Thriston Lawrence shines at SunBet Challenge
Thriston Lawrence, who hails from Mbombela, was victorious at the recent SunBet Challenge Times Square, in which he won by five strokes to secure the fourth Sunshine Tour title of his career.
Mbombelan golfer Thriston Lawrence has continued to showcase good form in the 2024 season, earning the fourth Sunshine Tour win of his career at the SunBet Challenge Times Square on Friday, August 23.
Lawrence went coast-to-coast at Wingate Park Country Club in Pretoria during the second SunBet Challenge of the 2024/25 Sunshine Tour season. He dominated from start to finish, refusing to relinquish the lead from the moment he laid his hands on it.
The 27-year-old got off to a blistering start in round one by carding a bogey-free 10-under round of 62 that saw him soar into a share of the lead with Jacques Blaauw. Lawrence opened up some breathing room in the second round, though, as he went five under for the day, which gave him a three-shot lead heading into the third and final round.
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He carried on his dominance in the last round, with a single bogey on the par-3 14th hole the only blemish of the round as Lawrence went five under once again to end off on 20 under par for the week. He won by five strokes, ahead of Dylan Naidoo on -15 and Yurav Premlall on -13.
Lawrence had a near-perfect week with the third-round bogey and a single bogey on the fourth hole in the second round the only two irregularities to show for his time in Pretoria. One could attribute his success to the fact that he was in fine form with putter in hand at the SunBet Challenge Times Square.
A total of 83 putts for the week means Lawrence averaged only 27.67 putts per round, a fine effort indeed. He was also able to climb two spots in the Official World Golf Rankings, up to 74th.
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Lawrence wasn’t the only Mbombelan teeing it up at Wingate Park Country Club, though, as Jabulane Mabilane and Ruan Groenewald both took part, too. Sadly though, his fellow Lowvelders couldn’t quite emulate the same success. Groenewald was unable to build on his career-best Sunshine Tour finish at Highland Gate the week prior, missing the cut after two rounds.
Mabilane did however make the cut, but was only able to struggle his way to +9 for the week after he had carded an 11-over-par final round of 83.
Both Groenewald and Mabilane are taking on the Gary and Vivienne Player Challenge at Kyalami Country Club this week in search of better results. Lawrence, meanwhile, is taking on the British Masters, where he was tied third after the first round.
