Darren Fichardt closed with a level-par 72 on Sunday to have a share of fifth with two other South Africans in the European Tour’s BMW International Open at Golfclub München Eichenried in Munich, Germany.
Fichardt finished the tournament on 13-under-par 275, six shots behind the winner Viktor Hovland, who became the first Norwegian to win on the European Tour. The other South Africans who shared fifth with Fichardt were Justin Harding, who closed with a three-under 69, and Shaun Norris who also signed for a three-under closing round.
In a great tournament for South African players, Daniel van Tonder finished in a share of 12th, and Jacques Kruyswijk and Justin Walters in a share of 17th, making it six players in the top 25.
Fichardt battled on his opening nine, making early bogeys on two and three, and then again on sex and eight. He kept himself in contention with birdies on five and seven. He bogeyed the 10th immediately after the turn, and then worked hard to pull things back as he made birdies on 11, 15 and 18.
The round of the day came from former world number one Martin Kaymer, who carded an eight-under 64 to finish second, two strokes behind Hovland. Kaymer has not won since he took the 2014 US Open.
Norris started well with birdies on two, four and six, but his remaining four birdies in the round were counteracted by four bogeys. Harding, too, started superbly, reaching the turn in five-under 31 after he made eagle two on the ninth to go with his three birdies on the opening nine. But he made four bogeys and just two birdies on the homeward loop.
Van Tonder carded a closing two-under 70, Kruyswijk a four-under 68 and Walters a one-under 71.
