Thriston Lawrence Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

Thriston Lawrence battles to dramatic victory in Munich

Golf Digest Middle East — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 05:25:39 +0000

Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Thriston Lawrence claimed his second win of the season as he overhauled Joost Luiten on a dramatic final day in Germany to take the title at the BMW International Open.

The South African entered the final day at Golfclub München Eichenried four shots behind his rival but had reeled him in by the turn before back-to-back three-putts on the 12th and 13th left him two behind with five to play.

The 17th then proved critical as Lawrence hit a stunning tee shot to set up a birdie and Luiten three-putted the par-three to drop out of the lead for the first time all day.

Lawrence parred the last for a 69 to finish at 13 under and with Luiten unable to make a birdie on the par-five, the 26-year-old was left celebrating a fourth DP World Tour title.

Luiten’s closing 74 left him a shot ahead of Kiwi Daniel Hillier, Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino, local favourite Maximilian Kieffer and Pole Adrian Meronk.

Lawrence was the first winner of the DP World Tour era last season at the Joburg Open and he added another title at the Omega European Masters en route to being crowned the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year.

Another win in his homeland at the Investec South African Open Championship came at the start of this season but that was his last worldwide top ten and Lawrence cut an emotional figure as he reflected on a fourth win in 19 months.

“It means a lot,” he said, fighting back tears after becoming just the second South African to win this trophy after the great Ernie Els.

“There’s been a lot of hard work. I went to America for six weeks and made one cut – this game is not easy. It was a real boost today and I really gave it my all. I feel sorry for Joost, I know how tough this game is.

“I don’t know why I’m so emotional but obviously it just shows that it means the world and to get my fourth victory in Germany is unbelievable.

“I seem to win a lot of events that Ernie has won. It’s special, he’s obviously the ultimate hero for me. I grew up in that era where he was on top of the world and it’s very special to get my name along alongside him.”

Lawrence holed a 46-footer at some pace on the second and followed it with a left-to-righter from 23 feet on the next to get within two of the leader after a quick start.

A Luiten three-putt on the third saw the lead down to one but Lawrence found the hazard on the fifth and had to take a drop, surrendering his first shot of the day.

The advantage was up to three as Luiten holed from 17 feet on the fifth but Lawrence got up and down on the par-five sixth and then hit a wonderful approach to four feet at the next to trim the advantage back to one.

Lawrence missed the green at the eighth to give up a bogey but Luiten three-putted again from the fringe at the seventh and a Lawrence birdie after laying up at the par-five ninth had him tied at the top.

The roller coaster continued for Lawrence when he found sand and dropped a shot at the tenth and, after it had been a two-horse race over the front nine, there were now five players within three shots of Luiten.

Lawrence was back in a share of the lead after laying up at the par-five 11th but back-to-back three-putts dropped him two behind and all of a sudden, Kieffer was the nearest challenger.

He had birdied the first after a smart approach but gave the shot back on the third before making it birdies on all four days at both the sixth and ninth to turn in 34.

He continued his remarkable record on the par-fives with an eagle from 28 feet at the 11th and an approach to ten feet had him within one before he found water at the 16th and dropped a shot.

That gave Luiten his two-shot cushion back but it would not last for long as Lawrence holed a remarkable 36-foot left-to-righter that went over a mound and through the fringe on the 15th before he put his tee-shot to five feet at the 17th for an eighth birdie of the day.

There were then gasps around the 17th green as Luiten missed from three feet and a third three-putt of the day meant that, for the first time in the round, the Dutchman was off the top of the leaderboard and needed a birdie up the last for a play-off after Lawrence finished his round with just a fifth par of the day.

Luiten hit a tree off the 18th tee which forced him to lay up and while he had a chance to birdie from the fringe, he missed from 25 feet and Lawrence was the victor.

Kieffer carded a 68, the same score as Meronk, with Hoshino signing for a 69 and Hillier recording a 71 to finish a shot ahead of Dutchman Daan Huizing, Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and Frenchman Matthieu Pavon.

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WATCH: This might be the slowest-developing hole-in-one in golf history

Golf Digest Middle East — Sat, 06 May 2023 13:14:20 +0000

It was a rough two days overall for Thriston Lawrence at the Italian Open, but at least his appearance contained one glorious — albeit, meandering — 20-second highlight.

That’s our unofficial time of what has to be one of the slowest-developing holes-in-one in golf history. Lawrence aced Marco Simone Golf Club’s par-3 seventh hole on Friday and it took his golf ball that long to get all the way back to a back pin some 242 yards from the tee.

