Fisher finishes runner-up in South Africa - 9th Mar 2006

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, (pictured left – photo courtesy of Tom Ward) 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

Related Links

• http://www.englishgolfunion.org

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