Liddle takes charge at ERPM Challenge

The seven-time Sunshine Tour champion fired a four-under-par 68 to take a three stroke lead over Siphiwe Siphayi and amateurs Carrie Park and Louis Taylor.

For his first competitive outing in two months, Liddle was more than impressive.

“Not too shabby for a 40-something,” laughed the Boksburg native.

“I’m more than pleased with this round, actually. I haven’t picked up a golf club since June.

“To walk off with five birdies and just the one bogey after not playing for eight weeks would put a smile on anyone’s dial.”

Siphayi overcame a bogey start and a double bogey, GFG Academy’s Park mixed three bogeys with four birdies and Taylor from the Gary Player School for Champions, who won last week’s BDGA Academy Classic, traded five bogeys with half-a-dozen birdies.

“The set-up was definitely tough out there,” Liddle said.

“I could see some of younger pros and the amateurs struggle, but that’s where years of experience gives you the edge.

“You learn when to go for it, when to play safe and how to stay patience. The course wasn’t kind, but I only hit two bad drives all day.

“I stayed patient and gave myself opportunities. The goal is always to have a clean card.”

It is this kind of experience that he is trying to impart on his students.

After 25 years in the paid ranks, Liddle took over the driving range and launched his own academy at his home course.

“It’s really nice to start ploughing back into the game here at ERPM Golf Club,” Liddle said.

“I’ve only been operational for a few weeks, but one of my students, Chase Patton, won a junior event and another, Angelo Marques, made his first cut on the amateur circuit in the Mpumalanga Open this weekend.

“There is something really satisfying about watching their hard work pay off. Ironically, teaching has also given me a better swing than I’ve had in years.”

Liddle has faced a lot of ups-and-downs in a pro career spanning 25 years and hopes to help his charges make good decisions about their careers.

“You can teach them a lot at the driving range and the chipping and putting greens, but I think they learn the most from me out here on the IGT Tour,” he said.

“I was also their age once. I understand that they are gung-ho to turn pro and make pots of money, but the reality is that it’s cut-throat in the paid ranks.

“So, if I can still beat them, they should think twice. No doubt the youngsters will be gunning for me tomorrow, but if I finish in front on the final day, they will hopefully have some food for thought.”

First round scores

(All competitors RSA unless otherwise specified; amateurs indicated as AMA)

68 – Brett Liddle

71 – Carrie Park (AMA), Siphiwe Siphayi, Louis Taylor (AMA)

72 – Michael Van Hoeck (AMA) (BEL), Herman Minnie, Cole Dodgen (AMA)

73 – Dylan Lavagna-Slater (AMA), Danie Pretorius, Hilton Hughes (AMA), Chris Van Tonder (AMA), David Lamprecht

74 – Sean Olfsen (AMA), Bryce McCabe, Jacques Ungerer, Christiaan Pretorius, Dwayne Coetzee

75 – Morne Wolmarans (AMA), Simon Kruger, Matt Bright (AMA)

76 – Divan Marais (AMA), Gareth Akers (AMA)

77 – Louwtjie J van Vuuren (AMA), Jacques De Villiers (AMA), Joubert Van Eeden (AMA), CJ Levey (AMA), Zander Potgieter (AMA), Derryn Mitri (AMA), Angelo Marques (AMA), Andi Dill (AMA)

78 – Duan Nagel (AMA), Rikus Oosthuizen (AMA)

79 – Tung- nan Lin (AMA) (TWN), Ryan Wingrove (AMA)

80 – Dylan Docherty (AMA), Michael Kok (AMA), Jonty B Shelton (AMA), Werner Lourens (AMA)

81 – Keanan Aysen (AMA), Matthew Vogel, Liedeke De Klerk

82 – Loic Csizmadia (MUS), Vincent Mienie (AMA), Phillip Montgomery, Jason Ackerman (AMA), JP Schmidt (AMA), Brandon Lydon (AMA), Chase Paton (AMA), Shannon Naidoo (AMA)

83 – Richard Tsai (AMA), Heinrich Venter (AMA)

86 – Michael Schutz (AMA), Jabu Radebe

87 – Blain Sansom (AMA), Chad Sales (AMA), Melchizedek Van Vreden (AMA)

Missed the cut:-

WDN – Wayne Stroebel – @SabeloBoksburg