Team Canada’s Marchand, Tanguay finish T16 at Portland Classic
PORTLAND, Ore. – Marina Alex rallied to win the Cambia Portland Classic for her first LPGA Tour title, closing with a 7-under 65 on Sunday for a four-stroke victory over Georgia Hall.
Alex birdied the final five holes in a front-nine 30 to take the lead and added birdies on the par-5 12th and par-4 15th at tree-lined Columbia Edgewater. The 28-year-old former Vanderbilt star made her only bogey of the day on the par-4 18th, leaving her at 19-under 269.
“My goal was 8 under to give myself a chance, but I even thought maybe that wouldn’t have been good enough,” Alex said. “It was just an incredible day. I’m proud.”
She didn’t look at a leaderboard until the final hole.
“I was trying purposefully not to look at the leaderboard because I think sometimes it just gets me a little stressed out,” Alex said. “I get anxious, and then I think, ‘Oh, I have a lead, I need to protect it.’
“I kind of just pretended all day that I was behind and that I needed to play catch-up. I think it really helped me just play my best. I didn’t know I had a four-shot lead until basically the third shot – no, after the third shot – into the green here on 18.”
The New Jersey player gave caddie Travis Wilson his second straight victory in the event. Wilson is teaming with Alex with regular boss Stacy Lewis preparing for the birth of her first child.
“He’s such a wonderful guy,” Alex said. “He has such a calm demeanour about him, and it definitely helped me relax, We had so much fun the past three weeks.”
Wilson spent three weeks with Alex.
“I’m so happy for her.” Wilson said. “She’s a great girl. She works hard. She’s been close a number of times, and to be the guy that gets her through to get that first win, I’m going to remember that forever.”
Alex matched the course record with a 62 on Thursday, then shot 71-71 to begin the final round six strokes behind Women’s British Open champion Hall.
“It was tough to back up the first round with some good rounds,” Alex said.
Hall had a 75. The 22-year-old Englishwoman played the front nine in 2 over, with bogeys on the par-4 first and par-5 seventh.
“The pin positions were really, really tough,” Hall said. “The front nine was unbelievable. I couldn’t even get to hardly any of them. I was just trying to like stay patient and do what I could to kind of stay in it. I mean, she shot, what, 7 under? That’s incredible. … My hats off to her.”
Rookie Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., was in a tie for fourth heading into the final round, but shot a 77 to fall into a tie for 16th alongside Team Canada Young Pro Squad teammate Anne-Catherine Tanguay of Quebec City (73).
Brooke Henderson of Smith Falls, Ont., had a 75 to tie for 21st at 4 under. The Canadian star, the 2015 and 2016 winner at Columbia Edgewater, won the CP Women’s Open last week on home soil in Saskatchewan, then opened with a 64 on Thursday, before slipping back with rounds of 71 and 74.
Japan’s Ayako Uehara was third at 13 under after a 69.
Australia’s Minjee Lee, two strokes behind playing partner Hall entering round, had a 77 to finish fourth at 11 under.
“It was very bad,” Lee said. “I didn’t really have my ‘A’ game on.”
Lexi Thompson shot 70 to tie for ninth at 7 under in her third event following a three-week break for emotional and mental fatigue.
Abraham Ancer of Mexico leads at TPC Boston; Hadwin T16
NORTON, Mass. – Abraham Ancer of Mexico learned the hard way that a game that got him to the PGA Tour was good enough to win.
A Labor Day finish on the TPC Boston will be his biggest test.
Ancer opened with three straight birdies, had a birdie chance on all but one hole and shot a 6-under 65 that gave him a one-shot lead going into the final round of the Dell Technologies Championship that could change his career.
He showed up at the second FedEx Cup playoff event at No. 92 in the standings, hopeful of getting into the top 70 to keep his season going. A victory would send him to East Lake for the Tour Championship and give him a spot in all four majors.
But one look at the leaderboard is enough to suggest that 18 holes is a long way off.
Right behind is a player who had the lowest score before the largest gallery at the TPC Boston. That would be Bryson DeChambeau, who played with Tiger Woods for the first time in competition and delivered a 63 to get within one shot of the lead.
