Thriston Lawrence battled his way through a streaky homeward nine on Thursday to open his campaign with a four-under-par 68 in the DP World Tour’s Porsche Singapore Classic at Laguna National Golf Resort Club in Singapore.
Lawrence, currently in fifth place on the Race to Dubai rankings, started his round on the 10th, and four birdies in five holes from the 14th saw him turn in four-under. But he made bogey immediately after the turn on the second, and there was a double-bogey six on his closing hole, the ninth. But he made three birdies on that front nine to keep his total at four-under.
That effort put him eight shots off the lead which was shared by Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, England’s Jordan Smith and Gavin Green of Malaysia. Their 64s put them one clear of Ugo Coussaud of France in fourth. There were five players on six-under in a share of fifth, and 12 in a share of ninth on five-under, one clear of Lawrence and four other players.
Defending champion Ockie Strydom opened with a bogey-free three-under-par 69 to be in a share of 31st.
Casey Jarvis, Jayden Schaper and Zander Lombard were a further shot back in a share of 45th, together with Rhys Enoch from Wales by way of Potchefstroom.
Jaco Prinsloo and Oliver Bekker opened with one-over 73 each, while Louis de Jager, Brandon Stone and Pieter Moolman all had two-over 74. Justin Harding had a three-over 75 and was down in a share of 123rd.
