Fuente: © Southern Africa Tour
http://www.sunshinetour.com/

GOLF: SOUTHERN AFRICA TOUR: Fichardt clinches top-10 at Russian Open

/noticias.info/ A dismal showing at The Open and a new baby daughter inspired cousins by marriage Darren Fichardt and Michiel Bothma to new heights at the Russian Open in Moscow.

Fichardt, who crashed out at Royal Birkdale with rounds of 82 and 78, neatly erased the memories of Southport with a brilliant showing at the Le Meridien Moscow Golf and Country Club to clinch a share of sixth on the final leaderboard.

Fichardt, a former European Tour winner, started the Open Championship with a double bogey six and was five-over through six holes. In a turnaround performance, Fichardt opened with rounds of 66 and 71 and equalled the lowest score for the front nine with a 30 on Saturday en route to a second 66.

“It all came down to the weather. I had the worst side of the draw at the Open with winds up to 60kph and sweeping rain in the first round and had too much to make up on the second day. It was very disappointing but in this game, you have to get over it very quickly and move on.”

Move on he did at the tree-lined layout at Le Meridien. Four birdies offset by two bogeys saw the double Sunshine Tour Order of Merit winner card a 70 on Sunday to finish within six shots of winner Mikael Lundberg of Sweden.

“I loved the course; it’s very American in nature – tree-lined, fast greens and off course, great weather,” said Fichardt, who is often teased for his loathing of cold and wet conditions.

“I was playing well going into the Open. I played both practice rounds under-par and had high expectations, but the weather outplayed me. It was really nice to see that all the work Neville (Sundelson) and I did before the Open pay off in Russia.”

Bothma, who attended the birth of daughter Milan just six weeks ago, swept into contention with a third round 66 which included eight birdies and two bogeys. He managed to seal his best finish to date this season with a final round 73 to tie for 12th on Sunday.

“I played well and the putter, especially, has been behaving well. I made the putts I needed and I managed to hit it close all week,” said Bothma.

Lundberg, a winner in Moscow in 2005, finished on 21-under-par for a two-shot victory over Spain's Jose Manuel Lara.

Final result from the Russian Open:
267 Mikael Lundberg SWE 67-64-68-68
273 Darren Fichart 66-71-66-70 (T6)
275 Michiel Bothma 68-68-66-73 (T12)
279 James Kamte 71-69-68-71 (T30)
281 Adilson da Silva BRA 69-73-68-71 (T43)

Missed cut (set at 142):
143 Thomas Aiken 73-70 (T74)
146 Branden Grace 72-74 (T99)
147 Trevor Fisher Jnr 76-71 (T106) notas_de_prensa_archivo