Tyrrell Hatton had a shot bounce off a cart and into the woods, never to be found, leading to double bogey. He still managed a 69 and joined DeChambeau one off the lead. They were among 10 players within four shots of the lead, a group that includes major champions Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth.
“I just know to win I’ve got to play good,” Ancer said. “There’s no way if you play sloppy you’re going to win out here. So I know I have to put up a good score out there tomorrow. And I know if I follow my game plan and make some putts, that could happen.”
He was at 13-under 200.
Woods had to settle for a 69 that left him in a tie for 16th – along with Adam Hadwin (70) of Abbotsford, B.C. – at 7 under.
At least Woods saw plenty of good golf. DeChambeau has become of his regular practice partners, though they had never been in the same group until Sunday.
DeChambeau opened with two birdies and finished even stronger, with short birdie putts on the 16th and 17th, and then a 5-iron from 237 yards that stopped rolling 2 feet from the hole for an eagle.
“He’s my childhood idol,” DeChambeau said. “I’ve admired him my whole entire life. And to be finally able to play with him under tournament conditions, it was different. I was a little nervous, for sure. But I was able to get out there and execute shots and worry about my game and focus on hitting the best shots possible. And I was able to play really well like that.”
Not since Vijay Singh in 2008 has anyone captured the opening two FedEx Cup. DeChambeau led by four shots at Ridgewood Country Club last week and never was seriously challenged. This time, the 24-year-old Californian will have to come from one shot behind against a 27-year-old playing in only his 49th PGA Tour event.
Hatton had the lead until his approach on the par-4 12th went off a cart path and into the trees, and a search party of some three dozen fans and volunteers never found it. He did well to escape with a double bogey, and then finished with a birdie for a 69.
Justin Rose (70) and Cameron Smith (67) were another shot behind, followed by Emiliano Grillo (64) and Kyle Stanley (66).
McIlroy was making a charge until hitting into the water on the 16th hole and missing a short putt at the 18th. HE had to settle for a 68 and was in a group at 9-under 204 that included Beau Hossler (68), Ryder Cup hopeful Tony Finau (67) and Spieth (68).
More than being six shots behind, Woods has to climb past 15 players. He handled the par 5s, but didn’t make much else and spent some 45 minutes on the putting green after his round.
“I didn’t get a lot out of my round today,” Woods said. Looking ahead to Monday, he said he would need a round like he saw from DeChambeau.
“I’ve got to make a bunch of birdies, get off to a quick start and just get rolling early,” Woods said. “Kind of do what Bryson did today.”
Ancer knows what it’s like to be among the chaotic atmosphere that Woods brings to a tournament. He played in the group ahead of Woods in the third round of the Quicken Loans National, heard the cheers and delivered a 62 that hardly anyone saw.
He didn’t play his best from the final group, but it wouldn’t have mattered with Francesco Molinari closing with a 62.
Ancer got hot again, putting for birdie on every hole except No. 12, where he made a mental mistake by hitting 3-wood off the tee into a breeze and into a bunker. He was able to advance it only 100 yards on the 51–yard par 4.
Even with seven birdies and a 65, Ancer missed three birdie chances inside 10 feet, including a 5-footer on the par-5 18th.
Canadians Marchand, Henderson sit inside top 10 in Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. – Canadian LPGA rookie Brittany Marchand is one round away from the best finish of her young career.
The 26-year-old Marchand carded a 2-under 70 on Saturday to sit in a tie for fourth place at 10-under heading into the final round of the Cambia Portland Classic.
Marchand placed seventh at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic back in July for the only Top-10 finish in her first season on the Tour.
“It’s a good spot. You know, I mean, I didn’t really have too high an expectations of myself this week,” said Marchand. “I wasn’t thinking, ‘I’m going to win this tournament,’ but now that I’m in this position, obviously, that’s my goal. But I don’t feel pressure. I mean, it would be amazing, so if everything clicks tomorrow, that’s great.”
Marchand birdied four of her first eight holes and turned the corner at 12-under, but a double bogey on the par-3 13th dropped her two strokes and she finished with five straight pars.
“I had one bad hole, but actually hit a really good shot. I’m still a little dumbfounded how it went that far over the green,” said the Orangeville, Ont., native.
