SA foursome book Open places
17 January 2008
"The Good, the Bad, the Ugly and the Rookie - that's us!" said the South African foursome that booked their berths for The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England in the first International Qualifier on Wednesday.
While overnight leader Josh Cunliffe (the Rookie) never relinquished his advantage, experienced campaigner Darren Fichardt (the Good) set the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington East course on fire, while Doug McGuigan (the Ugly) employed his latest mantra to stay calm and steadily chipped away at the leaderboard.
But they were all in agreement that the spotlight of the day should fall on the Bad, Hennie Otto.
Hallelujah putt
The feisty "Boksburg Bomber" showed why he can never be written off when
he holed a 16-foot "hallelujah" putt for an eagle-three at the final hole to guarantee his fifth start in The Open.
Otto's 65 saw him finish at eight-under-par and joint-third with former neighbour and good friend, McGuigan, shutting the door on a play-off with Ulrich van den Berg and Brandon Pieters, tied on seven-under.
McGuigan and Otto finished four strokes behind Cunliffe, who showed maturity beyond his 25 years to navigate the tough layout in a solid second successive six-under-par 65.
'An absolute dream'
"I think I might go book my ticket just now," enthused the 2005 SA Amateur Strokeplay winner. "I guess I'll have a couple of months to get used to the idea, because it's an absolute dream come true for me."
Having bogeyed the first hole, he proceeded to collect five birdies before the turn and added three more against another drop for a winning total of 12-under.
"I had a very specific game plan when I went out this
morning and I stuck to it, in spite of the bogeys. It gave me added confidence going out there, knowing what I'm supposed to do. Even when I got into trouble, like the bogey at the par-three (12th), or when I hit it in the trees off the tee at the 18th, it didn't upset my rhythm or my planning."
Blistered the course
Fichardt, who had to withdraw from the Joburg Open after nine holes in the first round after injuring his left wrist, opened his tally with a 68. The six-time Sunshine Tour winner then blistered the par-71 layout in the second round, with an unofficial course-record 63.
"I was really upset after the injury ruined my chances in the Joburg Open," said Fichardt, whose eight-under-par round did not count as a course record due to placing. "I love this course and I know I can do well here. I was very relieved when I went to the driving range on Saturday and the wrist felt okay.
"Yesterday I felt out of sorts and struggled to get
around over the first nine holes, but over the back nine things started to heat up. As soon as I was hitting balls on the driving range this morning, I knew it would be a good day.
One bogey, many birdies
After a birdie at the second, Fichardt made his only bogey at the fourth when he missed the fairway on the left.
"I had a shocking lie with 200 metres in. I tried to get it close to the pin, but it was short of the green. After a decent chip, I messed up the par-putt."
Birdies followed at the fifth, seventh, eighth, 12th, 14th, 15th and 17th and the two-time Sunshine Tour Order of Merit winner narrowly missed a six-footer for eagle at the 18th.
"I am so excited to go to The Open. I've played four times and missed the cut each time. Maybe we should ask them to move The Open here."
Steadiness
McGuigan's round of 67 showed only one bogey, but the popular player's steadiness on the course paid big
dividends.
"I just stuck to the fairways and greens; that's how you have to play this track. If you start to get too clever, or too aggressive, the course will bite back," said McGuigan, who shared the first spot this year and is also hopeful of making his first cut in this third turn at The Open.
"I had injuries the previous two times, so this year I will be wrapping myself in cotton wool at least a month before the time. Who knows? Maybe I will get the good old third time lucky."
Otto, who was stunned at having missed the cut in the Joburg Open at his home course, was just as stunned when he holed a pressure putt at the 18th to qualify for his fifth Open Championship.
'I needed an eagle'
"I knew I needed an eagle to tie Dougie," explained Otto. "I flew the fairway bunkers - that was one big drive - but I knew that was just half the job done.
"Then I hit probably the best four-iron of my career into the green. It was
still a bit nerve-wracking, standing over that putt. It breaks heavily from left to right, about three foot, and it's quite pacey - I timed it just right."
Narrow misses
Otto's eagle effectively closed the door on big-hitting Brandon Pieters, who carded a 69, and Ulrich van den Berg, who also eagled the 18th for a 67. Both players were tied on seven-under.
England's Justin Walters was also in the trio at seven-under playing the last, but he raced a birdie putt past the hole and failed to close for par with his return putt. His 70 tied him with 2005 winner, Warren Abery (70) and James Kamte (67) on six-under.
Edoardo Molinari from Italy got to five-under through 14 holes, but a bogey at the 15th stopped his campaign and he limped home in with pars the rest of the way for a 70 and a share of 10th at four-under.
Source: Sunshine Tour
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