Alfred Dunhill Championship

Fisher moves within one of leaders Madsen, Schwartzel

ESPN staff

November 29, 2013

Fisher was in fine form as he closed in on leaders © Getty Images

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Ross Fisher carded a round-of-the-day 65 to move within one of the lead at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and in contention for his first victory in more than three years.

The Englishman, whose last trophy was the 2010 Irish Open, has been in a rich vein of form, recording five top-10 finishes in the last six months - including losing in a play-off at the Perth International in October.

Starting at the 10th, Fisher carded birdies at 12, 13, 15 and 17 as well as an eagle at the par-5 18th to make the turn at 6-under par. He opened his back-nine with a bogey, but picked up shots at two and six to move to 7-under and a share for third with Dane Soren Hansen, who also carded a 65.

Fisher, who opened with a level-par 72 on Thursday, said: "It was a lot easier scoring today. It was a testing day yesterday, and I played well but just couldn't make a putt.

"To be seven behind the leader was a little disappointing, so I knew I had to come out today and try and play as well as the previous day, if not better.

"I holed a good birdie on 12 and made a very good putt on 13, and made good birdies on 15 and 17. And then I hit two lovely shots into 18 and made eagle. All of a sudden, I was turning in 6-under, so I was automatically thinking if I could pick three or four up on the front side, 62 or 63 could be on the cards."

It was not such a good day for compatriot Richard Finch, however, as the two-time European Tour winner fluffed a three-shot lead with four dropped shots in the final three holes to fall back into a tie for fifth place.

Finch's late slump means Morten Orum Madsen retains the lead, despite two double-bogeys, but he heads into the weekend tied at the top with defending champion Charl Schwartzel - who won this event by a massive 12 shots last year.

Also starting at the tenth, Madsen opened with three pars before a taking seven at the par-5 13th. Birdies at 14, 17 and 18 took him nicely into the turn, before he eagled the par-5 second.

But the 25-year-old carded bogeys at three and four, which were followed by another double at the par-3 fifth. Two further birdies were to come in a bizarre back-nine as he finished the day with a 71 to move to 8-under par.

Local favourite Schwartzel, Masters champion in 2011, had a far steadier round - carding four birdies en route to a second successive 68 to also reach 8-under in a tournament he won by 12 shots last year.

Alfred Dunhill Championship leaderboard