Darren Fichardt is hunting another European Tour victory after taking the first round lead in the Tshwane Open. Photo: Petri Oeschger/Sunshine Tour
PRETORIA, South Africa – With almost fifty per cent of his victories coming in either February or March, it’s no wonder that Darren Fichardt likes to get the maximum benefit out of this part of the season.
Fichardt is hunting his second victory this month after opening with a seven-under-par 65 to lead the first round of the Tshwane Open at The Els Club, Copperleaf, on Thursday.
The Pretoria professional teed off on the 10th and birdied that, then made four more birdies to the turn, and came home with a further three birdies and only one bogey.
“Playing well, putting well, chipping well and everything is good, so my confidence is high,” he said of his one-stroke lead, and the win and seventh-place finish he’s enjoyed in the last two weeks.
Sweden’s Bjorn Akesson is his nearest challenger, with England’s Gary Lockerbie and David Howell, Chile’s Mark Tullo, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh and South Africa’s Jean Hugo all on five under.
Darren Clarke opened with a three under 69, Michael Campbell a 72 and Jose Maria Olazabal a 76, including a second nine of 42.
For all the talk of the length of this golf course, there were mixed reactions from the top of the leaderboard on day one.
Fichardt birdied the par-five fourth hole, which at 626 metres is the longest hole in European Tour history.
“You can almost not get up there for three never mind two,” said Fichardt. “I hit driver, three iron, seven iron and holed a 12-foot putt.
“But I mean, at that length, into the wind and with the fairways not running, it’s not a fun hole.”
And after bringing down that monster, Fichardt bogeyed the tame par-four seventh. “I birdied all the tough holes and then the easiest hole on the golf course I bogey – that’s how this game is. It was a very weak hole, but the other 17 were good.”
