Charley Hoffman leads heading into final round of the 2017 RBC Canadian Open
Charley Hoffman of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., is the 54-hole leader at the RBC Canadian Open after carding a 7-under-par 65 in Saturday’s third round at Glen Abbey Golf Club.
Hoffman recorded eight birdies and just one bogey on the day, building a one-shot lead over fellow American Kevin Chappell.
“You know the birdies are out there,” said Hoffman. “A perfect day here to make some birdies and have some fun in front of the fans.”
A four-time winner on the PGA TOUR, Hoffman’s last victory came at the 2016 Valero Texas Open.
Starting the day in a tie for fourth, Chappell, from in Fresno, Calif., posted a 6-under-par 66 in round three to enter the final grouping with Hoffman.
“We are good friends. Our caddies are staying together,” said Chappell. “We’ll have some laughs and it will be a comfortable pairing, that’s for sure.”
Chappell has three top-10 finishes on the PGA TOUR this season, including a win at the Valero Texas Open. He came to Glen Abbey ranked 32nd in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Robert Garrigus, from Scottsdale Ariz., tied the Glen Abbey course record with a 10-under-par 62 in the morning wave, moving him to 15 under par for the tournament—a 43 spot climb up the leaderboard into a tie for third place with Gary Woodland.
It’s a great confidence builder,” said Garrigus. “I know it’s hard to follow up a good round with a really good one but I’ve done it before, so hopefully I can do it again.”
Woodland, from Topeka, Kans., had seven birdies on Saturday but carded a 4-under-par 68 due to a double-bogey on the par-4 third. He is searching for his third career PGA TOUR victory.
Defending champion Jhonattan Vegas is part of a group of six players tied for fifth at 14 under par. Vegas carded a 5-under-par 67 in round three and knows he’ll have to go low again tomorrow to defend his title.
“You have to stay super aggressive. There’s nothing else you have to be thinking of,” said Vegas. “There’s a lot of birdies out here. We have to find a way to make a few more birdies than everyone tomorrow and see what happens.”
World. No. 1 Dustin Johnson was 5-under-par on the front nine Saturday but a double-bogey on No. 11 derailed his round, and he posted a 4-under-par 68 in round three to finish at 12 under par.
Johnson is seeking his PGA TOUR leading fourth win of 2017.
After 54 holes, Graham DeLaet is the top Canadian at 7 under par in a share of 41st place.
The Weyburn, Sask., native made the turn at 1 under par and went on to post a 1-over-par 73.
“I turned it under par which is solid play without making any putts and I just hit four bad tee shots in a row on 11, 12, 13, 14,” said DeLaet. “All of as sudden I’m a couple over par and 50th place or whatever it was.”
Mackenzie Hughes – the other Canadian playing the weekend at Glen Abbey – posted a 2-over-par 74 in round three to sit T55.
Tee times for the final round can be found here.
Glen Abbey Golf Club to host 2018 RBC Canadian Open
Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., has been selected to host the RBC Canadian Open in 2018, as announced today by Golf Canada and RBC.
Renowned as the longtime home of Canada’s National Men’s Open Golf Championship, the return to Glen Abbey in 2018 will mark the 30th time the venue has played host to the stars of the PGA TOUR. The 2018 championship will run July 23-29 on the PGA TOUR schedule.
“Together with our partners at RBC, we are excited to announce the RBC Canadian Open will be contested at Glen Abbey Golf Club again in 2018,” said Laurence Applebaum, chief executive officer of Golf Canada. “Glen Abbey has proven to be one of the world’s premier stadium courses for spectators and fan engagement. With our 2018 venue secured, we will continue to work towards finding a permanent home that serves our needs for Canada’s National Open Championship well into the future.”
In 2016, RBC announced it was continuing its investment in golf by signing a six-year extension as title sponsor of both the RBC Canadian Open and RBC Heritage. The new agreements take effect in 2018 and run through 2023.
“RBC is proud to partner with Golf Canada to ensure the RBC Canadian Open remains a best-in-class event for golf fans across Canada,” said Mary DePaoli, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for RBC. “Glen Abbey is a premiere location to showcase our National Open Championship and host the world’s top golfers, including our Team RBC players.”
Glen Abbey Golf Club hosted 22 Canadian Opens between 1977 and 2000 and after a brief hiatus the tournament returned in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Golf Canada’s head office as well as the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum are located on the grounds of Glen Abbey Golf Club.
“ClubLink is proud to again partner with Golf Canada as host of the RBC Canadian Open – the crown jewel of Canadian golf,” said ClubLink chief executive officer Rai Sahi. “We continue to be a committed and vested partner in Canadian golf and we look forward to working closely with Golf Canada and RBC to grow golf in Canada and work on opportunities for a permanent home for the RBC Canadian Open.”
Designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, a seven-time runner-up at the event, Glen Abbey is playing host to this year’s championship from July 24-30. The 2017 RBC Canadian Open is once again raising funds in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada – along with the Golf Canada Foundation in support of junior golf initiatives.
Canada’s Michael Gligic T2 after round 1 of Digital Ally Open, Svensson T6
Burlington, Ont., product Michael Gligic carded an opening round 64 to sit in a tie for second at 7 under par after 18 holes of the Digital Ally Open at Nicklaus Golf Course in Overland Park, Kan.
They Burlington, Ont., native teed off on the back nine and was even par through three holes before stringing together four straight birdies on holes No. 13 to 16 on route to going out in a 5-under-par 31.
Gligic added three more birdies on his second nine to finish at 7 under par, one shots back of leader Andrew Landry (Port Neches-Groves, Tex.) who fired an opening round 63 (-8).
O Canada. ??
Will Ontario native @MGligicGolf have a memorable @RBCCanadianOpen week here @DigitalAllyOpen?
He's in 2nd place after a 64. pic.twitter.com/vqsi6Yy0M1
— Web.com Tour (@WebDotComTour) July 28, 2017
He recorded his best career finish on the Web.com Tour earlier this year at the Nashville Golf Open Benefitting the Snedeker Foundation finishing in a tie for eighth.
Adam Svensson, a graduate of the Team Canada Amateur Squad, posted a 6 under par 65 and is T6. Like Gligic, Svensson recorded four straight birdies on holes No. 13 to 16 after starting on the back nine.
He has two top-10s on the Web.com Tour this season, recording the best result of his career earlier this year at the Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship finishing T6.
Svensson is currently ranked 66th on the Web.com Tour’s Order of Merit.
While most eyes are on @RBCCanadianOpen – ?? @adamsvensson59 has a share of the lead (-7) @WebDotComTour Digital Ally Open
— Flagstick Golf (@Flagstick) July 28, 2017
Young Pro Squad’s Albin Choi, from Toronto, Ont., is at under par. Choi had five birdies and an eagle in his round.
Choi’s Young Pro Squad teammate Corey Conners is XX after an opening round 69 (-2). The Listowel, Ont., native entered the week 45th on the Web.com Order of Merit.
For the full leaderboard click here.
Martin Flores leads through two rounds at the RBC Canadian Open
Fort Worth, Tex., product Martin Flores fired a 66 for the second consecutive day at Glen Abbey Golf Club to move to 12-under-par and take the 36-hole lead at the RBC Canadian Open.
Flores was bogey-free on Friday with four birdies and an eagle on the par-5 second hole to build a one-shot advantage over Matt Every, Gary Woodland and Brandon Hagy, who are 11 under.
“I was really pleased with my day,” said Flores. “Starting on the back, I sprinkled in some birdies and was able to capitalize on 16 and 18 – two par 5s.”
The 35-year-old is looking for his first career PGA TOUR victory this weekend.
Second-round interview with 36-hole leader Martin Flores #RBCCO pic.twitter.com/jVxRekzpcu
— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) July 29, 2017
Every—one of five players who shared the opening-round lead at 7 under par—posted a 4-under-par 68 in the second round to climb to 11 under par.
A two-time PGA TOUR winner, the Daytona Beach, Fla., native is happy to be in contention heading into the weekend.
“I definitely feel like I’ve made big strides the last few months, because it sucks to suck,” said Every. “I’m playing well right now. It’s not like a surprise to me. But I feel good with where I’m at.”
Hagy, a Santa Monica, Calif., native, had seven birdies on Friday to put himself in position to chase his first career PGA TOUR win this weekend.
The lowest score of the day belonged to Woodland. Hailing from Topeka, Kans., Woodland fired a 9-under-par 63, matching his career low round on the PGA TOUR—one shot away from tying the course record.
“Today I drove it well. Obviously, the ball-striking was good and I saw some putts go in,” said Woodland. “That adds up to a pretty good number.”
Graham DeLaet and Mackenzie Hughes were the lone Canadians to survive the 36 hole cut at Glen Abbey. The pair sit at 8 under par and hold a share of 14th.
DeLaet carded a 4-under-par 68 for the second consecutive day.
“I know the crowds will probably be big tomorrow and fun, and I need to try to embrace that,” said DeLaet. “I’m within striking distance, so another solid round tomorrow or something really low, I think I’m going to need two really good ones or like one really special one to get the win.”
