Johannesburg – A brand of compelling, positive and precise golf netted Trevor Fisher Junior nine birdies for a fabulous eight-under-par 64 and the title of the Africa Open champion at East London Golf Club.
Fisher's five stroke victory on 24-under-par 264 not only extended South Africa's stranglehold in the tournament to an eight successive year, but secured the 36-year-old the elusive European Tour card he has been chasing for nearly a decade.
“I only had three bogeys for the week, which is quite an achievement,” he said after a remarkable round that took his weekend tally to 17-under-par after a 63 on the third day.
“That's how you win tournaments Ä by keeping bogeys off your card. My mind set was great. I didn't let anything faze me, and I hit my long irons very well. All you want to do is give yourself a chance.”
It was the 129th South African triumph on the European Tour, which will now have a new and very popular member, judging by all the congratulatory messages on social media.
Englishman Matt Ford, who led through the first two rounds, did little wrong as he also pursued a maiden European Tour win.
Ford carded a worthy five-under-par 67 with a bogey at the ninth the only blemish on his card, but he was kept at bay by the sheer brilliance of the winner.
The European Tour rookie made birdies at the first and third holes, but Fisher matched him shot for shot.
The Modderfontein golfer's only blemish came at the short par-four fifth, when he was short of the green with his approach after his tee-shot stopped under the lip of the fairway bunker just before the crest of the hill.
From there Fisher three-putted, but rebounded with birdies at the sixth and seventh holes and made an excellent par save on eight when his drive was way left.
“I don't want to define myself through my golf. I try to be myself whether I play a good shot or a bad shot. I just try to be a happy guy. I actually felt very comfortable out there, although I was a bit nervous towards the end,” he said.
Fisher said it was not the first time he has gone really low on this coastal links-type course.
“A few years ago I went seven-under and seven-under here to lead after the first two rounds, but Charl Schwartzel won. This year I thought it was my time and I had confidence because I've done it before on this course,” he said.
Third place was shared by two Spaniards Eduardo de la Riva and Jorge Campillo and Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen, who all shot 66s to finish on 16-under, while John Parry and Jaco van Zyl shared sixth on 14-under.
Van Zyl had started the day four strokes behind Fisher. He also had high hopes of securing his first European Tour win. But he endured a mediocre day, especially with the putter, and could only post a two-under-par 70.
For Fisher, the father of two daughters, the victory brings with it a European Tour exemption until the end of 2016.
“I've tried so hard to get that European Tour card, for so many years. Obviously it's a massive step for my career because that's where all South African golfers want to be,” he said.
Even more success and glory could lie ahead for the ever-smiling golfer because the Investec Cup finale, with its R3.5
million bonus pool prize for the winner, is less than two weeks away and Fisher is in pole position to win one of the biggest prizes in South African golf once again. – Sapa