Thriston Lawrence credited the European Challenge Tour for readying him for challenges such as those faced during this week at Randpark Golf Club, where he won this year’s Sunshine Tour Qualifying School by a four-shot margin over England’s Todd Clements on Saturday.
He started the final round of the final stage six shots behind Clements, as the Englishman looked unstoppable. Lawrence got working as early as the second hole, where the par he made on the first was followed by three straight birdies through to the fourth. After making another par on the fifth hole, he made birdie on six, pars on seven and eight before making another birdie on the ninth.
Such was the form Lawrence brought to the fifth round of a testing week, where his final round seven-under 65 took his total to 16-under-par 366. The week was tough as delays due to heavy rain dragged on the tournament by a day.
“I’m very pleased because to me any win is very special,” he said after a hard-fought victory on the Firethorn layout at Randpark.
“Mentally, I was very strong this week. I was very positive and managed to get rid of all the bad emotions. Playing on the Challenge Tour last year I learned to grind, you know, so that you are mentally stronger and I was strong this week.”
His back nine was just as solid as he didn’t give anything away, picking up a pair of birdies and a host of pars along the way. Other than being strong mentally, Thriston admitted his putting proved to be the winner as he romped to an untainted 65.
“It’s always special to go bogey-free,” Lawrence said.
“The putter, for a change, was on my side. Probably the best putting I’ve had in the last two years. I think my putting made a huge difference this week.”
He leads a group of 32 players into the 2018/19 season as the best 30 players and ties secured their Sunshine Tour playing cards.
He says, for him, there’s no better way to end a season.
“Like I said, you know, a win is a win and this comes right at the end of the season.
“It is good for me to go in the new season with a bit of confidence and the right mental state.”
Photo: Sunshine Tour.
For Clements, a win might have proven elusive at Randpark, but he will be proud of his effort on his first time out in South Africa. He might feel he deserved more than second spot following his gallant showing here as he dominated for the better part of this challenging week.
So will Louis Albertse. Going into the final round tied for the lead with Clements, Albertse would have fancied his chances, but an indifferent round of four-over 76 was never going to win this event and he had to settle for third spot.
Players who earned their Sunshine Tour cards:
Thriston Lawrence, Todd Clements, Louis Albertse, Jason Smith, Theunis Bezuidenhout, Anton Haig, Gideon van der Vyver, Erhard Lambrechts, Philip Eriksson, Heinrich Bruiners, Sean Bradley, Damon Stephenson, James du Preez, Roberto Lupini, Jason Vijoen, Ty Capps, Ruan Conradie, Marthin Scheepers, Basil Wright, Pieter Moolman, Ruan Huysamen, Tyler Hogarty, Steven Lecuyer, Victor Lange, Michael Schutz, Estiaan Conradie, Duane Keun, Wayne Stroebel, Jade Buitendag, Luke Trocado, Philip Geerts and David McIntyre.
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