Check it out as Lawrence’s tee shot lands in the middle of the green and just crests a ridge. It then takes a slowwww journey down the slope before eventually finding the bottom of the cup for the three-time DP World Tour winner.

? HOLE IN ONE ?@ThristonL aces the 7th and wins a DS4 car! ?#DS80OpendItalia | @dsitalia pic.twitter.com/qEf685KnWl

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 5, 2023

As you can see in the clip, Lawrence, who had a rough day otherwise (five-over 76) at the future Ryder Cup venue had long stopped watching when the crowd erupted. Pretty wild.

We’re sure this 20 seconds can be topped, but for comparison, we looked at some of the aces made at Augusta National’s 16th hole with the traditional Sunday pin that golf balls funnel to. Stewart Cink’s from 2020 takes an eternity as well, but we have it clocking in at a slightly quicker 19 seconds:

?HOLE IN ONE AT THE MASTERS

Stewart Cink with the ace at the 16th.pic.twitter.com/4Zuxi86j9d

— BroBible (@BroBible) April 8, 2022

In any event, an ace is an ace, and we’re sure Thriston will take it (as well as a new car). He just might not enjoy picking up tonight’s bar tab — especially after missing the cut.

We’ve got that one at 28 seconds, including nearly 10 seconds where Fuzzy’s golf ball seemingly came to rest on the fringe. Amazing. OK, so this is the slowest-developing hole-in-one in golf history. At least, until someone on social media remembers something else.

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Race to Dubai leader Thriston Lawrence set for Ras Al Khaimah Championship

Matt Smith — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 08:46:19 +0000

Early Race to Dubai leader Thriston Lawrence has confirmed his attendance at next month’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship at Al Hamra Golf Club in the UAE.

The rising South African star will make his second appearance at the event from February 2-5 after getting his season off to a flyer with victory on home soil at the South African Open Championship.

That victory was his third on the DP World Tour and came after a 2022 season in which he won twice, had six further top tens and a major debut at The Open Championship on the way to becoming the first South African to be crowned the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year.

“It was great to pick up where I left off last season with another win in South Africa and to see my name at the top of the Race to Dubai,” said Lawrence.

“I’ve now got three great events in the Middle East coming up and I’m really looking forward to finishing off the Desert Swing by returning to Al Hamra Golf Club for the Ras Al Khaimah Championship next month.”

Tom Phillips, Head of DP World Tour Middle East, added: “Thriston enjoyed a terrific breakthrough season last year, finishing 14th on the Rankings, so we’re thrilled to welcome him back to the Ras Al Khaimah Championship.

“Having the current Race to Dubai leader join the tournament is a massive boost and shows how much the players enjoyed taking on the challenge of Al Hamra Golf Club last year.

“With Thriston joining defending champion Nicolai Højgaard, his brother Rasmus, Ryan Fox and Ryder Cup legends Thomas Bjørn and Padraig Harrington, we’re starting to assemble a really strong field for the culmination of the Desert Swing.”

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Thriston Lawrence crowned King of the Mountains after play-off win at Omega European Masters

Matt Smith — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 06:46:18 +0000

GolfDigestME.com
Thriston Lawrence claimed his second DP World Tour title of the season after beating Matt Wallace in a play-off at the Omega European Masters.

The South African began the day with a three-shot lead but was caught at the summit after 16 holes by a charging Wallace at Golf Club Crans-sur-Sierre.

With Wallace unable to save par at the first extra hole, a four was good enough to hand Lawrence victory on his maiden visit to Crans Montana, sparking jubilant scenes on the 18th green.

The 25-year-old, who was the first winner of the DP World Tour era at the Joburg Open in November after that event was reduced to 36 holes, made four birdies, a double bogey and a bogey on Sunday to sign for a closing 69.

Wallace, meanwhile, posted a bogey-free 66 to finish two shots ahead of fellow Englishman Richard Mansell in third on 16 under par. Frenchman Antoine Rozner, Spain’s Jorge Campillo and Scott Jamieson of Scotland were then a shot further back.

“All of the history around this tournament, looking at Seve there twice, 1977, 78, I wasn’t even born yet,” said Lawrence. “Just crazy to see the history around this tournament. It’s my first time here and its probably one of my favourite weeks. Definitely coming back, it’s been amazing.”

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DP World Tour: Canizares and Lawrence scale the heights in Swiss Alps

Matt Smith — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 05:13:29 +0000

By Matt Smith
Spaniard Alejandro Canizares and South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence Scaled the heights in the Swiss Alps on Thursday, to share the lead after the first round of the 2022 Omega European Masters.

