At the 2015 Najeti Open Ryan Fox began a
run that brought him agonisingly close to a full European Tour card and he drew
on those good memories to finish top Australasian at the Challenge Tour event
again this week.

Playing on an invitation last year, Fox
finished T5 to automatically qualify for the following week’s tournament and
parlayed that good play into an eventual victory later in the week.

Fox returned to the Najeti Open this week
and was once again in the mix as he posted scores of 71-70-68-71 to finish T7,
five behind winner Jose Flilipe Lima.

Daniel Gaunt, who has found some form in
recent weeks, was next best of the Australians two shots behind Fox but will be
disappointed with his finish after sharing the lead through 18 holes.

Gaunt opened with a 6-under 65 to be one of
three players sharing top spot but slipped back through the field with scores
of 74-73 and 70.

Terry Pilkadaris (T29) and Nick Cullen
(T69) were the only others to make the cut, Antonio Murdaca and David Bransdon
failing to qualify for the weekend.