There's everything to play for today

26 February 2017 - 02:00 By MICHAEL VLISMAS
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Darren Fichardt heads the field with Paul Waring.
Darren Fichardt heads the field with Paul Waring.
Image: Getty Images

It takes a lot to get the better of a tournament with the biggest field on the European Tour and one played over two golf courses. In fact, it takes the relentless rain and the line-up of storms that have hit the Joburg Open at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

Shortly after Sunshine Tour weather expert Evert Scholtz climbed on the radio and alerted the officials with the words, "We have a situation", another big storm forced yet another suspension of play yesterday.

The tournament has now been reduced to 54 holes.

Leaders Darren Fichardt of South Africa and Englishman Paul Waring were yet to tee off their third rounds at 11-under, one clear of South Africans Dean Burmester and Jacques Kruyswijk who also hadn't gone off.

When the siren sounded, just over half the field hadn't teed off in the third round.

The delay was caused by a suspended first round that had to be completed early on Friday and a second round that had to be completed early yesterday.

"This course just can't take it anymore," said tournament director Theo Manyama. "So the decision is we'll continue the third round on Sunday [today], and which is now the final round. Our weather forecast indicates that if there will be a problem on Sunday it will be late afternoon, so we're hoping to be done by then."

It has taken a monumental effort by the 59-strong course maintenance staff and 3.30am starts to get the tournament this far, with both the East and West courses heavily waterlogged early in the week already.

And there is still everything to play for. Apart from the Joburg Open prize, the top three finishers here who are not already exempt for the Open Championship will earn a place in the Major at Royal Birkdale this year.

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