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.”
Louis Liebenberg (-7) will take a one-shot lead into the final round @EbotseLinks#betwaybigeasytour #greatnessbeginshere pic.twitter.com/d27QYhfYOH
— Big Easy Tour (@bigeasytourgolf) January 15, 2025
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.
How things look with 18 holes to play @EbotseLinks#betwaybigeasytour #greatnessbeginshere pic.twitter.com/pib4klcvKN
— Big Easy Tour (@bigeasytourgolf) January 15, 2025
SCORES:
137 - Louis Liebenberg 67 70
138 - Luke Mayo 68 70
139 - Jordan Burnand 72 67, Daniel Cronje 72 67, Coert Groenewald 70 69, Tyrone Ryan 68 71
141 - Slade Pickering 67 74, Michael Kok 73 68, Dillon Germshuys 70 71, Xander Basson 66 75
142 - Wandre Snyman 66 76, Tyron Davidowitz 67 75
143 - Ryan van der Klis 73 70, Ulrich van den Berg 74 69, Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa 72 71, Warwick Purchase 73 70, Leon Visser 71 72
144 - Jastice Mashego 71 73
145 - Oliver Goldhill 70 75, Philip Geerts 69 76, Jaden Deltel 68 77, Paul Boshoff 73 72
146 - Musiwalo Nethunzwi 72 74, Francois van Staden 71 75
147 - Tristan Leonard 71 76, Nicholaus Frade 73 74, Francois Van der Walt 69 78, Harry Konig 69 78, Jason Froneman 74 73
148 - Keanu Pestana 77 71, Keagan Crosbie 75 73, Thanda Mavundla 72 76, Jacquin Hess 73 75, Jordan Wessels 75 73
Missed the cut
149 - Jonathan Waschefort 76 73, Reece Mc Kain 75 74, Kian Coetzer 78 71, Luke Trocado 72 77
150 - Charl Barnard 70 80, Joe Knox 74 76, Mark Maart 73 77, Jonathan Williams 72 78, Ryan Tipping 77 73, Miles Gray 72 78, Eric Wowor 76 74, Tiger Adams 77 73
151 - Erhard Lambrechts 75 76, Shaunak Rama 77 74, Jabulane Mabilane 73 78, Tumelo Molloyi 81 70, Thomas Spreadborough 81 70, Richard Joubert 75 76, Dehan Joubert 74 77, Drikus Joubert 72 79
152 - Khanya Mkhize 75 77, Marcel Steyn Scholtz 80 72
153 - Keelan Africa 76 77, Nyasha Muyambo 75 78
154 - Mandla Dlamini Jnr 78 76, Eben Spangenberg 73 81
155 - Richard Kruger 77 78, Matthew Rushton 78 77
156 - Shaydon Johnson 76 80, Kael Strydom 78 78, Sabelo Xolani Majola 76 80, Johan Theron 74 82
157 - Jarryd Govender 77 80, Shalan Govender 74 83, Jules Helary 79 78
158 - Boeta Nasie 78 80, Ricco Motsa 78 80
159 - Brandon-Jude Rennie 77 82
163 - Khaya Jika 82 81 164 - Steven Le Roux 85 79 165 - Letsoso Letsai 81 84 170 - Llewellyn Leibrandt 89 81 WDN - Siyanda Mwandla 80 WDN, Allister de Kock RTD
RTD, Adriel Poonan DSQ DSQ, Thabang Simon 76 DSQ, Lwazi Gqira 80 DSQ, Slenda Sithebe DSQ DSQ, Lindani Ndwandwe DSQ DSQ