“Otherwise, I hit a few not great shots coming down the stretch, but had some good saves, so that was good, and played the front nine really well. So overall, I’m pretty happy.”
Georgia Hall pulled away from Minjee Lee late in the third round to take a two-stroke lead into Sunday. Hall is 18 under.
Marchand is tied alongside Ayako Uehara (70).
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., had a 74 to fall into a tie for sixth at 7 under. The Canadian star, the 2015 and 2016 winner at Columbia Edgewater, won the CP Women’s Open last week on home soil in Regina for her seventh career victory.
Meanwhile, Quebec City’s Anne-Catherine Tanguay shot 67 to move up to 12th spot at 6 under.
Marchand has had some ups and downs at times this season, missing the cut in each of the past three events she’s played including the CP Women’s Open. But she believes she’s got the right frame of mind with 18 holes remaining.
“I think the last week of the Canadian Open … there too much in my head. Put a little pressure on myself, obviously, being Canadian, and had a little bit too much technical stuff going on, so I’m happy with myself this week,” said Marchand. “I feel like I’ve been playing really well all year, and I had a little bit of a slip the last couple weeks, but I’m happy to feel comfortable again.”
Canadian Adam Hadwin tied for 7th at TPC Boston
NORTON, Mass. – The putt is one that Webb Simpson never practices enough. He wasn’t sure it even required his putter.
He worked it to perfection.
From just over 70 feet away off the green on the par-5 18th, Simpson rolled in the eagle putt for an 8-under 63 to take a one-shot lead Saturday at the halfway point of the Dell Technologies Championship.
“You just kind of laugh at those because you’re not trying to make them, you’re just trying to get them close,” Simpson said. “The grass around the greens is firm enough to where the ball runs pretty smoothly. I didn’t like my lie to chip it. I decided to putt it, and it came off really nice, just how I wanted it.”
A gorgeous Saturday in New England allowed for low scoring at the TPC Boston.
Tyrrell Hatton of England had eight birdies with his store-bought putter for a 63 and was one shot behind, along with Justin Rose (67). Tommy Fleetwood made it a trio of Englishman near the top with his 65, leaving him three shots behind.
Tiger Woods got into the act, too.
Woods only once came close to bogey, making a 12-foot par putt on the par-3 11th hole, and gave himself ample opportunities in his round of 66. It was an important day to move forward with conditions ripe for scoring, though he still was seven shots behind Simpson.
“I’ve got some work to do still,” Woods said. “This is a golf course you can’t sit still on. You have to keep making birdies. You have to keep getting after it. Conditions are going to be like this the rest of the weekend. You’re going to see plenty of birdies out there.”
Simpson was at 11-under 131, worth little more than pole position going into the final two days before the Labor Day finish.
Adam Hadwin, the lone Canadian in the field, sits in a tie for seventh at 6-under. The Abbotsford, B.C., native was 5-under for the day through 10 holes before two bogeys on the back nine left him with back-to-back 68s.
Ten players were assured of their season ending by missing the cut, meaning they will not finish among the top 70 to advance to the third event in the FedEx Cup playoffs next week outside Philadelphia.
Simpson, who won The Players Championship in a landslide in May, is at No. 9 and already assured of being among the top 30 in the Tour Championship.
He is more interested in doing well enough, often enough, to be consistently among the elite.
“I don’t want to just have a couple of good years and have it go away for two years,” Simpson said. “There are a few guys that are always top 10 in the world. I want to do that.”
A lot of those guys are still in the hunt at the TPC Boston.
Jordan Spieth showed signs of getting on track, despite opening with two straight bogeys. He ran off four birdies in a five-hole stretch after making the turn, and saved par from a bunker on the other, and had a 67 to be in the large group at five shots behind.
Dustin Johnson, the world’s No. 1 player, missed several birdie chances and shot 69. He was six behind.
Hatton is riding a hot streak with his $149 putter that he bought last week before the final round at Ridgewood Country Club.
Well, the putter his caddie bought. Hatton wanted to shake up his short game, but the equipment trucks had already left and he was too embarrassed to be seen in a golf store shopping for a new putter, even if not many in Paramus, New Jersey, would have recognized him.
His caddie headed to a Golf Galaxy store, using a video app so Hatton could look at the options.
