Fichardt claims Open spot with win at Joburg Open

Fichardt Waring and Manley qualify for The Open at Royal Birkdale in July

Darren Fichardt birdied the final hole of the Joburg Open to claim a one-shot victory on home soil at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

The 41-year-old South African weathered a tournament plagued by storms and delays to card a four-under-par 68 on the final day, earning the 139th South African win on the European Tour in the process.

The tournament had been reduced to 54-holes due to the weather conditions, but Fichardt still managed to make it to 15-under-par and in addition to the trophy secured the added bonus of qualifying for the 146th Open at Royal Birkdale in July.

The other two spots available were claimed by Stuart Manley and Paul Waring, who finished tied for second place on 14-under-par.

Manley had set the clubhouse lead following back-to-back birdies on the final two holes, while Fichardt’s playing partner Waring fought hard to stay in contention. Waring birdied the 16th and Fichardt bogeyed the 17th to put them in a three-way tie with one to play, but Waring ultimately missed his longer birdie chance as Fichardt went on to gain his 5th European Tour win and first in four years.

Fichardt, who started this week with both a brand new putter and a new cack-handed grip, maintained that it was the hard work he’s put into his short game that earned him the win.

“My short game has been letting me down the last two years and I’ve just been working really hard,” he said immediately after his round.

“This is one tournament I knew I’d have to work really hard to win. Yesterday the guys were bombing it past me. It’s definitely a bombers course but once again it’s the short game that puts the scores on the board.”

“It’s just very nice to see hard work paying off.”

The Open Qualifying Series

There are still nine other events in the series for players to qualify, which will take place as follows…

– Ho Tram Players Championship (2 spots): 13th – 16th April
– Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open (4 spots): 25th – 28th May
– Quicken Loans National (4 spots): 29th June – 3rd July
– Final Qualifying (12 spots): 4th July
– Open de France (3 spots): Date TBC
– Dubai Duty Free Irish Open (3 spots): 6th – 9th July
– The Greenbrier Classic (4 spots): 6th – 9th July
– Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open (3 spots): 13th – 16th July
– John Deere Classic (1 spot): 13th – 16th July