FISHER FINISHES RUNNER-UP IN SOUTH AFRICA
England international Oliver Fisher underlined his ever growing
potential by finishing runner-up in the South African Stroke
Play Championship at De Zalze
A closing 70 for an aggregate of 279, nine under par, left
the 17 year old from Essex two strokes behind the winner,
South African Branden Grace, who also finished with 70.
Cheshire-based David Horsey carded a final 69 to finish joint
third on 280, but Edward Richardson, who had led the championship
virtually from the start, finished tied sixth on 282 after
a 78. Alongside Richardson on the same score was another England
cap, Adam Gee with 71.
Fisher, who became the youngest ever GB&I Walker Cup player
in Chicago last August, began the final day five strokes off
the lead but came home in 33 strokes for his 70 but was unable
to make further progress on Grace.
Richardson, who was joint leader after round one and had a
three shot advantage over Grace going into the final day,
suffered with a front nine of 40, which included a triple-bogey
eight on the sixth and a double-bogey five on the short ninth.
The 37 year old from Kent covered the inward nine in 38 but
his victory chance was gone.
Jamie Moul became the fifth English player to finish in the
top ten when he returned a 74 for 285.
With the spotlight now on the match play competition, England
has seven players in the Championship and four in the Plate
Bowl. Unfortunately, from the finishing positions, Fisher
meets Gary Wolstenholme in round one while Horsey faced fellow
England international James Ruth.
Leading final scores:
277 B Grace (SA) 68 72 67 70
279 O Fisher (Eng) 70 71 68 70
280 J du Buisson (SA) 72 68 69 71
280 D Horsey (Eng) 70 68 73 69
281 F Colombo (It) 69 66 76 70
282 E Richardson (Eng) 68 68 68 78
282 A Gee (Eng) 69 73 69 71
283 J Grillon (Fra) 69 70 77 67
283 J Day (Aus) 72 72 70 69
285 J Moul (Eng) 71 68 72 74
|
