Canizares and Lawrence finish the first round in the lead

The first round of the Omega European Masters was dominated by Spain's Alejandro Canizares and South Africa's Thirston Lawrence. The duo finished the day with a 62 (-8). A quartet of 64s completed the podium. It is composed of the Englishman Matt Wallace, the South African Louis De Jager, the Scot Scott Jamieson and the Spaniard Eduardo De La Riva. 

Thirston Lawrence, 25, is currently ranked 11th on the DP World Tour. He has the distinction of becoming the first winner of the DP World Tour era, following his success at the 2021 Joburg Open. On Thursday in Crans-Montana, he made six birdies and an eagle on hole nine, the last of his first round.

Jimenez misses out

Alejandro Canizares (39) is the son of Jose Maria who played in four Ryder Cups: 1981, 83, 85 and 89. The Spaniard, who is only 218th in the DP World Tour rankings, is an experienced player, having won his first European Tour title back in 2006. On Thursday, he conceded a bogey, but made nine birdies.

The darling of the Crans-Montana public for decades, Miguel Angel Jimenez, was unable to tame the Severiano Ballesteros course. He returned to the clubhouse with a score of +2. The local boy, Aleksandar Radoicic, who was born and raised on the High Plateau, played +4. For the record, he owes his qualification for the tournament to his participation in the first eGolf competition set up by the Omega European Masters in July 2022.