Thriston Lawrence started the DP World Tour’s Thailand Classic at Amata Spring Country Club in Bangkok well on Thursday when he carded a six-under-par 66 to end the first round in a share of fifth.
Lawrence, who started his round on the 10th, made three birdies on his outward nine, and then two more on his way home, interspersed with an eagle and a bogey. He was two shots off the lead, which was shared by the Dane Martin Simonsen and Sami Välimäki of Finland on eight-under. They led by one from the German duo of Alexander Knappe and Yannik Paul on seven-under.
South African Open champion Lawrence shared fifth with Frenchman Robin Sciot-Siegrist, Spain’s Rafa Cabrera Bello and Fabrizio Zanotti of Paraguay. One shot behind that was Zander Lombard, who has been playing so well over the least two weeks. He had an eagle, four birdies and a bogey in his 67 for a share of ninth.
Daniel van Tonder and Thomas Aiken were in a share of 17th on four-under, while Bryce Easton, Jayden Schaper and Jake Redman all carded three-under-par 69 to start. Albert Venter was on one-under, and Louis de Jager was on level-par.
George Coetzee, Justin Walters and MJ Viljoen were on one-over in a share of 105th, and Deon Germishuys was on two-over.
