Thriston Lawrence wins Investec SA Open Champion 2022

The South African only just managed to hold off his playing partner, Frenchman Clément Sordet, to finish with an overall 16-under 272.

Lawrence had been in control all week. After opening the tournament with an eight-under-par 64, he had led after every round at the Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate in Lanseria.

He started the final day with a five shot lead, but made some errors on the back nine, and eventually clinched his maiden Investec SA Open Championship with a two-over 74.

The relieved Lawrence put his victory down to years of experience and finding “match-mentality” when it most counted.

“For a time I wasn’t sure I was going to do it. At the end it looked like everything was falling apart. But I hung in hard, and pulled it through. It’s all about experience and being able to focus on the moment when the pressure is on.”

This Investec SA Open Championship win sees Lawrence earn €242 179 (R4.4 million) for his victory and sees him climb up to a career-best World Golf Ranking position.

Apart from his three DP World Tour wins, this season Lawrence has six Top 10 finishes and he’s become the first South African to be named the DP World Tour’s Rookie of the Year.

Thriston Lawrence, Investec SA Open Champion 2022
This is what you dream of, to win your national open. This is by far my most accomplished victory ever.

Brutal Blair Atholl
Blair Atholl course 17th tee
A common word used to describe Blair Atholl course is “long”. The course is known as the third longest golf course in the world.

It stretches to a mammoth 7,527m off the back tees. And with the mercury shooting beyond 30° Celsius on the final day of the Investec South African Open Championship, the playing conditions were tough.

Designed by Gary Player in 2007, the course has only hosted one professional event – the 2021 Blair Atholl Championship on the Sunshine Tour, where Luke Brown won on a score of 12 under par.

DP World Tour tournament
$1.5m
Minimum prize money for the Investec SA Open Championship
4-days
Globally televised tournament
72
Number of holes played
The SA Open Championship is one of only five DP World Tour sanctioned tournaments and the second oldest National Open in the world after The Open Championship.

Now in its 112th year, the 4-day-tournament showcased 156 pro golfers and offered a significant minimum prize purse of $1.5 million.

Investec is an organisation firmly rooted in South Africa and, as title sponsor of both South African Opens, we believe we can continue to contribute to a game so many are passionate about.

 

Source: Investec