Peter Lawrie grabs outright lead at the opening round of Czech Open on European Tour
Irishman Peter Lawrie is now leading the Czech Open after he edged past the rest of the field on the opening day of the event at Prosper Golf Resort, Celadna, Czech Republic. Lawrie, who was also the runner-up in last year’s episode, carded six birdies in
the first round without dropping a shot throughout the 18-hole stretch.
“I had no bogeys, which always helps,” said the former Open de Espana winner who pulled in an opening round of six-under, 66. “Plus I made a couple of nice up-and-downs when I really needed them, on the second and third, which were my 11th and 12th holes.
Other than that, I played lovely, solid golf, and every chance I gave myself from short range, I holed it – although I missed about a ten footer at the last.”
Lawrie is closely followed by three players; Victor Dubuisson, Pedro Oriol and Damien McGrane all of whom settled for a joint second with their scores of five-under, 67 trailing Lawrie by one shot. Starting from back nine, Lawrie birdied the 11th
and 14th and made the turn to sink four more birdies on the front nine. He sank a 25-footer for a birdie putt at the sixth and shot an approach five feet off the pin at the eighth.
McGrane also played well on the opening day, carding six birdies but dropped a shot to trail Lawrie for the lead. Another eight players are contending for the seventh spot including David Drysdale, Paul McGinley, Joakim Haeggman, Gary Orr, Richie Ramsay,
Jose Manuel Lara, Oskar Henningsson and Lorenzo Gagli all conceding first round scores of three-under, 69.
Dubuisson, a Rookie on the tour, is eager to pull in his first victory on the European Tour for a long time now. His best finish on the tour came at Qatar where the Frenchman finished for a joint ninth.
“It was a very good round,” said the 21-year-old Qualifying School graduate. “I don’t always get off to the best of starts, so I’m very happy.” Dubuisson carded four birdies in the five-hole stretch to push himself into contention for the title.
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