Thriston Lawrence once again showed how comfortable he is in the most exalted golfing company when he carded a seven-under-par 65 in the third round of the DP World Tour’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth to move into a share of fifth.
It was a superb display in tough, rainy conditions by Lawrence, whose only blemish came when his normally impeccably reliable driver let him down on the 15th. He could only chip out from the trees on the left, and he pushed his third right of the green. Although he got up and down safely enough, it was a bogey he really could have done without.
He moved to 13-under-par for the tournament, and his round was bettered only by the leader, Matteo Manassero, who was masterful in the company of Rory McIlroy on his way to a bogey-free 63 which included an eagle on the fourth.
Manassero moved to 18-under-par through 54 holes, three clear of McIlroy and Billy Horschel of the United States. McIlroy was also bogey-free for his six-under 66, but he could have been closer to Manassero but for his second finding the water on the par-five 18th. In the end, he made par there, but had he made the green, he could have been putting for eagle and would almost certainly have made at least birdie. Horschel made two bogeys, but his round was impressive with seven birdies in succession from the eighth around the turn.
