Thriston Lawrence Player Profile And What's In The Bag

Thriston Lawrence nearly threw away the South African Open but held on to win by a single shot from Clement Sordet of France.

Lawrence had a five-shot lead early on the back nine at Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate but was reeled in by his playing partner before getting over the line by one stroke at 16 under par.

At the presentation ceremony - after dropping the trophy off its base and catching it one-handed - Lawrence said: “This is what you strive for, being a kid you dream for this moment, to win such a prestigious event in front of an amazing crowd.”

Sweden’s Jens Fahrbring finished third on his own at 14 under after a closing 70.

Sordet birdied the 14th and when Lawrence’s par putt slid just past, the lead was down to three with a dramatic finish back on the agenda.

Lawrence found water down the left of the next and could only pitch up from a path for double bogey.

Sordet was in deep rough next to a greenside bunker but got up and down for par to take a further two out of the lead - and it was all square with two to play after Lawrence bogeyed the next.

A short miss for Sordet led to a bogey at the 17th, though, and he found a bunker off the last tee.

Lawrence was safely in the middle of the fairway and a fine approach, combined with only a par for Sordet, meant he could even afford a three-putt from the fringe of the green for the title.

Player Profile

Lawrence was born in Mbombela, South Africa, on December 3, 1996. As an amateur, he won the South African Amateur Championship in 2013 and 2014 and the Lytham Trophy in 2013. He turned professional in 2014 and played on various tours, his first victory coming on the Sunshine Tour's Vodacom Origins event in 2019. He won the Joburg Open in 2021, but the tournament was shortened to 36 holes. He finished in a tie for 42nd place at the 150th Open at St Andrews, which was his first major.

He also won the European Masters in 2022, defeating Matt Wallace in a playoff.

He began the South African Open in 90th place in the world rankings and 56th place in the DP World Tour rankings.

He averages 304.8 yards from the tee, finding 54.7% of fairways and 69.2% of greens in regulation. He averages 29.1 putts per rounds.

WITB

Driver: PING G425 Max (9 Degrees)

Woods: PING G425 Max (3-Wood, 15 DEgrees)

Irons: PING G410 Crossover & PING iBlade (4-Iron to PW)

Wedges: PING Glide 4.0 (50 Degrees, 54 Degrees & 60 Degrees)

Putter: PING PLD Oslo 4

Ball: Titleist Pro V1