Thriston Lawrence kept himself in the hunt for a second MENA Golf Tour victory when he fired a neat five-under par 66 to lie just one shot off the pace going into the final round of the South to East Challenge at Zwartkop Golf Club in Centurion on Wednesday.
The 2015 MENA Tour Order of Merit winner, three behind at the start of the day, began strongly with a birdie on the first and did not take his foot off the pedal all day as he joined his fellow South African Bryce Easton in a tie for second on eight-under par.
Overnight co-leader Bryandrew Roelofsz of South Africa backed up his opening 65 with a 68 to stay atop the summit of a congested leaderboard on nine-under-par in this first MENA Golf Tour event in South Africa, which is co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Big Easy Tour.
England’s Haydn McCullen, who shared the opening day’s honours with Roelofsz, settled for a 73, slipping to tied ninth on four-under, three shots behind the South African trio of Greg Bentley, Siphiwe Siphayi and CJ du Plessis who were tied fourth on seven-under.
Lawrence, winner of 2015 Ras Al Khaimah Classic, said: “Winning here would mean a lot as I have missed three events on the MENA Tour this season. I was well placed on the Order of Merit in the beginning – so a win will obviously be nice and get me back on track.”
An early morning start tested players at a cold Zwartkop course, but Lawrence adapted well, making six birdies against just one bogey.
“I started off nicely with a birdie and that helped. After that it was just solid play hitting greens in regulation,” said the 19-year-old.
“In the mornings you have to stay patient. You know the grass is really wet and the greens are tricky. If you shortside yourself, you’re not going to have a good chance of making an up and down. You have to plan your game correctly around here and hit the ball in the right spots.”
Roelofsz’s one-stroke lead came thanks to a gutsy birdie from a difficult lie in a bunker on the par-four ninth hole — his last hole of the day.
“Finishing with a birdie is always nice – especially from where I was. I was quite fortunate to pull it off. Luckily it worked out for me and it was a good finish. I’m happy with the 68,” said Roelofsz.
Elsewhere, Chile’s Antonio Costa, fresh off his win at the Maha-Samutr Masters in Thailand last month, carded a 69 to share 18th on two-under, one ahead of a group which included MENA Golf Tour regulars Aaron Leitmannstetter, Luke Joy and Lee Corfield.
The cut was made at one over 143 with 56 players making into the final round.
