Round 3 - Darren Fichardt wins weather hit event

February 27, 2017

Darren Fichardt won the weather-affected Joburg Open with a 4-under 68 on Sunday for a 1-shot victory over Stuart Manley and Paul Waring in a tournament reduced to three rounds because of rain and a waterlogged course.

South African Fichardt birdied his last hole, straight after dropping a shot on No. 17, to finish 15-under par overall and just ahead of Welshman Manley and Englishman Waring.

The top three secured places in this year's British Open.

The European Tour event at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington was decided over 54 holes after heavy rain on the first and third days led to delays with the course flooded. There was also a two-hour delay on Sunday morning for more rain before play could get underway.

Fichardt claimed his fifth tour title and first in four years with five birdies in the final round but had to lift himself after a mistake on No. 17 to pick up a shot on the last hole to win. He rolled in a two-foot putt to clinch the title, his first on the European Tour since the 2013 Africa Open.

Manley shot a third straight 67 to set the clubhouse target at 14 under, a score matched by Waring. Waring's birdie putt on the last lipped out and would have forced a playoff had it dropped.

Three players tied for fourth behind those two: England's James Morrison and South Africans Brandon Stone and Jacques Kruyswijk.

First-round leader Paul Peterson of the United States finished with a 3-under 69 for a share of seventh place.

Round 3 - Tournament cut to 54 holes

February 26, 2017

The Joburg Open was reduced to 54 holes after more rain left the course waterlogged on Saturday and forced another suspension in play.

Many of the field hadn't started their third round when thunder and lightning prompted organizers to halt play early in the afternoon. Rain then meant the third round will be completed on Sunday and will be the final round at the European Tour event at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

England's Paul Waring and South Africa's Darren Fichardt share the lead on 11 under, with Waring completing a 67 in his second round early on Saturday. Fichardt was one of the few players to finish his second round on Friday.

Two South Africans, Dean Burmester and Jacques Kruyswijk, are tied for third a shot behind.

Round 2 - Darren Fichardt takes clubhouse lead

February 25, 2017

A new putter helped South African Darren Fichardt to a 66 Friday and a one-shot clubhouse lead in the rain-affected Joburg Open golf championship.

"New putter, new grip and I am very comfortable," said the 41-year-old seeking a fifth European Tour triumph and first since the 2013 Africa Open.

"Putting is scoring and it is nice to stand over a putt and feel like you are going to make it."

Pretoria-born Fichardt tops the leaderboard with an 11-under 132 after playing the east and west courses at a soggy Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

Torrential rain Thursday caused a backlog and there was a further delay Friday, meaning many competitors will only complete their second round Saturday.

South African Jacques Kruyswijk lies second, one shot behind, after adding a rollercoaster 70 to a first-round 63.

Title-holder Haydn Porteous (67) of South Africa, Anton Karlsson (68) of Sweden, Stuart Manley (67) of Wales and Aaron Rai (69) of England are a stroke further back.

Among those who will not make the halfway cut are former major winners Trevor Immelman (69) of South Africa and Darren Clarke (73) of Northern Ireland.

Hot putting helped Fichardt to four birdies in the first six holes and an eagle three at eight saw him turn in 31, six under for the day.

His second nine was less spectacular with a bogey on 10 and a birdie on the final hole.

"I have not stumbled into this position," stressed the pacesetter. "It has taken a lot of hard work and perseverance.

"During the last seven weeks I have worked really hard and believe it is beginning to pay off."

Kruyswijk bogeyed the opening hole and birdied the eighth to complete the outward nine in level par.

The inward half reaped greater reward with four birdies and two bogeys under a largely leaden sky.

Round 1 - Paul Peterson leads with opening 62

February 24, 2017

Paul Peterson birdied four of his last five holes to shoot a bogey-free 9-under 62 Thursday before play was suspended because of a waterlogged course in the first round of the Joburg Open.

Peterson holds a two-shot lead over English players Aaron Rai and Paul Waring. Nearly half of the 210-man field was still out on the course when heavy rain arrived, forcing an early end to play.

Torrential rain soaked the course at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club through much of the week, leading to the cancellation of the pro-am on Tuesday.

Peterson, a 28-year-old left-hander from Arizona, birdied four of his first six holes in dry early conditions on the West Course, picked up another shot on the ninth hole, and then had an excellent finish.

''I put a new putter in play this week and it proved to be a good first round with it,'' said Peterson, whose only European Tour title came at the Czech Masters last year.

Waring also had nine birdies, along with two bogeys, in his 7-under 65 on the East Course. The 21-year-old Rai - playing only the third European Tour event of his career - had seven birdies and no dropped shots on the same course.

The East Course will be used for the full field after the cut.

South African players have won seven of the 10 editions of the tournament. Jbe Kruger is the best-placed South African after a 65 on the West Course.

There are three qualifying spots for the British Open available at the Joburg Open. Kruger is one of only three players in the field already exempt for the major at Royal Birkdale.

Scores

 

About Ben Brett