By Iqbal Khan at the Wild Coast Sun Country Club
Soon after being crowned the 2009 Nashua Masters champion here on Sunday, Darren Fichardt turned his attention to the International Final Qualifier, starting at Royal Durban early on Tuesday.
"That's my next and immediate target," he said. "I finished second in the event last year and would like to improve on that."
The International Final Qualifier Africa takes place tomorrow and Wednesday and most of the South African professionals, plus a sprinkling of international ones who were at the Nashua Masters, will head for Royal Durban later today in preparation for the two-day 36-hole event.
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The top three from here will qualify for the British Open, which takes place at Turnberry from July 16-19.
Honours
Yesterday at the Wild Coast Country Club Fichardt and overnight leader March Cayeux were locked in a battle for the honours.
It came down to the wire as Cayeux, winner here in 2008, blew his chances as he dropped a shot to bring the Centurion Country Club pro into the picture and then allowed Fichardt to kick open the door when he recorded a double bogey on the 14th hole.
"That let me into the game, said Fichardt. "That was the turning point as I had taken a one shot lead and did my best to maintain it to the 18th where I could have just let him in again."
Fichardt drove his tee shot beautifully on to the fairway and then left his second about five metres shot of the hole. Cayeux went one better.
He out-drove Fichardt and his approach was a gem as it went 15 metres past the hole and settled after a back-spinner less than a metre to the hole. It was an easy birdie putt. And he was hoping for Fichardt to botch his birdie attempt.
"It was just five metres away, but it looked like 20 metres from the hole. I had to nail it and even though I was a little nervous and I did just that to put Marc out of his misery," said Fichardt.
He picked up the R190 000 winner's cheque and the trophy and with a smile he said: "I'm off to Royal Durban for the IFQ - that's my next goal." Fichardt shot a final round 65 for a 17-under-par-163 while Cayeux finished with 67 in his final round for a 16-under-par-264. For Fichardt this was his first win since his success at the BearingMan Classic in 2006.
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This article was originally published on page 14 of Daily News on February 02, 2009
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