Student Profile: Liam Ross

Liam Ross is focused on making the Southern Cape Team and being one of the top 15 juniors in the region this year. He desires to follow in the footsteps of Charl Schwartzel and make golf his career. Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen were the first two professional golfers who inspired him. He was privileged enough to meet them on the golf course when they were competing in a tournament at Leopard Creek. He was surprised by their friendly attitude as he walked across the field and he was greeted by them.

Liam was born in Durban and literally grew up on the golf course. His father enjoyed playing the game and taught him how to hit a golf ball before he could even walk. He has always been a sports fanatic excelling in athletics, rugby, cricket and golf. He started taking golf more seriously when he was 10 years old. He was busy watching a golf game with his father and it dawned on him that he would much rather play golf than have the normal 8 – 5 office job. He realised how golf excites him. He can now be found on the course practicing 6 – 7 times a week and he is often on the putting green before school starts.At 11 he competed in his first tournament, a SA Junior Tournament at the Durban Country Club. He believes he shot 120. He enjoyed competing in the tournament but was overwhelmed when he heard another player shot 90. It did not take long for Liam to start showing improvement and it was in the same year that he first broke 100. Three years later he shot his best score at his home course Mount Edgecombe, a 2 under par 70.

To date his proudest golf accomplishment was when he played at Port Shepstone Country Club and shot 2 under par – he won the tournament by 6 shots. Liam enjoys his putter and he feels that his strength is his short game. He says that mentally golf is a very tough sport and for the most part he tries to let things go that are out of his control, trying to stay in the present and enjoy the game at hand. His current handicap is 3. His father has told him many stories about Scotland and playing on the old course at St Andrews is on his bucket list.

Moving from Durban to KeNako Academy in July 2016 was an easy adjustment for Liam. He remembered how nervous he felt in the beginning, but says that everyone at KeNako Academy was very welcoming. He really enjoys the program “I enjoy having structure to my day, working on my game and noticing improvements are uplifting. Roger knows how to speak, instruct and motivate us. He has experience, which allows him to answer all my questions.” He attends Rundle College and is currently in Checkpoint 3 and he appreciates the passion with which the teachers teach. His subjects include English, Afrikaans, French, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Accounting.

Keep up the hard work and good spirit Liam!

KeNako Academy, Liam Ross, Student Profile.