The Weyburn, Sask., native had his best RBC Canadian Open finish in 2014, where he tied for 7th.
“I’m in the mix, and I’m excited about it.” – Graham DeLaet after carding a 68 to get to 8-under at the #RBCCO. pic.twitter.com/J7IPVudosy
— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) July 28, 2017
Already a winner in his rookie season on the PGA TOUR, Hughes started the day in a tie for 17th at 5 under par. The Dundas, Ont., native poured in seven birdies in round two, but added four bogeys to card a 3-under-par 69.
“You’re going to have those kind of rounds. I did well to manage it,” said Hughes. “It was kind of tricky out there. The winds were kind of swirling and a little bit gusty at times. So, 3 under was a good score.”
Three-time major champion Vijay Singh made a move up the leaderboard on Friday. The Fijian carded a 4-under par 66 to move into a tie for fifth two shots back of Flores at 10-under par.
Singh, 54, passed on playing in the Senior Open Championship this weekend to return to the site of his 2004 victory over Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member and Brights Grove, Ont., native Mike Weir.
“I know the golf course. The people are very friendly and they know golf,” said Singh. “I’ve played here so many times. Very, very familiar with it.”
Defending champion Jhonattan Vegas is part of a group of four players at 9 under par. The Venezuelan doesn’t plan on changing his game plan on the weekend as he tries to repeat.
“I was playing with Dustin (Johnson) today, which was a good thing because we were both firing at everything,” said Vegas. “You have to stay aggressive out here, because these guys are making a lot of birdies.”
Tee times for the third round can be found here.
CANADIANS AT THE 2017 RBC CANADIAN OPEN
- T14 Graham DeLaet – Weyburn – 68-68 -8
- T14 Mackenzie Hughes – Dundas – 67-69 -8
— DID NOT ADVANCE —
- Nick Taylor – Abbotsford – 69-72 -3
- David Hearn – Brantford 69-72 -3
- Bryn Parry – Vancouver 70-71 -3
- Drew Nesbitt – Shanty Bay – 72-69 -3
- Hugo Bernard (a) – Mont-Saint-Hilaire – 71-70 -3
- Austin James (a) – Bath – 71-72 -1
- Adam Hadwin – Abbotsford – 75-69 E
- Mike Weir – Brights Grove – 72-73 +1
- Daniel Kim – Toronto – 73-72 +1
- Riley Wheeldon – Comox – 74-72 +2
- Matt Hill – Brights Grove – 71-76 +3
- Brad Fritsch – Manotick – 72-75 +3
- Jared du Toit – Kimberley – 71-79 +6
- Ryan Williams – Surrey – 78-77 +11
- Garrett Rank – Elmira – 74-81 +11
(a) denotes amateur
Canada’s Christina Foster T6 after 18 holes of FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship
Christina Foster carded a 3-under-par 69 in the opening round of the Symetra Tour’s FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship, in Battle Creek, Mich.
The Toronto, Ont., product had four birdies and a just one bogey in the first round one at Battle Creek Country Club to sit three shots back of France’s Celine Boutier who fired a 6-under-par 66 to lead by one after 18 holes.
Foster has one top-10 this season on the Symetra Tour, a T8 at the Sara Bay Classic in April. She has struggled since – missing the cut in four of her six starts.
Christina Foster finishes w/ a par on 18 to post a 69 at @FireKeepers – clubhouse lead.
2nd rd in 60’s this yrhttps://t.co/fZXpoViOCq pic.twitter.com/qcAVi07dKe
— Symetra Tour (@ROAD2LPGA) July 28, 2017
Young Pro Squad’s Anne-Catherine Tanguay is T35 at E-under-par, alongside Orangeville, native and Team Canada graduate Brittany Marchand.
Tanguay’s Young Pro Squad teammate Augusta James is T47 at 1 over par.
Click here to view the full leaderboard.
Cristie Kerr shoots 73 to take Ladies Scottish Open lead
Cristie Kerr birdied three of the last six holes in strong wind Friday at Dundonald Links for a 1-over 73 and a one-stroke lead over Hall of Famer Karrie Webb in the Ladies Scottish Open.
Kerr played the first 11 holes in 4 over, with a double bogey on the par-5 third and bogeys on Nos. 6 and 11. The 39-year-old American had a 5-under 139 total.
“It was tough,” Kerr said. “I didn’t hit it that great today, but I still managed. My caddie and I managed the golf course well, and we made the recovery shots when we needed to. I’m just going to go hit a few balls and try to find the feel. It’s hard when you play back-to-back in heavy wind with the swing, but we’ll work on it.”
She won the LOTTE Championship in April in Hawaii for her 19th LPGA Tour title.
