Veteran Canizares picked up the last of his two DP World Tour wins at the 2014 Trophee Hassan II, but the 39-year-old was back to his best in Crans Montana as he fired nine birdies and a solitary bogey to join Lawrence at the top of the leaderboard on eight-under.

The South African, who opened the 2022 DP World Tour season with victory at the Joburg Open, shot a bogey free 62 around the picturesque Golf Club Crans-sur-Sierre, making six birdies before closing his round with a pitch-in eagle.

His countryman Louis de Jager is two shots further back alongside England’s Matt Wallace, Scott Jamieson of Scotland and Spain’s Eduardo de la Riva.

Rasmus Højgaard opened his title defence with a round of 65 to sit among a group of eight players at five under par, while Canadian Aaron Cockerill made a hole-in-one from 170 yards at the third hole in his even par round of 70.

? HOLE-IN-ONE! ?@A_Cockerill wins CHF 30,000 worth of life insurance provided by Vaudoise Insurances.#OEM2022 pic.twitter.com/kvDIa8vfvW

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) August 25, 2022

“It was a great round, I started off really comfortable,” Canizares said. “My goal today was to focus on the targets, not my swing, since it hasn’t worked lately. I did that well, even though I made a three putt early on. I knew I was hitting the shots that I wanted. Really happy to bounce back from that one.

“I kept going, kept hitting good shots. It felt almost like it was unconscious. That is what I’m working on, to forget about technique and let it go. It’s difficult if you don’t practice it enough. I did that today. Putted great, made two up and downs on the last two. I’m over the moon.”

Lawrence added: “Bogey free, so that’s always a tick in the box. It’s been awesome, the whole season has gone well. It was nice to have a top 10 last week and to open here with a 62 is always a pleasure.

“It’s lovely, how can you not enjoy this scenery? Even if you’re playing badly, you still have something to look at. Amazing golf course, amazing views, I’m having lots of fun.

Just copy and paste tomorrow hopefully.”

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The post DP World Tour: Canizares and Lawrence scale the heights in Swiss Alps appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.