Thriston Lawrence showed that perhaps his natural golfing home is on the DP World Tour on Thursday when he celebrated his return to Europe with an opening five-under-par 66 in the first round of the Soudal Open at Rinkven International Golf Club in Antwerp, Belgium.

Lawrence, who had played his way as high as 45th on the Official World Golf Ranking, and onto the PGA Tour, has made just two cuts in 11 starts in the United States this season. But on his return to the territory which saw him become on of the best golfers in the world, he finished his first competitive round just one shot off the lead.

He made six birdies and a bogey, and joined Sean Crocker of the United States and England’s Marcus Penge one stroke behind the three-way share of the lead. Up front, it was Joost Luiten of the Netherlands, Spain’s Angel Ayora, and Canadian Aaron Cockerill on six-under-par.

Lawrence started his round on the 10th with a birdie, and made his only bogey on the 13th. He regained the lost shot with a birdie on 15, and then added four birdies after the turn without dropping another shot.

“This is where I started about four years ago, and I’ve been playing nicely last four years on this tour so it’s nice to be back and I think it’s maybe needed for me just to get some confidence,” Lawrence said. “I know the golf courses around here, I know the greens too. It’s also nice to start with a five-under but it’s always great to be back and support the tour.”

Next-best of the 16-man South African contingent in the field was Richard Sterne on two-under in a share of 26th. Thomas Aiken was on one-under,  and Jayden Schaper, Zander Lombard and Dylan Frittelli were on level-par in a share of 69th.