
Lawrie, the 2002 champion, was joined at the top of the leaderboard by fellow Scotsmen Steven O'Hara and Gary Orr, as well as Brett Rumford, Jose Manuel Lara, Soren Kjeldsen, Ricardo Gonzalez, Steve Alker and Paul Broadhurst.
They share a one-shot lead over 13 players who are tied at three-under 66.
The tight leaderboard shaped up only after heavy rains soaked the course and forced a two-hour weather delay in the afternoon.