, Brian, said it "lit a fire" in them to want to play golf. This year, they wanted to see the Iwai twins play but couldn’t have anticipated that the pros would end up in the same group after the first two rounds. The Iwais hadn’t yet played together on the LPGA and had only done so a few times on the Japan LPGA.

“We were, like, ‘oh my gosh, this is so cool,’” Gabi said. “We had to go see them.”

Dressed in black and white—their hats, polos and skirts in opposite composition because they don’t always like dressing alike—the girls and their parents, Brian and Erica, traversed the hilly El Cab layout from the first hole through the 11th, took a break, and picked them up at 15 and walked them home.

The girls said they noticed only small interactions between the Iwais and were more interested in how they played as individuals. “Like, I could take a lot of things of what they do and incorporate into my swing and stuff,” Dani said. “Yeah, I would agree,” Gabi added.

Gabi and Dani play golf often together. Are they competitive, "Ohhh, yes," Gabi said dramatically. "Over the past few days golfing, [Dani] has been beating me by a couple of strokes. But I'm trying to beat her again."

They were united in their thrill at watching twins play pro golf. And seeing the Iwai women interact with the girls after the round, the Mora parents sported huge grins.

“ To watch the girls light up watching the professionals and dream of following the twins is a dream come true,” Erica said. “You like them to see it because it’s the next level, right?

Added Brian, “They loved every moment of it. This was so awesome.”

The Iwais thought it was very cool, too. “Really, it was fun,” Akie said through an interpreter.

The Moras planned to return to the tournament on Sunday to see the final round play out. And even with No. 1 Nelly Korda and another strong rookie, Ingrid Lindblad, among the contenders, it was clear who they’d be rooting for. Twin power is alive and well at El Cab.