Fisher Now in Front in Tshwane Open


Ross Fisher followed up his opening 66 with a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead in the Tshwane Open. The event started Thursday at the Ernie Els-designed, 7,964-yard - the European Tour's longest course - Copperleaf Golf and Country Estate in Centurion, South Africa.

Fisher did most of his damage on the back nine Friday. After opening with a birdie and making the turn in 1-under 35, the 33-year-old Brit reeled off four birdies and an eagle on the home half for a 6-under 30.

He stands at 13-under 131, a stroke ahead of Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen, who also shot 65, and two ahead of first-round leader Simon Dyson of England (68) and Spain's Carlos del Moral of Spain (65).

"It's always tough to follow a low score because you always feel like you're losing ground on what you had the day before," Dyson said.

"I've been out here quite a while now and I knew there were plenty of chances to come today. I also knew that I was putting nicely, so I just stayed patient and hit good putts and eventually a few of them dropped."

Defending champion Dawie van der Walt, who won by two strokes in the event's inaugural year in 2013 over fellow South African Darren Fichardt, had a disappointing tournament, posting rounds of 78 and 74 to miss the cut of 3-under 141 by 11 strokes.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014015/leaderboard/index.html.