Kentish Express Ashford & District
From potter to putter
If hard work and ambition are a cue for success then Liam Harper is heading in the right direction.
The 22-year-old from Ashford swapped snooker for golf as a youngster – he boasted a highest ever break of 136 and practised with former world champion Judd Trump, before choosing fresh air over smokey halls.
Hand-eye co-ordination served him well in both sports and now four years on from turning pro as a golfer, he is reflecting on his best year following back-to-back tournament wins.
However, it didn’t start well with disqualification in a Europro Tour qualifying event at Woldingham in Surrey, followed by nine weeks out nursing a broken wrist suffered “kicking a ball around with a mate” celebrating Arsenal’s FA Cup final win at Wembley in May.
He said: “Being disqualified was a tough lesson to learn. I was putting when the claxon went off to stop play because of thunder and lightning – but I continued to tap in only to walk off and be told it was illegal.
My playing partners all did the same, having been all fourunder at the time and set to make the cut by four shots.”
Harper’s first tournament victory came when he won at the first extra hole at Thorndon Park near Brentwoood in Essex in August. He followed that up with success on the Jamega Tour, winning by one shot at Aston Wood in Birmingham.
Team Harper includes coach and mentor Howard Bonaccorsi, personal trainer Steve Denby and psychologist Carl Steptoe, not forgetting fiancee Charlotte, with the pair due to marry in May, 2016.
Liam said: “Howard and I have been together for four years, and have developed a good relationship – he is a coach, friend and mentor.
“I have become a lot stronger mentally over the past 18 months, grown up and wised up a lot in that time but I have still got a lot to learn.”
Harper has just embarked on a six-week fitness regime, ahead of a trip to Spain in December
‘I have become a lot stronger mentally over the past 18 months’
when he hopes to qualify for the Alps Tour.
A big fan of fellow Gunners supporter Ian Poulter, Harper says his ambition is to win a place on the European Tour and earn a place among the top-50.
Anyone who feels they would like to help Liam achieve his aims, through sponsorship, can call him on 07950 761081.