“Obviously, he made a good choice,” Hatton said.
Abraham Ancer of Mexico was poised to get within one shot until he chipped across the 18th green and into a bunker, and then missed a 4-foot par putt and had to settle for a 69 that left him three shots off the lead, along with Cameron Smith of Australia (66).
It’s a big week for Ancer, who is No. 92 in the FedEx Cup and needs to move into the top 70 to advance to next week outside Philadelphia. After that, the top 30 make it to the Tour Championship for the FedEx Cup finale.
“I don’t play well, I’m not playing any golf next week,” Ancer said. “I’m not trying to put any extra pressure. I know what I need to do. And I just need to execute my game plan and it will be fine.”
Tony Finau had five birdies over his last eight holes for a 68, which might help his cause involving another cup – the Ryder Cup. U.S. captain Jim Furyk makes three of his four wild-card picks on Tuesday, and Finau entered the equation with a runner-up finish last week.
Rafa Cabrera Bello of Spain didn’t hurt his chances, either. The four European selections are Wednesday. Cabrera Bello chose to play in the FedEx Cup playoff event at the TPC Boston instead of going to Denmark with one last chance to qualify. He had another 68 and was at 6 under, which is sure to get the attention of European captain Thomas Bjorn.
Bernhard Langer surges up leaderboard at Shaw Charity Classic
CALGARY – Joe Durant eagled the final hole at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club to move atop the Shaw Charity Classic leaderboard.
Durant also had six birdies and one bogey on Saturday during his round of 7-under 63 to take the outright lead at 11 under through two rounds of play at the PGA Tour Champions event.
Charles Schwab Cup standings leader Miguel Angel Jimenez shot 66 on Saturday and is just one shot behind Durant at 10 under heading into Sunday’s final round.
First-round co-leader Kirk Triplett is also in the mix at 9 under, while defending champion Scott McCarron is alone in fourth at 8 under.
Esteban Toledo followed up the 66 he shot on Friday with a 67 on Saturday to move into fifth spot at 7 under.
World Golf Hall of Famer Bernhard Langer is tied for sixth place at 6 under in a group that also includes Doug Garwood, Joey Sindelar and Scott Parel.
Langer carded a round of 5-under 65, a day after opening up the tournament with a 69. The German golfer teed off nearly two hours ahead of first-round leaders Triplett and Jimenez.
“It was the coldest I’ve played golf in a long time,” he said about the morning temperature. “It was probably 49, 50 degrees (Fahrenheit) and a 12 mile-an-hour wind out of the north, so it felt a lot colder than that. Guys were bundled up. My caddie looked like he was going to go skiing. He had a face mask on like he’s doing an exhibition in the Antarctic or something like that.”
The 61-year-old Langer is looking to improve upon his showing at the Shaw Charity Classic two years ago when he finished in a tie for second behind Carlos Franco.
“I’m going to be behind, so I’m going to have to come out aggressive and hopefully go low,” he said of his mindset heading into the final round.
Rod Spittle, of Niagara Falls, Ont., carded a round of 1-under 69 and is in a group of five golfers who are tied for 10th spot at 5 under.
Vancouver’s Stephen Ames is well back in a tie for 61st spot at 3 over after shooting 72 on Saturday, while Calgary’s Steve Blake is even further back in a tie for 71st following a round of 7-over 77.
Team Canada rallies to finish 7th at Women’s World Amateur Championship
MAYNOOTH, Ireland — After a rough start in the first round, Team Canada’s trio of women battled back to finish seventh on Saturday’s final round of the 2018 World Amateur Team Championships at Carton House.
The Canadian squad posted a final-round 137 (-7) to continue their ascension up the leaderboard with a 7 under par finish, climbing back from an opening-round score of 10 over par that saw them in an early tie for 39th.
After struggling in the opening round, the Canadian women paced the field at 17 under par in the final three rounds to get back into contention in the biennial competition. They were led by Calgary native Jaclyn Lee, who finished at 8 under par in a tie for 5th (76-69-72-65).
London, Ont., product Maddie Szeryk closed the event at 4 over par to share 46th place. Naomi Ko of Victoria, B.C., rounded out the squad with a score of 9 over par.