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 one golfer who could take some solace in the trying circumstances surrounding the Joburg Open

Golf Digest Middle East — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 03:37:45 +0000

Stuart Franklin
Thriston Lawrence celebrates with the trophy following victory at the Joburg Open.

By Ryan Herrington
This week’s debut event on the rebranded DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) was troubled by two uncontrollable factors, one serious, one just unlucky, that forced the tournament to be called after 36 holes. Tour officials at the Joburg Open scrambled to address the issue of getting non-South African golfers in the field home before travel restrictions locked down the country in the wake of the new Omicron COVID variant, reducing the tournament to 54 holes on Friday. And when bad weather arrived Saturday during the new final round, the tour knew there was no time to wait things out, lopping off another 18 holes and declaring a winner.

That winner, South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, was among the few involved with the tournament who could say he was in the right place at the right time. The 24-year-old member of the Sunshine Tour (which was co-sanctioning the tournament at Randpark Golf Club) had played in 21 DP World events in his career, his best finish a T-17 in 2019. He was coming off a sixth-place showing in his last start last month in South Africa, but prior to that had missed the cut in his four previous starts dating back to August, falling as low as 555th in the World Ranking.

A pair of seven-under 65s in this opening two rounds, however, gave Lawrence a four-stroke lead over countryman Xander Lombard that eventually secured the title. And said title, with its full membership on the tour and a spot into the 2022 Open Championship, quickly had an emotional impact on Lawrence.

“This changes everything. It’s life changing,” he said afterwards. “This is the first stepping stone to get to my bigger dreams. From a young age I’ve always wanted to win on the DP World Tour. And now this gives me an opportunity to get to the PGA Tour quicker. I wasn’t sure where I was going to play this year, and I really wanted to move onto the next step.”

There is some irony in how COVID influenced the outcome of this tournament and how it had been an issue in Lawrence’s development the previous two years. Playing smaller tours with no qualifying schools being held and little ability to move up in the pecking order in pro golf had made for trying times for players like Lawrence.

“The last two years with COVID-19 have been tough, and you see your dreams fade,” he said. “For it to change this week is unbelievable.”

Lawrence lamented briefly that the win came as it did, over just 36 holes and with unusual circumstances. Yet he was encouraged by the level of his play and the belief that he could have sustained it two more rounds if need be.

“I played unbelievable golf over the past two days,” he said. “I would’ve liked to have finished with a winning putt on 18, but it was out of my control. I went out there with a mentality to finish the tournament, but it turned out nicely for me and I’m just so happy.”

Hear from the #JoburgOpen champion ? pic.twitter.com/wYGt7Th5jE

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 27, 2021

The additional spoil of having wrapped up a place in the field at St. Andrews next July for the 150th Open Championship was another reason for Lawrence to rejoice.

“It’s a lifelong dream that’s come true,” he said. “To play your first ever major on the Old Course is an unbelievable dream come true. I’m so excited. As a kid you always want to play in the Majors. Everybody wants to break Jack Nicklaus’s record, and now it’s my first major and an opportunity in that direction. I’m ecstatic.”

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Weather, COVID concerns force Joburg Open to be called after 36 holes

Golf Digest Middle East — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 02:07:14 +0000

Stuart Franklin

By Ryan Herrington
A trying situation continued for DP World Tour officials at the Joburg Open in South Africa when thunderstorms forced third-round play to be suspended on Saturday. With worsening weather coming and looming concerns over the new COVID variant surfacing in the country, officials decided to cancel the round entirely and called the tournament after 36 holes.

South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence was declared the winner after shooting a pair of 65s in the opening two rounds at Randpark G.C. in Johannesburg. The 24-year-old’s 12-under 130 total was four shots clear of countryman Zander Lombard, giving Lawrence his first victory on the former European Tour.

On Friday, tournament officials were scrambling to address the issues surrounding the new COVID variant, Omicron, that caused several countries to begin restricting travel from southern Africa. More than a dozen British and Irish players had withdrawn from the tournament in a race to get home before the restrictions took effect.

The tour eventually announced that it was reducing the tournament to 54 holes, with the third and final round to finish on Saturday, “to help non-South African resident players, caddies and tournament support staff return to their home countries. The decision was taken to help facilitate their safe return and give them an extra day to make travel arrangements.”

The next two DP World Tour events were also to be played in South Africa, and both have been pulled from the schedule. The South African Open, set for Dec. 2-5, currently will only be a Sunshine Tour event, and the Alfred Dunhill Championship (Dec. 9-12) had been canceled entirely.

Suffice it to say, it was an auspicious debut for the formerly named European Tour, which was being rebranded the DP World Tour and was playing its first tournament of the 2021-22 season. But for Lawrence, No. 503 in the World Ranking entering the week, this first win in just his 22nd career start on the tour was meaningful nonetheless.

