There was no shortage of green splashed across the top of the leaderboard at the Czech Open today, as a trio of Irishmen staked an early claim for the title. Peter Lawrie holds the outright lead on six-under-par and is closely followed by Damien McGrane, Shane Lowry and Paul McGinley at the Prosper Golf Resort.
Lawrie, who did not drop a shot, credited a new putting technique with helping him to the fore in Celadna. Last year’s runner-up is now on course to go one better following a change to his putting style he first attempted in the Irish Open at the end of last month when he finished eighth.
“I played lovely golf,” said the 37-year-old from Dublin, whose only European Tour win was in the Open de Espana just over three years ago. “No bogeys, which always helps. A couple of nice up-and-downs when I really needed them — on two and three — my 11th and 12th.
“Every chance I gave myself from short range, I holed it, though I missed about a 10-footer at the last. But everything went according to plan. I’ve been playing quite steady all year, holing a few nice putts in Ireland. I did one or two things different in Ireland with my putting which seemed to work, and it’s working well out here as well.”
Starting at the 10th hole, Lawrie conjured birdies in three of the last five — the fifth, sixth and eighth on the course — to propel him into the lead.
Lawrie is followed on five under by McGrane, Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, in only his second year as a pro on the European tour, and Spain’s Pedro Oriol.
McGrane, who dropped only one shot in his round, said: “The scoring conditions are perfect so it’s possible to create a lot of chances.
“But creating them is one thing, converting them quite another. So to make six birdies and just the one bogey was very pleasing. It’s probably going to be a low-scoring week because the greens are in fantastic condition, so I’ll have to keep making those birdies.”
Lowry stands at four under, with the highlight of his round being an eagle at the 576-yard, par-five fifth.
Lowry said: “Since I had a good finish at Wentworth I haven't really done too much, and that's purely down to my putting, because I've been playing quite nicely from tee to green. When you're not putting well, it tends to affect the rest of your game, because you tend to try to force the issue and attack the pins too much.
“So it was pleasing to roll a few putts in today, and I just hope it continues for the rest of the week now.
"I saw that Peter and Damien were right up there coming down the last, so it was a very nice surprise. Let's hope we're battling it out on the final day, although there's a long way to go.”
He was joined by Sweden’s Mikael Lundberg, who chalked up four birdies on the back nine to help make amends for a double-bogey six at the third.
At one stage another Swede in Fredrik Ohlsson was poised to be amongst the leaders when he made six birdies in seven holes, only to drop four shots in two holes late on and finish on one under.
Scottish trio Gary Orr, Richie Ramsay and David Drysdale, along with McGinley, are amongst a host of players on three under.
The leading player in the field and course co-designer, Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, was facing a fight to make the cut after a four-over-par round of 76.