The American team ran away with the competition, collecting a 10-stroke victory with a score of 29 under par. Pacing Team U.S.A. was former Canadian Women’s Amateur champion Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster, Colo., who finished at 15 under par, two back of Korean medalist Ayean Cho.
“We have the strong bond already from the beginning, especially yesterday when we were all struggling we all fought for each other,” said Kupcho, who won the NCAA Women’s individual title in 2018. “We all wanted to win for each other, and I think that was a big thing coming out of yesterday. And, I think that’s how we got our big lead coming into today.
Japan won the silver with a score of 19 under par, while the Republic of Korea captured the bronze at 18 under, which is their fifth consecutive medal-winning performance.
Conducted every two years, the World Women’s Amateur Team Championship has been staged since 1964, with the winner earning the Espirito Santo Trophy. In 2014, Australia claimed the title by two strokes over the Canadian team of Brooke Henderson (Smiths Falls, Ont.), Augusta James (Bath, Ont.), and Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.).
In 25 appearances at the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship, Canada has earned runner-up honours four times.
The World Amateur Team titles are contested over four days of stroke play. A country may field a team of two or three players. In each round, the total of the two lowest scores constitutes the team score for the round. The four-day total is the team’s score for the championship.
Click here for full scoring.
The men’s World Amateur Team Championship will follow the women’s event, running from Sept. 5-8. Canada will send Hugo Bernard, 23, of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., Joey Savoie, 24, of La Prairie, Que., and Garrett Rank, 30, of Elmira, Ont., to compete for the Eisenhower trophy.
Brooke sits top ten at Cambia Portland Classic
PORTLAND, Ore. – Brooke Henderson followed her opening 64 with a 71 to drop into a tie for fifth at 9 under. The 20-year-old Canadian star, the 2015 and 2016 winner at Columbia Edgewater, is coming off a victory Sunday in the CP Women’s Open on home soil in Saskatchewan.
Georgia Hall shot a 9-under 63 on Friday to take a three-stroke lead in the Cambia Portland Classic and break the tournament 36-hole record.
The Women’s British Open winner four weeks ago for her first LPGA Tour title, the 22-year-old Englishwoman made five straight birdies in the middle of the back nine. She missed a chance to match the course record of 62 when her long birdie try went to the right on the par-4 18th.
“The putts were really good,” Hall said. “I holed some really long ones, as well, and my long game was pretty good today, and I didn’t really miss a green that much. I’m extremely happy. I kind of stayed in there and kept trying to get more birdies, so I was happy with that.”
Hall had a 15-under 129 total. She had four birdies on the front nine, three in a row on Nos. 5-7, and began the birdie streak on the par-5 12th at tree-lined Columbia Edgewater.
“I love this golf course,” Hall said. “It’s very nice to play. It’s in great condition, so I look forward to the weekend and seeing what I can do.”
Minjee Lee was second, following her opening 64 with a 68. The 22-year-old Australian won the Volvik Championship in May in Michigan for her fourth LPGA Tour title.
“I just scrambled when I had to and just took advantage of the shots that I hit close,” Lee said. “It was all-around OK today.”
Marina Alex, the first-round leader after tying the course record with a 62, had a late bogey in a 71 to fall into a tie with Megan Khang at 11 under.
“Had some great looks that just didn’t go in,” Alex said. I just really didn’t make anything. They weren’t bad strokes or putts, they just didn’t go in. So just carry some good juju into tomorrow.“
Khang eagled the par-5 fifth in a 65.
“I just kind of hit some great shots, had some good numbers, and just kind of stayed patient out there,” Khang said. Definitely gave myself a lot of opportunities, and luckily a few of them dropped, and just kind of kept that mentality for the rest of the day.“
“Got off to a shaky start, two bogeys right back-to-back on the back nine, which was my front nine, and I just kind of fought the rest of the day to kind of get it under par,” Henderson said. “So, I’m happy with 1 under. I would have obviously liked to have been better and get up the leaderboard a little bit more, but I just felt like I kind of battled my way through, and I feel like I did a good job of that.”
Australia’s Su Oh also was 9 under after a 69.
Lexi Thompson was 3 under after a 73. She missed the cut last week in Canada after tying for 12th in Indianapolis following a three-week break for emotional and mental fatigue.
