• Czech Open, Round One

Lawrie leads Irish assault at Czech Open

Peter Lawrie had a bogey-free opening 18 holes © Getty Images

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Peter Lawrie moved a step closer to his first European Tour title in over three years by taking the lead on the opening day of the Czech Open.

The world No. 138 fired a six-under 66 to move to the top, one shot ahead of fellow Irishman Damian McGrane and Victor Dubuisson.

Lawrie carried the momentum forward from his performance at the Irish Open - where he was the best-placed of the home contenders - to turn in 34 with two birdies, before grabbing another four shots on the way in, leaving him with a bogey-free round.

It was built on a sensational performance with the putter from Lawrie, who took 25 strokes of the short stick and saved par on five occasions after failing to find the green in regulation.

"I played lovely golf today," he said to europeantour.com. "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. Other than that, I played lovely, solid golf, and every chance I gave myself from short range, I holed it - though I missed about a ten footer at the last."

Former Irish Open winner Shane Lowry, who is at four-under, was relieved to be back on track, having missed five cuts out of his last seven. "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," he said. "So it was pleasing to roll a few putts in today, and I just hope it continues for the rest of the week now."

World No. 34 Miguel Angel Jimenez, ranked 78 places higher than anyone else in the field, will be deeply disappointed to have carded a 76 that leaves him struggling to make the cut.

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