Monday, January 11, 2010

Fisher takes lead after 2nd round of Africa Open

EAST LONDON, South Africa (AP) — Trevor Fisher Jr. shot a second straight 7-under 66 to grab the lead after the second round of the Africa Open on Friday.

The South African eagled two of the par-5s and added five birdies with two bogeys to finish the round at 14-under 132, one shot ahead of Patrik Sjoland of Sweden.

Sjoland was one shot clear of South Africans Thomas Aiken and Keith Horne, who both had 67s for the second straight day.

"The key here is to stay patient, hit as many greens as possible and if the putts drop, you are going to be there at the end on Sunday," Aiken said.

Fisher started with an eagle on the first hole and then made a 60-foot putt for a birdie on the second despite struggling to get a good night's sleep after ending the first round in a five-way tie atop the leaderboard.

"I almost didn't wake up, so I went out there and I didn't expect too much," Fisher said. "I started off with an eagle and I sank a massive putt on the second hole and I just got it going nicely."

Fisher is a four-time winner on the Sunshine Tour, but is feeling the pressure of topping the leaderboard in an event that is co-sanctioned by the European Tour.

"We're up against the boys from Europe and you see your name up there," he said. "I'm not going to lie, it's nerve-racking."

Nick Dougherty of England (73) and New Zealand's Danny Lee (77) both failed to make the cut.



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