Karen Stupples shot 71-79 to miss the cut in her first tour start in more than two years. The 45-year-old English player is a commentator for Golf Channel.
“I accomplished what I set out to at the start of the week, which was to prove to myself that I still had potential to play, even though I don’t want to,” Stupples said.
Adam Hadwin sits T8 heading into the weekend
NORTON, Mass. – Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, BC, finished with a share of 8th after firing a 3-under 68 on Friday at the Dell Technologies Championship.
The first time Justin Rose played a competitive round at TPC Boston, he shot 63. That was 15 years ago and he was not yet a TOUR member. He was playing on a sponsor’s exemption extended by then-tournament director Jay Monahan, now the PGA TOUR Commissioner.
Rose, then 23-years old, eventually finished solo third and earned his TOUR card without having to go through Q-school.
Since then, he’s played more than 300 TOUR events, won nine times – including a major and two WGC events – and also won an Olympic gold medal. It’s been a stellar career.
But he’s never been able to match that 63 – although he came close Friday with a bogey-free 6-under 65 to take the lead.
“This golf course has been changed and manipulated a lot through the years,” said Rose after his 45th career round at TPC Boston. “I think the first couple of years I played really well and enjoyed it. Then obviously significant changes through the years. I guess the last few years things have settled a little bit again.
“So I played better when it was pre-redesign. I probably had more success.”
Indeed. Besides his solo third in 2003, he tied for fourth in 2006. But since the debut of the FedExCup Playoffs the following year and the course’s redesign by Gil Hanse, Rose’s only top-10 finish came last year with a tie for 10th.
Perhaps he’s finally starting to solve it. He certainly solved the tricky wind conditions better than anybody else, and his bogey-free round was one of just two on the day (Abraham Ancer had the other in shooting 66).
Of course, it helps that he’s an established world-class golfer, ranked sixth in FedExCup points and fourth in the world.
Even so, TPC Boston – at least the latest version — may always seem liked a mystery to him.
“I’ve had some mixed results here,” said Rose, who turned his first missed cut of the season at last week’s FedExCup Playoffs opener into a six-day visit back home. “I’ve had some great weeks and I’ve had some poor weeks here. It’s a course I never really know exactly what to expect.
“But it’s a fun golf course.”
It was fun 15 years ago when he first saw it. Maybe it will be even more fun for him the rest of this week.
Canadian Rod Spittle enjoys strong start at Champions Tour event in Calgary
Calgary, Ont. – Canadian Rod Spittle is off to a solid start in his final PGA Tour Champions event.
Spittle shot 4-under 66 in the opening round of the 54-hole Shaw Charity Classic event on Friday, putting him in a tie for third place two shots behind co-leaders Miguel Angel Jimenez and Kirk Triplett.
After bogeying the 17th hole at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club, Spittle rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th and received a rousing ovation from the fans.
“We had a good spot, it was pretty level,” said the 63-year-old from Niagara Falls, Ont. “You just try to hit the best putt you can, of course, and yeah, it kind of found the bottom. So a really nice way to finish. It sets us up for a great weekend, there’s no doubt about it.”
Prior to the season, Spittle decided to retire after playing an 11-tournament schedule.
“I never really thought it was that big a deal,” he said. “It was just time for us to begin to kind of ride into the sunset and we picked our 11 tournaments and that’s all cool. Obviously we set it up to do it here at home, so that’s all great.”
Jimenez had an up-and-down round with an eagle, seven birdies and three bogeys. He had a chance for eagle on the final hole, but wound up making par.
“It’s a pity to make three putts on the last hole,” said Jimenez, who finished second behind Scott McCarron at last year’s Shaw Charity Classic. “I played very well apart from making three bogeys.”
Triplett had four birdies on his first four holes and three more on the back nine before bogeying the 17th to fall into a tie for the lead with Jimenez.
“The game seemed to be pretty easy for about 14 holes,” Triplett said. “I really struggled the last four holes.”
Esteban Toledo and Joe Durant also finished in a tie for third with Spittle at 4 under. McCarron is in a group of seven golfers at 3 under with Mike Goodes, Scott Parel, Jerry Kelly, Joey Sindelar, Brian Mogg and Gibby Gilbert III.
