South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence put himself firmly in contention at the weather-affected Omega European Masters, carding back-to-back rounds to reach 11 under par and sit just two strokes off the lead after a marathon Friday in the Swiss mountains.
Lawrence, alongside England’s Jordan Smith, shared third place behind clubhouse leader Adrien Saddier, who set the target at 13 under after firing rounds of 62 and 65.
Defending champion Matt Wallace followed one stroke back on 12 under after rounds of 65 and 63.
The Frenchman Saddier, who could not start his opening round on Thursday due to lengthy fog delays, was forced to play 36 holes in one day. He produced a flawless 62 in the morning with an eagle and six birdies, before adding a 65 in the afternoon containing six more birdies and his first bogey of the week.
With many groups still to begin or complete their second rounds, Saddier could yet be caught before the halfway stage of the tournament.
Saddier, who claimed his maiden DP World Tour win at the Italian Open in June, began his second round on the 10th tee. He made a six-foot birdie at the par-three 11th, then saved par from 27 feet at the par-three 13th to stay bogey-free.
Back-to-back birdies at the 17th and 18th saw him turn in 32. A bogey at the 1st was quickly erased with a chip-in birdie at the 3rd, before gains at the 7th and 9th gave him the outright lead.
“I’m pretty happy. It was a long day, to be honest,” said Saddier. “I got a good start this morning, the momentum was good on the first nine and then I just kept holing putts. It was a good day, and we like this kind of day. It was just nice to finish with a birdie.”
Wallace made 15 birdies and three bogeys across his two rounds.
“I had three great nines, I would put it that way,” said the Englishman. “The first nine this morning wasn’t very good but I managed to get it round and then I found something on the back nine.
“I played really nicely this afternoon. I said to myself a few times out there today that I’m the defending champion, so let’s try to keep it that way.”
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– Edited report from DP World Tour
Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Article Link: Lawrence in the mix at weather-hit European Masters