“I’m shaking to be honest. It’s so surreal,” Lawrence said. “I don’t think anybody thought it would turn out this way. I’m so thankful. It’s a life changing moment for me.”

The Joburg Open was also serving as a qualifier for the 2022 Open Championship at St. Andrews. The top three finishers who weren’t already qualified for next July’s major earned spots into the field, with Lawrence, Lombard and England’s Ashley Chesters (tied for third) receiving the bids.

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Clements cruises through Sunshine Tour Q-School but will retain his amateur status…for now

Kent Gray — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 11:22:00 +0000

David Cannon/Getty Images
Todd Clements during the third round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in January.

By Kent Gray
Todd Clements has waltzed through the final stage of Sunshine Tour Q-School in South Africa but won’t be relinquishing his amateur status immediately.

The MENA Tour’s runaway 2017 amateur order of merit champion finished second of the 108 starters at Randpark G.C. in Johannesburg, a second round eight-under 64 highlighting the brilliant performance in the 90-hole marathon.

However, the 21-year-old still has amateur ambitions, chief among them being selected to represent England at the Eisenhower Trophy in Ireland this September. The world amateur teams championship will be played at Carton House near Dublin from Sept. 5-8 and would be a fitting sign-off to a stellar amateur career which included victory in the 87th English Amateur Championship at The Berkshire last August.

Photo courtesy Sunshine Tour

There is a chance he could cut the amateur umbilical cord in August if he were to miss Eisenhower selection although that appears unlikely barring a massive loss of form. At 18th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR, a spot behind Dubai prodigy Rayhan Thomas), Clements is the highest ranked Englishman and is set to be named in a four-man team for next month’s European Nations Cup in Spain in what is a precursor to Eisenhower selection.

Whenever he turns professional, the Londoner will have options as he eyes the ultimate goal of a 2019 European Tour card. He can take up the Sunshine Tour card at any stage this season and is also likely to play the remodelled MENA Tour which has been shortened to an August-November season with expanded 72 hole (from 54) events offering more prize money and Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.

Clements opted to play in Joburg for the experience of cut-throat Q-School pressure looking ahead to the European Tour qualifiers, the first stage of which he will automatically skip if he can get his WAGR inside the top 15. He handled the Randpark test with aplomb too, rounds of 67-64-68 and “bad day at the office, it happens” 74 taking him into the final round with a share of the lead. He had led by as many as seven strokes at one stage during the week only for a self diagnosed intercostal muscle strain (rib area) picked up on the range ahead of Friday’s final round seeing him blow out to a closing 75 and second place at -12. He finish four shots behind South African professional Thriston Lawrence (closing 65) and a shot ahead of fellow amateur Louis Albertse (RSA).

“I actually picked up a slight injury in the morning so to go through the pain barrier and get finished and finish second overall was quite a delight actually,” Clements told GolfDigestme.com

“The whole experience exceeded my expectations in all honesty. I went to further my experience in the golfing world so to be able to compete straight away was a delight really. That was the goal, to give myself options when I do turn professional and now I’ve got those options.”

Clements finished leading amateur in seven of the nine events he entered during last season’s MENA Tour including the last six events of the year on the trot. There were runner-up finishes at the Dubai Creek Open (T-2 with Thomas) and Golf Citizen Abu Dhabi Open as he finished 110 points ahead of compatriot Sam Hobday despite playing six fewer events.

The developmental Middle East and North Africa circuit is meant as a finishing school for aspiring pros and is certainly proving its worth in Clements’ case. The Colchester lad seems at ease with his game after one of the most mentally challenging examinations.

Photo courtesy Sunshine Tour

“It’s a longer tournament so your concentration levels have to be a bit higher but I actually found it very similar to any other events which is great,” Clements said of Sunshine Tour Q-School.

“When it comes down to it, you are just playing golf every day whether you’re playing for a living, the Eisenhower, the Nations Cup or European Tour Q-School, you just try and play golf. That was actually quite reassuring that there isn’t much of a difference and if you get that kind of mind set, you can definitely compete.”

Clements intends having the rib injury checked upon his return to London on Monday. He puts it down to overuse after a hectic schedule which included representing Europe in the Bonallack Trophy in Doha a fortnight ago. “Hopefully it’s not too serious,” he said.

.@ThristonL claims a four-stroke victory over England’s @ClementsTodd at the final stage of qualifying school @RandparkGolf

Read more: https://t.co/z2KnN4zNhR pic.twitter.com/MKvh2wCZcg

— Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) March 24, 2018

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