“You never know with the weather. I’m trying not to get ahead of myself in this weather,” Kerr said. “Just try to hit it pretty well and make some putts and get up-and-down sometimes, and we’ll see what happens.”
Webb, a stroke ahead of Kerr after a first-round 65, shot a 75 to drop behind. The 42-year-old Australian star had a double bogey, four bogeys and three pars.
“Well, disappointing, because I bogeyed the last two,” Webb said. “I fought really hard to be 1 over with two to go. Just a couple of bad swings and a couple of bad tee shots, really, that made it difficult to hit the greens. Disappointed with that but, obviously, if you’d have told me before I teed off yesterday, that I would be 4 under, probably would have taken it.”
South Koreans Sun Young Yoo (69) and Sei Young Kim (72) were tied for third at 3 under.
“I’m very pleased.” Yoo said. “It wasn’t easy out there. It was windy. Tried to make par every hole. Didn’t try too hard. I think that worked really good.”
Michelle Wie was tied for 11th at 1 over after a 73.
Lydia Ko missed the cut with rounds of 74 and 79. She has gone a full year without winning on the LPGA Tour.
“I missed like three 1-yard putts in a row,” Ko said. “I just couldn’t stroke the putt.”
She played her first 11 holes in 8 over. Starting play on No. 10, Ko bogeyed five of the first seven and made a double bogey on No. 1 and a bogey on No. 2. Her lone birdie came on No. 8.
“I think this is one of the windiest conditions I’ve played in,” Ko said. “Especially because it is so wide open from like 10 to 13, there’s no trees covering it, and normally when I played the British Opens, or even here a couple years ago, there was rain and that kind of softens up everything. It just makes it a touch easier than what it could be playing. But I think today was probably one of the most difficult rounds I’ve played in my career, and I think just physically, mentally.”
The Ricoh Women’s British Open is next week at Kingsbarns.
Click here for the full leaderboard.
Kupcho goes wire-to-wire to capture Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship
Jennifer Kupcho shot a 2-over-par 72 to capture the Duchess of Connaught Golf Cup at the 104th playing of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship on Friday at Cutten Fields.
On a windy day that saw only two players score under par, Kupcho (Westminster, Colo.) carded five birdies, three bogeys and two double-bogeys to cruise to a five-shot victory.
“I’m really excited,” she said, next to the 18th green after tapping in the championship-clinching putt. “I played really well this week and I’m just excited to get a national title.”
The 20-year-old started the day up four strokes on both Maria Fassi and Lilia Kha-Tu Vu and knew that she had to adjust her game plan based on how her fellow group members were playing.
“My strategy was to just hit greens,” she said. “That’s kind of the low-down of the whole thing. The greens are tough so I needed to just two-putt and then play to who I was playing with. Those were the people who were close, and how they were playing made me feel decent about my game.
Vu captured the silver medal after she shot a 3-over-par 73. The 19-year-old golfing out of Fountain Valley, Calif., made two birdies on the day but registered bogeys on each of her last two holes to end up 2 under par for the tournament.
Naomi Ko, a member of Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad from Victoria, B.C., shot the low round of the day with a 3-under-par 67. Ko’s best round of the tournament moved her into a three-way tie with Fassi and Rachel Heck who all earned bronze medals. Ko limited herself to just one bogey while knocking down four birdies, three of which came on the back nine.
Congratulations to #TeamCanada‘s @naomiko_golf for her T3 finish & top Canadian honours at #CDNWAm ????
Bring on the @cpwomensopen! pic.twitter.com/ah7Tk9a8Gb
— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) July 28, 2017
Fassi had the roughest day of the three women in the final grouping with a 4-over-par 74 to end at 1 under for the championship. The 19-year-old Mexico native was coming off back-to-back stellar rounds – including a course-record 62 on Wednesday – but her opening round 78 proved to be too much to come back from.
Heck, just 15-years-old, finished the championship with a 2-over-par 72. She was rolling along in the windy conditions at Cutten Fields until her bogey putt lipped out on the challenging 14th green for a double-bogey. The Memphis, Tenn., product finished her final round with four straight pars with assistance from her sister and caddy Abigail.
Kupcho’s victory earns her an exemption into both the 2017 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and the CP Women’s Open at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club in Ottawa from Aug. 21-27. For being the lowest-scoring Canadian, Ko also earned an exemption into the CP Women’s Open.