Calgary’s Steve Blake, who received a sponsor exemption to compete in his hometown event, carded an even-par round of 70 to finish in a tie for 37th place, while Vancouver’s Stephen Ames bogeyed the 18th hole to card a round of 1-over 71.
Defending Champ Sue Wooster rallies to win Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur & Senior
FONTHILL, Ont. — Australian Sue Wooster successfully defended her Senior and Mid-Master titles on Thursday, becoming only the 8th player to win back-to-back champions in the final round of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur & Senior Championship at Lookout Point Country Club.
“I played pretty good today,” said the 56-year-old. “I got off to a rough start, so I was three over, so it felt hard to finish at that score so I’m really happy with my performance under pressure.”
Wooster had quite the up-and-down round, starting the day with a bogey on the first hole and a double bogey on the par-3 second hole. After closing out the front-nine with a birdie, Wooster remained steadier after the turn, matching two more bogeys with two birdies to finish with a one-stroke victory over second-round leader Mary Ann Hayward.
Hayward – a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame –started the day leading three divisions but could not capitalize on her momentum. A rough start, highlighted by four consecutive bogeys, seemed to be turned around when she registered two birdies before tackling the back-nine.
In the end, the 58-year-old could not recover, adding five more bogeys and a birdie across her final holes to fall to second place, while Terrill Samuel finished third in both the Mid-Master and Senior divisions.
The day would not be over for Wooster, who finished her 18 holes tied for the lead in the Mid-Amateur division to force a playoff against three-time Mid-Amateur Champion Christina Proteau. Wooster and Proteau matched each other shot for shot, keeping the crowd on their toes throughout the playoff.
“I haven’t had a playoff ever that long,” said Wooster with a laugh. “It was just a matter of playing it straight hoping that I got the distance right. We were having fun. Who can ask for more? Playing golf and people cheering you, we’re very privileged.”
After spending most of the playoff neck-in-neck, the competition would come down to the wire on the fourth playoff hole. Proteau and Wooster both missed the fairway after their tee shots. With Wooster’s second stroke landing on the green and Proteau’s second shot taking her just short of the green, it looked as though the playoff would shortly come to an end. When Porteau’s third shot went right over the green, Wooster made a two-putt to emerge victorious.
Despite falling just short of the win, Proteau’s performance was nothing short of magnetic, helping to draw in the large crowd that had gathered to watch her battle it out with Wooster.
“It doesn’t get any better than that, that’s what you practice for. There’s always going to be someone that loses, and I just pushed it a hair on the last playoff hole and not a great lie but that’s just the way she goes,” said the 35-year-old. “Sue played awesome, it was a super enjoyable day and to play with Mary Ann Hayward in there, it was an awesome day. “
By winning the Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master and Senior titles, Wooster etches her name on a rare accomplishment as only the third player to win those divisions simultaneously next toTerrill Samuel (2015) and Judith Kyrinis (2016).
“I’m overwhelmed. I just can’t believe it,” said Wooster when asked how it felt to win three of the four individual competitions. “I think if I can do it, anyone can. You just need a bit of luck. I played pretty good today.”
In the Super Senior Division, Jackie Little rebounded to win at 23 over par. The Proctor, B.C., native will add this title to three others at the tournament, having won the Senior competition back-to-back in 2008 and 2009, as well as the Mid-Amateur title back in 2007.
“I really didn’t think that I had won and in my first year being 60, I was really happy about it, I have to admit, it wasn’t one of my best weeks for playing,” said Little, who reached the age of eligibly for the division in January. “The course is beautiful and a treat to play but it is definitely a tough course, you had to have your A-game.”
Penny Baziuk from North Saanich, B.C., finished one stroke shy of Little to finish in second place while Debbie Court of Mississauga, Ontario shares third with former Mid-Master champion Hélène Chartrand and Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Alison Murdoch, who holds the record for most Senior titles (2002, 2004, 2005 and 2007).
On Wednesday, Team Ontario captured their fifth consecutive inter-provincial team championship with a score of 11 over par, a commanding 20-shot victory over second-place British Columbia. Alberta finished in third at 39 over par.