Thriston Lawrence wins third European Masters title, banks R10 million

South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence joined Spanish great Seve Ballesteros as a three-time winner of the European Masters after edging England’s Paul Casey in a thrilling play-off following a sensational final round in Crans Montana in Switzerland on Sunday.

The South African led at the halfway stage at the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club after two outstanding rounds of golf, but dropped well down the leaderboard on Saturday following a disappointing three-over par 73. liveiplscore.homes

He had earlier recorded rounds of 64 and 63 to be right in the mix and the man to catch and beat.

Lawrence, a former SA Open champion, started Sunday’s final round six shots behind Casey, but a sensational eight under par 62, which included eight birdies and no dropped shots, saw him set the clubhouse target at 18 under par, which no one could better.

Casey shot a final round 68, after earlier rounds of 67, 64 and 63, to join Lawrence at 18 under par. He bogeyed the final hole to slip back into a tie and a playoff.

It then took four extra holes to decide a winner.

As a result, Lawrence joined an exclusive group with the great Ballesteros as the only players to triumph three times in the Swiss event since 1972 following his successes in 2022 and 2025.

The 29-year-old, who now has six wins on the DP World Tour, will bank a cool €548,226 or in Rand terms, R10,164 million.

Besides the now three European Masters titles, Lawrence’s other European Tour titles are the 2023 BMW International Open, SA Open in 2022 and Joburg Open in 2021.

The next best South African finishers on Sunday were Erik van Rooyen (tied 18th at 11 under par) and Brandon Stone (tied 23rd at 10 under par). Zander Lombard and Casey Jarvis were tied 30th.

The All Blacks have released nine players from the touring group as Dave Rennie’s men turn their focus to a Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series finale on American soil.

Three of that number were ruled out through injuries picked up in Saturday’s 29-24 defeat by the Springboks at FNB Stadium: skipper and No 8 Ardie Savea (dislocated shoulder), centre Quinn Tupaea (MCL) and flanker Luke Jacobson (elbow).

RENNIE: The gap between us not big at all

A further six have departed without adding to their involvement in this year’s series: Josh Jacomb, Siale Lauaki, Saula Ma’u, Cortez Ratima, Bradley Slater and Ofa Tu’ungafasi.

Rennie on Sunday named a 36-man squad for next Saturday’s clash at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium, where the Kiwis will look to close out the four-Test contest on level terms after the Bok win earned Rassie Erasmus’ world champions a 2-1 lead.

All Blacks squad
Forwards: Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ethan De Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, George Bower, Xavier Numia, Jamie Hannah, Sam Darry, Josh Lord, Patrick Tuipulotu, Fabian Holland, Tupou Vaa’i, Simon Parker, Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai, Ethan Blackadder, Semisi Ta’eiloa.
Backs: Cam Roigard, Kyle Preston, Noah Hotham, Beauden Barrett, Ruben Love, Richie Mo’unga, Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Fehi Fineanganofo, Leroy Carter, Emoni Narawa, Rieko Ioane, Josh Moorby, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie.

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

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Griquas have stormed into their second consecutive Currie Cup final after a dominant semi-final victory over the Lions in Kimberley on Sunday.

Pieter Bergh’s side scored seven tries in their 52-12 thrashing of the Joburgers to underline their championship credentials regardless of who they host in the final. Griquas arrived in the knockout phase in superb form, having won six straight matches after their opening-round defeat to the Stormers XXIII and finishing the league phase top of the table.

Tries from loose forwards Lourens Oosthuizen and Marco de Witt put the hosts 14-0 up within 12 minutes.

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The Lions had looked to establish a foothold, but two crucial errors allowed centre Mnombo Zwelendaba to spark the attack, with de Witt gleefully rounding it off.

The visitors finally got on the scoreboard in the 18th minute through hooker Armand Combrinck, although the conversion was unsuccessful. But Griquas quickly restored their momentum, with Zwelendaba going over in the 29th minute. Flyhalf George Whitehead was on song from the kicking tee, kicking all three conversions.