Click here for full results.
| Pos | Player | Today | Thru | Total | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Jennifer Kupcho Westminster, CO |
+2 | F | -7 | 65 | 70 | 66 | 72 | 273 |
| 2 | Lilia Kha-Tu Vu Fountain Valley, CA |
+3 | F | -2 | 71 | 64 | 70 | 73 | 278 |
| T3 |  Naomi Ko Victoria, BC |
-3 | F | -1 | 70 | 72 | 70 | 67 | 279 |
| T3 | Rachel Heck Memphis, TN |
+2 | F | -1 | 70 | 66 | 71 | 72 | 279 |
| T3 |  Maria Fassi Mexico |
+4 | F | -1 | 78 | 62 | 65 | 74 | 279 |
| 6 | Susan Xiao Surrey, BC |
+3 | F | +3 | 66 | 71 | 73 | 73 | 283 |
| 7 | Andrea Lee Hermosa Beach, CA |
+2 | F | +4 | 71 | 72 | 69 | 72 | 284 |
| T8 |  Sandy Choi Republic of Korea |
E | F | +5 | 71 | 73 | 71 | 70 | 285 |
| T8 |  Hira Naveed Australia |
+6 | F | +5 | 70 | 75 | 64 | 76 | 285 |
| T10 | Janet Mao Johns Creek, GA |
+1 | F | +6 | 70 | 74 | 71 | 71 | 286 |
| T10 | Grace St-Germain Orleans, ON |
+5 | F | +6 | 68 | 74 | 69 | 75 | 286 |
| T10 |  Jaravee Boonchant Thailand |
+7 | F | +6 | 70 | 69 | 70 | 77 | 286 |
| T13 |  Yuka Saso Philippines |
+2 | F | +7 | 72 | 73 | 70 | 72 | 287 |
| T13 | Mariel Galdiano Pearl City, HI |
+2 | F | +7 | 75 | 70 | 70 | 72 | 287 |
| T15 | Morgan Gonzales Chandler, AZ |
+3 | F | +8 | 72 | 73 | 70 | 73 | 288 |
| T15 | Lauren Greenlief Ashburn, VA |
+5 | F | +8 | 70 | 75 | 68 | 75 | 288 |
| T17 | Gina Kim Chapel Hill, NC |
+1 | F | +9 | 73 | 73 | 72 | 71 | 289 |
| T17 | Emily White Saline, MI |
+2 | F | +9 | 72 | 70 | 75 | 72 | 289 |
| T17 | Emilia Migliaccio Cary, NC |
+3 | F | +9 | 73 | 70 | 73 | 73 | 289 |
| T17 | Jaclyn Lee Calgary, AB |
+4 | F | +9 | 74 | 71 | 70 | 74 | 289 |
| T17 | Maddie Szeryk London, ON |
+4 | F | +9 | 74 | 72 | 69 | 74 | 289 |
| 22 |  Tatiana Wijaya Indonesia |
+4 | F | +10 | 73 | 72 | 71 | 74 | 290 |
| T23 |  Michelle Cheung Hong Kong |
+3 | F | +11 | 74 | 73 | 71 | 73 | 291 |
| T23 | Anna Newell Tampa Bay, FL |
+6 | F | +11 | 72 | 70 | 73 | 76 | 291 |
| T25 | Elizabeth Wang San Marino, CA |
+1 | F * | +12 | 77 | 71 | 73 | 71 | 292 |
| T25 | Monet Chun Richmond Hill, ON |
+4 | F | +12 | 78 | 72 | 68 | 74 | 292 |
| T25 | Lauren Hartlage Elizabethtown, KY |
+4 | F | +12 | 73 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 292 |
| T25 | Alyaa Abdulghany Newport Beach, CA |
+4 | F | +12 | 73 | 73 | 72 | 74 | 292 |
| T25 |  Camila Serrano Colombia |
-2 | F * | +12 | 79 | 72 | 73 | 68 | 292 |
| T30 | Kaho Monica Matsubara San Diego, CA |
+3 | F | +13 | 76 | 74 | 70 | 73 | 293 |
| T30 | Haylee Harford Leavittsburg, OH |
+8 | F | +13 | 72 | 70 | 73 | 78 | 293 |
| T32 | Hannah Wood Highlands Ranch, CO |
+3 | F * | +14 | 76 | 72 | 73 | 73 | 294 |
| T32 |  Yue Zhang China |
+3 | F * | +14 | 74 | 75 | 72 | 73 | 294 |
| T32 | Olivia Cason Owensboro, KY |
+8 | F | +14 | 74 | 72 | 70 | 78 | 294 |
| T32 | Allisen Corpuz Waipahu, HI |
+10 | F | +14 | 73 | 71 | 70 | 80 | 294 |
| T36 | Molly Skapik Miamisburg, OH |
+5 | F | +15 | 73 | 72 | 75 | 75 | 295 |
| T36 | Katherine Zhu China |
+5 | F | +15 | 70 | 74 | 76 | 75 | 295 |
