Matt Ford is celebrating the biggest pay day of his career after finishing runner-up at the Africa Open on Sunday.

The Bearsted professional, who turns 37 next month, earned a cheque for 120,484 euros, after finishing five shots behind home countryman Trevor Fisher junior, who clinched his maiden European Tour success with a final round of eight-under-par 64.

Ford, who led after two rounds, trailed Fisher by two shots at the start of play as they went out together as the final pairing. But a bogey on the ninth - missing a six-foot par for par - handed the South African the advantage, and he moved clear on the back nine to finish 24-under-par.

Ford finished 19-under-par after a final round 67 - maintaining his consistency with a fourth sub-70 score of a successful week, having won his Tour Card at the 10th attempt last November.

He won praise from Fisher who said: "He is a little British bulldog. He sank putts and I thought ‘jeez, I’m not going to get away from this guy’! He made birdie, I made birdie and then when I made birdie, he made birdie. It was quite tough."

Ford's best day came on Friday when he led the field by one shot following two rounds. He hit six birdies and an eagle in an impressive six-under-par 66.

Speaking after his second round, Ford said: "I don’t think you can ever get all of it out of the round.

"I missed a short one on 17 and hit a poor tee shot off nine, so those were a couple of mistakes, but you’re always going to make a few of those. I would have taken 11-under (after two rounds) at the beginning of the day."