Ford second in Africa Open
09/03/2015
Kent-based PGA pro Matt Ford claimed the biggest prize fund of his career after finishing second in the Africa Open at East London Club.
Ford, who in November achieved his lifelong ambition by winning his European Tour card at qualifying school at the 10th time of asking, pocketed €120,000 behind champion Trevor Fisher Jnr.
More significantly the victory moves Ford up to 41st in the Race to Dubai rankings and gives him a great platform to regain his card for next season.
Fisher, an eight time winner on the Sunshine Tour, eventually won his maiden European Tour title by five shots from Ford courtesy of a final round eight under par 64.
But he faced strong competition from Ford until he pulled clear by taking full advantage of a bogey from the Englishman on the ninth with birdies either side of the turn.
Ford signed for a final round 67 - his fourth round in the 60s - for an 19-under-par total.
On his battle with Ford, Fisher Jnr (below left with Ford) said: “He is a little British bulldog. He sank putts and I thought ‘jeez, I’m not going to get away from this guy’! He made birdie, I made birdie and then when I made birdie, he made birdie. It was quite tough.
“On the ninth hole I made a great birdie and he made a five so that was where it turned. I knew I just had to keep my head up and keep going.”
Ford held his nerve early on, unmoved by two excellent approach shots from Fisher Jnr to match the leader’s gains at the first and third and stay two behind.
The latter gave Ford renewed hope of cutting the lead when he was wayward from the fourth tee, although he recovered superbly to make par after the Englishman was inches away from holing a birdie putt.
But Fisher Jnr’s advantage was halved on the next when he dropped a shot, failing to recover from hitting his drive into the sand.
Ford was not the only player putting pressure on Fisher Jnr as he was joined on 16 under by Jorge Campillo after the surging Spaniard birdied the seventh, his third in succession.
Yet it was back to a two horse race when Fisher Jnr and Ford both gained shots at six and seven and Campillo bogeyed the ninth as the rain started to fall for the first time this week.
Ford’s major error proved to be costly, missing a six foot putt for par ahead of the turn to fall three behind Fisher Jnr, who required only a trio of shots to complete the par four 470 yard ninth.
Fisher Jnr’s lead was four with another gain on the tenth, the hole before saving par with a brilliant 20 foot putt following a wayward drive.
Although Ford gained a shot on the 14th, Fisher Jnr collected three birdies in the final four holes to confirm victory.
Read Matt Ford's most recent blog for PGA.info here.
