Liebenberg clinches maiden Big Easy title

Not even a triple-bogey finish could stop Louis Liebenberg from winning his breakthrough Betway Big Easy Tour title at Krugersdorp Golf Club on Thursday.

Liebenberg, who plays out of Glenvista Country Club, along with Centurion Country Club’s Charl Barnard, were three shots clear of the field coming into the final round if this 54-hole event. Barnard struggled to get going and eventually shot an unwanted 81 while Liebenberg soared to the summit of the leaderboard.

He was four-under through 17 on the day and 11-under for the week when he stepped onto the 18th. And he was leading by five shots. Then trouble struck.

“I just blocked one right on the 18th,” Liebenberg recounted what led to that triple-bogey he made on the last. “A little bit right into the trees and we didn’t find it. Luckily, my brother (and his caddie on the day) told me to calm down; that I had a five-shot lead. We are looking good; you just need to find the fairway, hit it somewhere up there and finish it off.

“But, I’m very happy. This is the first time I’ve played a final round and felt like I had control over my nerves. I’ve been in this position a few times; the final group and then I would just fall apart. To get it done feels really good.”

He eventually signed for a final-round 71, taking his tournament total to eight-under and handing him a two-stroke victory over Daniel Cronje. He credited his flat stick for his title-winning performance.

“I’ve always considered myself a good putter, it’s just the rest of the stuff that’s a bit of a problem sometimes,” he said. “I could always rely on my putter and this week; it’s probably been the best that it’s ever been.”

Liebenberg was understandably relieved to claim his first win on this Sunshine Tour feeder circuit, especially given the struggles he’s had on the course this season.

“I struggled at the start of the season, to be honest,” he admitted. “I’d made only two cuts before this week. So, to get a win this week, kind of out of nowhere; because I have not been showing any signs of this kind of golf. This is a bit of a relief but I always kind of knew that I could win out here, so it just feels incredible.”

Liebenberg’s win has moved him to 12th on the Order of Merit and he will aim to keep rising up the rankings if he is to earn one of the 12 Sunshine Tour cards awarded to the leading 12 players when the season ends.

The Betway Big Easy Tour is the Sunshine Tour’s feeder circuit and enjoys the support of the legendary Ernie Els, among other patrons.

Scores

208 - Louis Liebenberg 68 69 71

210 - Daniel Cronje 67 74 69

212 - Minjun Heo 74 68 70

212 - Jordan Wessels 67 73 72

213 - Dillon Germshuys 71 74 68

215 - Brandon Gildenhuys 73 73 69

216 - Travis Procter 72 70 74

216 - Christian Kriek 70 75 71, Wandre Snyman 70 71 75, Keegan Mclachlan 71 69 76

217 - Matthew Mortimer 75 69 73

217 - Jaco Anderson 72 72 73, Khanya Mkhize 72 73 72

218 - Simon du Plooy 75 69 74

218 - Werner Deyzel 72 73 73, Charl Barnard 69 68 81, Ruan Groenewald 73 73 72

219 - Vaughn van Deventer 72 72 75

219 - Callum Mowat 75 68 76, Ruan de Smidt 75 70 74, Haydn Driver 71 75 73

220 - Oliver Goldhill 72 71 77

220 - Carl Mwale 72 74 74

221 - Franklin Manchest 74 72 75

221 - Sentanio Minnie 74 72 75

222 - Ruben Van Der Berg 71 71 80

222 - Jaden Deltel 73 73 76

224 - Ryan Tipping 74 70 80

226 - Tristan Leonard 73 72 81

WDN - Musiwalo Nethunzwi 76 69 WDN