Peter Lawrie digs new course record at Verdura to clinch lead in Sicilian Open: First round wrap-up Part-1
Yet another Irishman Peter Lawrie has now surged to the top of the leaderboard after the culmination of first round at the Sicilian Open at Verdura Golf Club.
In search for his second European Tour victory, Lawrie pulled in a glorious eight-under, 64 to set a new course record at the scenic Verdura.
He thrashed the record of 65 made by Dane Søren Kjeldsen in the morning, carding some nine birdies and dropping just one shot through the 18-hole stretch.
Lawrie’s last and the only European Tour victory came in the year 2008 when he went over to bag the Open de Espana title in Spain, taking over Ignacio Garrido in the Playoff. He has since been lurking in shadows.
He said, “I putted beautifully, especially on the front nine. I holed two 20 footers in a row, and I didn’t hole a single 20 footer for the entire season last year! So that really set the tone. When I had a few chances coming in I managed to take them, and getting up and down for par on the last was very important”.
The 38-year-old Irishman started off this season on a bad note and was able to make just two cuts in his six starts.
He added, “I’ve got off to a bit of a slow start this season, but perhaps this will give me the kick up the backside I need. It helped that I holed a few putts today that was the biggest difference”.
Lawrie has been part of the professional circuit for a considerably longer period after he turned professional in the year 1997.
The University College Dublin graduate switched over to the mainstream European Tour in the year 2002, through his victory at the Challenge Tour Grand Final the previous year.
He pulled in an impressive rookie start on the European Tour and was the first Irishman to be named Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year.
Lawrie started off the day at the scenic Verdura which continuously braced lashing winds from the Mediterranean, and pulled in five birdies on the front nine to garb early lead in the event.
To be continued...
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