| T36 | DeeDee-Taylah Russell Australia |
+4 | F * | +15 | 75 | 71 | 75 | 74 | 295 |
| T36 | Michelle Kim Surrey, BC |
+6 | F | +15 | 74 | 75 | 70 | 76 | 295 |
| T36 | Patricia Wong Walnut, CA |
+2 | F * | +15 | 75 | 69 | 79 | 72 | 295 |
| T36 |  Anita Uwadia Nigeria |
+1 | F * | +15 | 76 | 73 | 75 | 71 | 295 |
| 42 | Stephanie Lau Evanston, IL |
+9 | F | +16 | 75 | 71 | 71 | 79 | 296 |
| T43 | Jiyoon Jang Rancho Mirage, CA |
+9 | F | +18 | 75 | 73 | 71 | 79 | 298 |
| T43 | Jessica Ip Richmond Hill, ON |
+3 | F * | +18 | 75 | 75 | 75 | 73 | 298 |
| T45 | Kat Kennedy Okotoks, AB |
+7 | F * | +19 | 73 | 75 | 74 | 77 | 299 |
| T45 | Courtney Dow Frisco, TX |
+7 | F * | +19 | 73 | 77 | 72 | 77 | 299 |
| T45 | Chloe Velasco Victoria, TX |
+6 | F * | +19 | 76 | 75 | 72 | 76 | 299 |
| T45 | Hannah Lee Surrey, BC |
+3 | F * | +19 | 73 | 73 | 80 | 73 | 299 |
| T49 | Erin Harper Dublin, OH |
+9 | F * | +20 | 79 | 71 | 71 | 79 | 300 |
| T49 | Lauren Diaz-Yi Thousand Oaks, CA |
+5 | F * | +20 | 78 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 300 |
| T51 | Evelyn Arguelles Mexico |
+8 | F * | +21 | 75 | 73 | 75 | 78 | 301 |
| T51 | Jacqueline Chulya Thailand |
+6 | F * | +21 | 72 | 75 | 78 | 76 | 301 |
| T53 | Cynthia Diaz Colombia |
+7 | F * | +22 | 72 | 77 | 76 | 77 | 302 |
| T53 | Kelsey Zeng Orlando, FL |
+3 | F * | +22 | 78 | 75 | 76 | 73 | 302 |
| T53 | Chelsea Dantonio Lancaster, NY |
+2 | F * | +22 | 74 | 74 | 82 | 72 | 302 |
| T56 | Katy Rutherford Calgary, AB |
+9 | F * | +23 | 76 | 75 | 73 | 79 | 303 |
| T56 | Gloria Usu Choi Langley, BC |
+6 | F * | +23 | 76 | 73 | 78 | 76 | 303 |
| 58 | Zhiying “Cindy” Zhou Niagara Falls, ON |
+9 | F * | +24 | 73 | 73 | 79 | 79 | 304 |
| T59 | Allison Chandler Chester, NS |
+9 | F * | +25 | 73 | 75 | 78 | 79 | 305 |
| T59 |  Momoka Kobori New Zealand |
+8 | F * | +25 | 73 | 74 | 80 | 78 | 305 |
| T59 | Maria Vesga Colombia |
+6 | F * | +25 | 74 | 74 | 81 | 76 | 305 |
| T59 | Diana McDonald Kingston, ON |
+6 | F * | +25 | 76 | 77 | 76 | 76 | 305 |
| 63 | Noemie Paré Victoriaville, QC |
+6 | F * | +27 | 76 | 76 | 79 | 76 | 307 |
| T64 | Kelsey Sear Unionville, ON |
+6 | F * | +28 | 76 | 77 | 79 | 76 | 308 |
| T64 | Alexandra Naumovski Hornby, ON |
+5 | F * | +28 | 73 | 80 | 80 | 75 | 308 |
| T66 | Mary Ann Hayward St. Thomas, ON |
+10 | F * | +29 | 76 | 74 | 79 | 80 | 309 |
| T66 | Emily Zhu Richmond Hill, ON |
+8 | F * | +29 | 74 | 77 | 80 | 78 | 309 |
| 68 | Kristen Giles Georgetown, ON |
+13 | F * | +31 | 73 | 78 | 77 | 83 | 311 |
| 69 | Courtney Tolton Mitchell, ON |
+8 | F * | +32 | 74 | 77 | 83 | 78 | 312 |
| 70 | Natalie Chu Vancouver, BC |
+14 | F * | +36 | 76 | 77 | 79 | 84 | 316 |
Mackenzie Hughes ignores pressure of playing at RBC Canadian Open
There’s tons of pressure on Mackenzie Hughes. Playing near his hometown, in his national championship, with dozens of family and friends in the gallery watching. But the PGA Tour rookie is trying to treat the RBC Canadian Open like any other tournament.
