Golf: Fisher closes on double: Brabazon Trophy winner makes his point in style

DAVID FISHER is two rounds away from becoming the first player to win the English Amateur strokeplay and matchplay championships since Michael Bonallack achieved the feat in 1968. The 21-year-old Brabazon Trophy winner from Stoke Poges starts as favourite when he plays Richard Bland, from Southampton, in today's 36-hole final at Saunton, north Devon.

Fisher dispatched the former European tour professional, Martin Foster, 6 and 5 in yesterday's quarter-finals and then beat Staffordshire's David Lynn 4 and 3 in the semi-finals.

Fisher felt he had a point to make after winning the Brabazon Trophy in May and then reaching the last eight of the British Amateur championship did not earn him either an England place in the European team championships or a place in the Walker Cup team.

Bland, 20, a member of the Bramshott Hill Municipal club, beat the Lincolnshire champion, James Crampton, and then Stuart Davis, a student from Derby, the first time he had to go beyond the 15th green.

ENGLISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP (Saunton) Quarter-finals: S Davis (Kedleston Park) bt D Haines (Burnham and Berrow) 2 and 1; R Bland (Bramshott Hill) bt J Crampton (Spalding) 4 and 3; D Fisher (Stoke Poges) bt M Foster (Bradford) 6 and 5; D Lynn (Trentham) bt G Jenkins (Kenilworth) 1 hole. Semi-finals: Bland bt Davis 3 and 1; Fisher bt Lynn 4 and 3.