OSTRAVA, August 21, 2011 (AFP) - Oliver Fisher captured his first European Tour title on Sunday with a two-shot victory at the Czech Open, six years after demonstrating his potential by becoming the youngest ever Walker Cup player.
The 22-year-old carded a closing 69 to finish 13 under par with Sweden's Mikael Lundberg, the halfway leader, taking second place, ahead of Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti who signed for a 66 to take third on nine under.
Fisher now moves inside the top 70 on The Race to Dubai, a remarkable achievement for a player who had come into the tournament having missed 20 of his first 21 cuts this season.
"Getting your first win is obviously special, but especially as I’ve struggled so far this season," said the champion.
"My form has been horrific, but golf’s a funny game. I went through a lot of different emotions out there today. I hit it well on the range this morning, so that gave me confidence.
"I played the front nine really well, then got a bit unlucky on the tenth. After that, the wheels started to fall off a little bit."
Fisher had started the final round level with Scotland's Steven O’Hara, with both parring the first six holes while last year’s runner-up Gary Boyd briefly join them in a share of the lead.
But Fisher, having made his first birdie of the day at the seventh from 20 feet, struck approaches within five feet at the next two to reach 13 under par.
Lundberg, who lost his card last year, joined Fisher at the top of the leaderboard when he sunk a 15 foot putt at the 15th and held a share of the lead as Fisher came up short of the 11th green and failed to get up and down.
When Fisher came up short again at the 13th and then failed once more to scramble par, Lundberg was on his own in front.
Fisher responded with a brilliant approach at the 14th to a couple of feet and with the resulting birdie tied once more with Lundberg on 12 under, with O’Hara two behind after his first gain of the day on the 13th.
The leaders dropped shots on par threes at almost exactly the same time - Lundberg at the 17th as Fisher three-putted the 15th.
But Fisher responded with a birdie at the par five 16th and Lundberg could only par the last, leaving Fisher needing two closing pars for the title.
He won in style, however, sinking a 25 footer at the 17th to hold a two shot advantage going down the last.
Leading and selected final round scores in the Czech Open on Sunday (GBR/IRL unless stated, par 72):
275 - Oliver Fisher 71-67-68-69
277 - Mikael Lundberg (SWE) 68-68-72-69
279 - Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR) 71-71-71-66
280 - Gary Boyd 71-67-70-72
281 - David Drysdale 69-72-69-71, Steve Webster 70-70-71-70, Steven O'Hara 70-71-65-75, Lorenzo Gagli (ITA) 69-70-74-68
282 - Damien McGrane 67-71-72-72, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 70-74-64-74, Tano Goya (ARG) 73-66-72-71
283 - Anthony Kang (USA) 73-70-69-71, Joel Sjoholm (SWE) 75-69-69-70, Richie Ramsay 69-72-75-67, Jose Manuel Lara (ESP) 69-68-73-73
284 - Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 71-75-71-67, Shane Lowry 68-72-75-69, Tim Sluiter (NED) 73-70-73-68, James Morrison 74-69-72-69
285 - Alejandro Canizares (ESP) 72-72-70-71, Rafael Echenique (ARG) 70-72-71-72, Ignacio Garrido (ESP) 74-71-68-72
Selected
286 - Keith Horne (RSA) 71-75-69-71, Paul McGinley 69-71-71-75
288 - Peter Lawrie 66-75-74-73
289 - Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 70-72-70-77, Alexandre Kaleka (FRA) 71-74-71-73
290 - Matthew Zions (AUS) 71-75-71-73, Wade Ormsby (AUS) 73-72-70-75, Jaco Van Zyl (RSA) 72-72-75-71