That methodical approach paid off as Hughes, from nearby Dundas, Ont., was the low Canadian on Thursday firing a 5-under 67 to enter a 16-way tie for 17th. The 26-year-old Hughes was happy to be just two shots behind the five co-leaders Hudson Swafford, Brandon Hagy, Kevin Chappell, Matt Every and Ollie Schniederjans.
“You can’t win it on Thursday but you can lose it on Thursday,” said Hughes after signing his scorecard. “I put myself in a pretty good spot. I know the scores are up there today and someone might shoot 7, 8 under, but it’s a four-round tournament and I’m off to a great start.”
That eases some of the tension that Hughes and the 16 other Canadians competing at the event feel every year at the PGA’s annual event north of the border.
“There’s a little bit of pressure. I’d be lying if I said it was a normal week. It’s not,” said Hughes, who estimated he had between 20 and 30 friends and family at Glen Abbey Golf Course for the first round. “You see a lot of familiar faces in the gallery, people calling your name. On the PGA Tour, I don’t get noticed for my appearance usually.”
Graham DeLaet, a seven-year PGA Tour veteran from Weyburn, Sask., said that he felt the pressure too, getting nervous before teeing off in the afternoon group.
“I had butterflies in my stomach,” said DeLaet, who eagled on No. 18 just before the sun set for a 4-under 68. “I’m not used to having so many people around No. 1 as I’m teeing off on a Thursday.”
Part of the pressure comes from Canada’s decades-long drought at its own national championship. The last Canadian to win the event was Pat Fletcher at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf Club in 1954 and today’s crop of players are asked about bringing the title home on a nearly daily basis at the Canadian Open.
“We’re aware of it but it gets talked about it enough,” said Hughes. “At the end of the day, we prepare 30 weeks a year trying to win tournaments, and this is another one I’ll be trying to win. To have this be in Canada, and obviously it would be very special, but you just can’t try too hard to win your national open, because it’s not going to happen if you try that hard.”
Amateurs Hugo Bernard of Mont-Saint Hillaire, Que., and Austin James of Bath, Ont., were at 1 under while Jared Du Toit of Kimberely, B.C., Ottawa’s Brad Fritsch, and Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., finished their rounds at even-par 72.
Toronto’s Daniel Kim was 1-over 73 and Riley Wheeldon of Comox, B.C., was 2 over.
Matt Hill of Sarnia, Ont., amateur Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., Drew Nesbitt of Shanty Bay, Ont., and Vancouver’s Ryan Williams had their days cut short due to darkness. They’ll finish their first rounds on Friday.
Five golfers share the lead at rain-shortened RBC Canadian Open
Hudson Swafford, Kevin Chappell, Matt Every, Ollie Schniederjans, and Brandon Hagy carded matching rounds of 65 to lead the way at 7 under par in the rain-shortened first round of the RBC Canadian Open.
Play was halted at 3:45 p.m. due to dangerous weather and resumed at 5:40 p.m. after a 1 hour and 55-minute delay. Twenty-one golfers were unable to finish their first round when play was officially suspended for the day due to darkness at 8:48 p.m.
Swafford, from Tallahassee, Fla., parred his first hole of the day before pouring in five consecutive birdies to kickstart his round.
“I hit a lot of quality shots and gave myself a lot of looks,” said Swafford. “That’s all I was trying to do, keep giving myself looks and rolled the putter beautifully.”
He added three more birdies and just one bogey to put him himself in a good position to chase his second PGA TOUR win of the season following a victory at the CareerBuilder Challenge in January.
Chappell averages 299.9 yards per drive off the tee and took advantage of the three par-5s at Glen Abbey playing them in 4-under-par.
“I hit it really well. Got the ball in play on the par 5s, so I was able to attack those,” said Chappell.
The Fresno, Calif., native has three top-10s on the PGA TOUR this year including a win at the Valero Texas Open and a T7 at The Masters.
Hagy, a native of Santa Monica, Calif., had eight birdies and only one bogey to record his career-low round on the PGA TOUR (in relation to par). Every of Daytona Beach, Fla., had a clean card in his opening round recording seven birdies without dropping a single stroke.
Like Every, Schniederjans was bogey free. The Dallas, Tex., product chipped in for eagle on hole No. 13 and another on hole No. 18 to go along with three birdies. The former No. 1 ranked amateur in the world has four top-10s on the PGA TOUR this year.
