Louis Liebenberg will sleep on a slim one-stroke lead going into the final round of the ninth Betway Big Easy Tour event at Ebotse Links, thanks to a second round of 70 on Wednesday.
That score took his tournament total to seven under and a stroke clear of the chasing pack led by Luke Mayo.
Liebenberg, who plays out of Glenvista, admitted on Wednesday that the second round proved a little tougher than the first 18 holes of this 54-hole event.
“It was a little bit trickier than yesterday,” Liebenberg said of his second round. “I put myself in some strange places today but managed a few good up-and-downs; I didn’t panic and made a few good putts and ended up two under par.
“Course management is huge on this golf course because you make a big number even by just picking the wrong club. You have to plan ahead of time for this golf course and then commit and hit the ball straight.”
Liebenberg’s eventful round consisted of three birdies, the same number of dropped shots plus an eagle.
Mayo will be eager to get going in the final round given the good form he’s enjoyed in the last couple of events. He will find further confidence following his bogey-free 70 on Wednesday.
Keeping the big numbers off the card will be key in a final round where the leaderboard is as packed as it is this week.
A single shot behind Mayo is the quartet of Ebotse Links’ own amateur Jordan Burnand, Daniel Cronje, Houghton Golf Club’s Coert Groenewald and Royal Johannesburg and Kensington’s Tyrone Ryan, all on five under.
Slade Pickering, Michael Kok, Dillon Germshuys and overnight leader, Silver Lakes Golf Estate’s Xander Basson make up the top 10 leading players, all on a tournament total of three under.
Photo: Tyrone Winfield/Sunshine Tour
