Thriston Lawrence cards a three-under 67 to move into a three-shot lead on 15-under overall following the third round of the DP World Tour's Joburg Open at the Houghton Golf Club
Saturday 25 November 2023 20:00, UK
South Africa's Thriston Lawrence carded a three-under 67 to move into a three-shot lead following the third round of the Joburg Open at the Houghton Golf Club in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The 26-year-old started the week with a brilliant 62 and while he did not match that quality in round three, he carded the lowest score of anyone in an all-South African top six to lead the way.
Dean Burmester sits in second place while Nikhil Rama is tied for third place, after the overnight leader posted a disappointing two-over 72, which featured a double-bogey at the first hole.
Lawrence won this event two years ago and has since added three more DP World Tour titles, one of which he will be defending at next week's South African Open.
He missed out on a PGA Tour card by one shot after finishing fifth in last week's season finale in Dubai but has insisted this week that has only inspired him to have a successful 2024 campaign on the European-based circuit.
"I had a game plan and it was to try and play the exact same golf as I did the first two rounds and I executed it," said Lawrence, who is 15-under overall. "I stayed nice and patient.
"I could have gone lower, not a lot of made putts, there was a couple at the end that I could have made but it's job done and I'm happy with it.
"The game plan is exactly the same tomorrow, I'll try and make a few more putts than today but I'm very happy with the game, I'm playing really well so same game plan."
Lawrence carded four birdies and a bogey to get to 15 under, with LIV player Burmester his nearest challenger after a 68.
World No 1,214 Nikhil Rama's dream week continued with a 72 that left him four shots off the lead.
South Africa's Darren Fichardt carded a 68 to sit at nine under, one shot clear of England's Daniel Brown and two ahead of a group of eight players including defending champion Dan Bradbury.
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