“I took advantage of the par-5s and just played real consistently well off the tee. I was in good positions all day. Just a solid round,” said Schniederjans.
Eleven players are one stroke back at 6-under-par including two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson. The Baghdad, Fla., product had six birdies and zero blemishes on his card recording his first bogey-free round since the second round of the 2016 BMW Championship.
“Today it’s a little softer but you know, light rough, firm greens, but light rough and I feel like I can play as long as I can make a couple putts and that’s what I did,” commented Watson.
Dundas, Ont, native Mackenzie Hughes is the leading Canadian sitting T17 after a 5-under-par 67. Teeing off on hole No. 10 Hughes went out in a pedestrian 1-under-par 36 before heating up on his second nine – carding four birdies in his first five holes to finish at 5 under par.
“It was pretty rock solid, lots of fairways and gave myself some really good looks. The birdie putts I made were relatively close, inside ten feet, 12 feet” said Hughes. “Those are nice days when you can be aggressive from that 15-foot range. It was a fun day.”
Graham DeLaet from Weyburn, Sask., is T33 at 4-under-par. Nick Taylor, (Abbotsford B.C.) is T53 alongside Brantford’s David Hearn at 3-under-par (69).
Team Canada Amateur Squad teammates Jared du Toit (Kimberley B.C.), Hugo Bernard (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.) and Austin James (Bath, Ont.) carded matching rounds of 71 for a share of 87th.
CANADIANS AT THE 2017 RBC CANADIAN OPEN
- T17 Mackenzie Hughes – Dundas – 67 -5
- T33 Graham DeLaet – Weyburn – 68 -4
- T53 Nick Taylor – Abbotsford – 69 -3
- T53 David Hearn – Brantford 69 -3
- T70 Bryn Perry – Vancouver 70 -2
- T87 Jared du Toit – Kimberley – 71 -1
- T87 Hugo Bernard (a) – Mont-Saint-Hilaire – 71 -1
- T87 Austin James (a) – Bath – 71 -1
- T106 Mike Weir – Brights Grove – 71 E
- T106 Brad Fritsch – Manotick – 72 E
- T106 Matt Hill – Brights Grove –E (17)
- T121 Daniel Kim – Toronto – 73 +1
- T121 Garrett Rank – Elmira – +1 (16)
- T121 Drew Nesbitt – Shanty Bay +1 (16)
- T138 Riley Wheeldon – Comox – 74 +2
- T146 Adam Hadwin – Abbotsford – 75 +3
- 156 Ryan Williams – Surrey – +7 (17)
Round one will resume on Friday at 8:20 a.m.
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Hall of Famer Karrie Webb leads Ladies Scottish Open
Hall of Famer Karrie Webb shot a 7-under 65 in cold and windy conditions Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over Cristie Kerr in the Ladies Scottish Open.
“When we were warming up and our first few holes, obviously it was really cold and really windy,” Webb said. “I looked at the scoreboard and saw that Cristie Kerr shot 6 under, and I was like, ‘What course did she play today?”’
Webb played the final 10 holes in 7 under at Dundonald Links. The 42-year-old Australian star birdied the par-4 ninth, made five straight birdies on Nos. 11-15 and added another birdie on the par-5 18th.
“I sort of really hung in there through the front nine and made a nice birdie on 9 to turn at 1 under,” Webb said. “Then just really started swinging at it well and hitting it quite close and had some good birdie chances and made the most of them.”
She won the last of her 41 LPGA Tour titles in 2014 at the Founders Cup.
Kerr closed with a birdie on the No. 9 in her bogey-free round in the event sanctioned by the LPGA Tour for the first time. It has been part of the Ladies European Tour since 1986.
“It was still tough to stand over the shots that you needed to execute, and it’s never easy here. So, I’m very pleased with the score,” Kerr said. “I just controlled my ball really well out there, with the crosswinds and trajectory and I had a great day. I just kind of hit the ball where I was trying to hit it in the areas I was trying to hit it in, and made some putts, as well.”
Fellow major champions Stacy Lewis and Inbee Park were tied for third at 69 along with Sei Young Kim, Lina Boqvist and Pornanong Phatlum. ANA Inspiration winner So Yeon Ryu had a 71, and Michelle Wie shot 72.
“The weather wasn’t good this morning but definitely got off to a great start.” Lewis said. “It was super hard out there and just really happy, happy to be done and getting to warm up.”
Lydia Ko opened with a 74. She has gone a full year without winning on the LPGA Tour.
Defending champion Isabelle Boineau shot a 76.
The Ricoh Women’s British Open is next week at Kingsbarns.
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