Peter Lawrie emerged from a two-hour fog delay and a course he’d never played to be just one shot from the lead in the Ballantine’s Championship in Seoul, South Korea.
While leading Americans Zach Johnson and Dustin Johnson stayed away with fears for the uncertainty on the Korean Peninsula, Lawrie’s only concern was finding his way about the Blackstone course when fog rolled-in early into the round.
The father of four returned after a two hour and 10 minute delay to post a four under par 68.
“I’m pretty happy, really as I have never played the golf course before,” he said.
South African Louis Oosthuizen races to six under par after nine holes but drops two shots to be four-under par and with two holes to play in his first round. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
“I also arrived late on Tuesday and didn’t manage to get to play a practice round, so I’m very happy with a 68.
“Now that I’ve seen the course, it’s very hilly and very difficult and you need to be fit I have to admit, so it’s going to be a long slog for the four days.”
Five players share the clubhouse lead with five under par 67s – Frenchman Jean Baptiste Gonet, Sweden’s Johan Edfors, Australia’s Kieran Pratt, England’s Matthew Baldwin and South Korean Gi-wang Kim who eagled the last.
Fog engulfed the Blackstone course early into the round and forcing a two hour and 10 delay before play resumed at 1pm local time in the co-sanctioned European and Asian Tour event.
Lawrie posted four birdies and three bogeys over his outward half but then played his closing nine in three under.
“We had all the seasons today what with rain, fog and sunshine and when we came back out from the break I played very nicely,” said Lawrie.
“Slowly but surely I am getting there and I am working hard on the driver to try keep it in play, and I hit a lot of good tee shots out there today.”
World No. 7 Louis Oosthuizen, and the highest ranked player in the field, did not tee up to just before 3pm local time, but burst from the blocks in brilliant manner with four straight birdies including a 20-foot gem the fourth.
Oosthuizen’s bright start was checked when he then played a wild drive left at the par five, fifth hole but he still managed to chip from off the green and one-putt to save par.
He quickly put that aside to bounce back and birdie the next before a sixth birdie at the ninth to move to a one stroke lead at six under par.
However Oosthuizen, who is also contesting the event for a first occasion, then dropped his first shot of the day with a bogey at 10 and then a second bogey at the 12th to drop back to four under par after 16 holes before poor light halted play and leaving half the field still to complete their first round.
Edfors had been five under par and leading the field after 10 holes when play was halted but the three-time Tour winner then failed to regain his early momentum to complete his inward half in level par.
“I came out of the blocks pretty good to be five under on the front nine after some really, really good golf,” said Edfors.
“Then we had the fog delay and after not sleeping well it caught up with me and I felt really tired, and then came back out after the stoppage and three-putted the 11th.
“So the back nine was a bit disappointing but overall it’s a really good start.”
Damien McGrane posted a one under par 71 but the delay did Ballyclare’s Gareth Maybin no good.
Maybin did not take to the course to 4.20pm local time but was three over par after four holes before a first birdie at the ninth and will resume at the 11th hole at two over par.
And European Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley signed for a 72 and in his first event in nearly three months but looking to make a first cut this season.