Three minutes later, the hosts extended their lead in impressive fashion. Whitehead showed excellent vision to stab a kick through for powerful fullback Stefan Coetzee, who gathered it in his stride and powered over the line. The flyhalf converted to make it 28-5.

There was still time for Griquas to add one more before the interval, with hooker Tiaan Lange continuing his prolific try-scoring form in the Currie Cup crossing in the 40th minute.

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Whitehead completed the conversion to send the hosts into the break with a commanding 35-5 lead.

It remained one-way traffic in the third quarter, as Oostuizen grabbed a second try for the afternoon. Whitehead was given a rest after his perfect kicking performance, with Liam Koen replacing him and slotting a conversion.

The smattering of Lions fans had something to cheer, as Junior Springbok Ethan Adams powered over for his second Currie Cup try of the season. The extra two points were added by flyhalf Matt Coetzee.

With less than ten minutes to go in the contest, Griquas piled more misery on the Lions as reserve scrumhalf Jack Hart snuck his way over the line for his first try in peacock blue. Koen added the extras to take the hosts to the brink of 50. Koen however took his side beyond 50 with a penalty kick in the final minute.

GRIQUAS – Tries: Lourens Oosthuizen (2), Marco de Witt, Mnombo Zwelendaba, Stefan Coetzee, Tiaan Lange, Jack Hart. Conversions: George Whitehead (5), Liam Koen (2). Penalty: Koen.
LIONS – Tries: Armand Combrinck, Ethan Adams. Conversion: Matt Coetzee.

Photo: Danie Van Der Lith/Gallo Images

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Laurent Djam a dirigé son premier match samedi sur le banc de touche d’AS Port de Djibouti. C’était au stade International du Caire face au Zamalek SC dans le cadre du match aller du premier tour de la Ligue des champions de la Caf. Le technicien camerounais était déjà sur le feu des projecteurs quelques […]

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Flyhalf Clinton Swart’s late penalty helped the Pumas progress to the Currie Cup final with a come-from-behind win against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Sunday afternoon.

Man of the Match Swart split the uprights in the 70th minute at Free State Stadium to complete a 27-24 victory that will see Jimmy Stonehouse’s men contest next Saturday’s decider in Kimberley against the defending champions Griquas, who earlier in the day thrashed the Lions 52-12 at Griqua Stadium.

It was also back-to-back wins for the Pumas over Frans Steyn’s troops after last week’s 52-26 rout in Nelspruit.

The Lowvelders are no strangers to the showpiece of rugby’s oldest domestic competition, having reached consecutive finals in 2022 and 2023 and a maiden title triumph four years ago.

RECAP: Griquas run riot to book final berth

Sunday’s hosts controlled territory from the outset before Cheetahs flyhalf Jaco van der Walt opened the scoring with a penalty in the 18th minute.

Their forwards did the damage from there, a rolling maul on 35 minutes ending in a try for flanker Ramon Uys and Van der Walt converted.

The Pumas struggled to find rhythm with ball in hand, undone by handling errors and a scrum that kept giving the home team a platform.

Swart’s penalty on the stroke of half-time was the visitors’ only reward as the Cheetahs took a 10-3 lead into the break.

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The Pumas struck early after the restart, winger Darren Adonis finishing off a lineout steal and Swart converting to level matters at 10-10.

Flanker Andre Goedhals barged over for a second try, but the Cheetahs hit back through replacement Marko Janse van Rensburg’s maul finish, and Van der Walt tied it up again from the kicking tee.

Substitute Gustav du Rand’s rolling-maul try nudged the Pumas back in front before centre Carel-Jan Coetzee’s converted touchdown levelled it once more at 24-24.

Swart’s final strike then edged the Pumas in front, and they held on from there to book a spot in the decider.

CHEETAHS – Tries: Ramon Uys, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Carel-Jan Coetzee. Conversions: Jaco van der Walt (3). Penalty: Van der Walt.
PUMAS – Tries: Darren Adonis, Andre Goedhals, Gustav du Rand. Conversions: Clinton Swart (3). Penalties: Swart (2).

Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images

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