De Winton, Alta. – Kenna Hughes won a hard-fought battle on Thursday to edge out the defending champion, Katy Rutherford, who finished three shots back. Hughes carded 6 birdies en route to her victory, including three in a row on the back nine.

When asked to comment on her win, Hughes replied, “I hit my driver and irons well all week. It feels great to win considering I was struggling with my game earlier this season. I’m pleased to say I put together three solid rounds of golf.”

Taylor Stone of Pinebrook Golf & Country Club shot +21, 234, claiming victory in the Alberta Juvenile Girls Championship.

Kehler Koss, who recently won the 2016 CN Future Links Western Championship, finished third in the Alberta Junior Girls Championship, granting her a position on the interprovicial squad with Hughes. The final spot was claimed by Alicia Easthope, who finished in 4th. The Alberta Junior Girls Interprovincial Team will move on to compete in the Canadian Junior Girls Championship from August 2-5 at The Links at Penn Hills in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia.

The third round of the Alberta Junior & Juvenile Boys Championship finished with Jaxon Lynn out in front for the Junior Boys and Chandler McDowell leading the Juvenile Boys. Lynn and McDowell shot -3, 68, and -5, 66, respectively in today’s round.

The final round of the junior and juvenile boys championship will commence at 7 a.m. on Friday, July 15.

Alberta Golf would like to extend thanks to the staff at Cottonwood Golf and Country Club for their efforts in accommodating the 2016 Alberta Junior & Juvenile Championship.

For final round standings from the championship, click here.

FAIRVIEW, P.E.I. – Ideal conditions and sunny skies set the stage for the second round of the CN Future Links Atlantic Championship at Countryview Golf Club. First-round co-leader Calvin Ross claimed sole possession of the Junior Boys lead, while Allison Chandler extended her advantage atop the Junior Girls division to 10 strokes.

Defending Junior Boys champion Calvin Ross carded a 70 to reach 3-under 141. The product of Fredericton, N.B., tallied four birdies across the front nine to build a four-stroke lead.

Alex Taylor of Nine Mile Creek, P.E.I., also posted a 2-under round, sinking five birdies in his final 12 holes. The 16-year-old alongside Kevin Chen (Stratford, P.E.I.), Jack Anderson (Halifax) and Shaun Margeson (Fall River, N.S.) hold shares of second at 1-over 145.

Chester, N.S., resident Allison Chandler shot 1-over 73 to further distance herself from her Junior Girls competitors. The 18-year-old defending champion sunk three birdies on the day to finish 2-under 142. Port Williams, N.S., native Meghan McLean sits in second at 8-over, while her younger sister Heather is one-stroke back in third following a 4-over second-round showing.

Laura Jones, who began the day in sixth-place, carded a 76 to climb into fourth at 11-over. The product of Moncton, N.B., claimed runner-up honours at the 2015 edition of this event at Gowan Brae Golf Club in Bathurst, N.B. Sarah Beqaj of Toronto sits fifth at 13-over.

The top six finalists in the Junior Boys Division will earn exemptions into the 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship at Clovelly Golf Club in St. John’s, N.L., from August 1-4. In the case of ties, exemptions will be decided via a hole-by-hole playoff. All competitors within the Top-6, including ties, in the Junior Girls Division will gain entry into the Canadian Junior Girls Championship. The tournament will be conducted from August 2-5 at The Links at Penn Hills in Shubenacadie, N.S.

The final day of competition will see the Junior Boys tee-off at 7:30 a.m. before the Junior Girls begin play at 10:10 a.m. Additional information, including pairings and up-to-date scoring is available here.

The 2016 RBC Canadian Open won’t be the only national golf competition taking place this coming week at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

Twenty-five competitors from across Canada will converge at Glen Abbey on Saturday, July 16^th for the eighth annual CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event, marking the culmination of more than 2,200 participants competing at 134 golf facilities across Canada. As determined by their standing on the National Leaderboard, the top 25 juniors in the country will compete in a four-part skills challenge (putting, chipping, driving and iron play) with one overall winner per age group and gender.

The highest skills challenge scorers from events across Canada during the 2016 golf season are listed below:

The winners of the CN Future Links Skills Challenge National Event in the boys and girls 15-18 age groups will receive an exemption into their local CN Future Links Championship in 2017. All other attending participants of the CN Future Links Junior Skills National Event will receive prizing courtesy of Titleist Footjoy.

On the Sunday prior to tournament week, junior participants will also have the opportunity to test the storied Glen Abbey layout in an exciting match play format, outfitted by program sponsor Cobra Puma Golf. Following that, participants will be provided weekly grounds passes and have an opportunity to be involved in Monday’s Pro-Am and secure a spot in Wednesday’s CN Future Links Walk with a Pro event during the Wednesday Pro-Am.

Click here to learn more about the CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event.

Through separate qualifying events, six Canadians have punched their tickets to the U.S. Men’s Amateur next month.

Amateur Squad member Eric Banks of Truro, N.S., was the latest Team Canada athlete to secure his spot—posting a 66-71 on Tuesday to finish as medalist at the Crestwood Country Club in Rehoboth, Mass. His effort was matched by Joey Savoie of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., who bested the field at the Milford, Conn., event hosted at the Great River Golf Club. The Saint Leo freshman carded a 72-68 to earn medalist honours with a one-stroke advantage.

Team Canada’s Amateur Squad duo of Blair Hamilton and Hugo Bernard shared medalist honours on Monday in Hamilton, N.Y., to lock up the two available spots at the Seven Oaks Golf Course qualifying event.

The pair kept up a steady pace throughout the 36-hole stroke-play event, both carding totals of 139 (-5) to win the qualifier by one stroke. Bernard, a Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., product, made his push by going 3-under par on his final nine holes to secure his spot. Teammate and Burlington, Ont., native Hamilton’s final round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 5^th hole, cancelling out a double-bogey just two holes prior.

Canada’s Josh Goheen of Greely, Ont., finished two-strokes off the pace at 3-under par to become the second alternate from the Seven Oaks GC event.

Also in New York, Maxwell Sear of Unionville, Ont. bested the field at the Mendon Golf Club on Monday with a 69-68 to close at 5-under par. The West Virginia Mountaineer sophomore birdied three of his first five holes to boost him towards the one-stroke victory.

Rounding out the quintet is Canadian Kaleb Gorbahn of Smithers, B.C., won the Blaine, Wash., qualifying event last week.

All five Canucks will head to Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., from Aug. 15–21 to compete for the title, and one of two spots into The Masters in 2017. Canada’s Corey Conners (currently on the Young Pro Squad) finished as a finalist back in 2014, eventually going on to finish as top amateur at the 2015 Masters.

Click here for updated qualifier scoring.

Pumped for the US Am!! pic.twitter.com/U02YeCcPTj

— Eric Banks (@EricBanks19) July 12, 2016

T-1 in my US AM qualifier with 71-68!! Excited to play in the biggest amateur tournament in the world in august!! pic.twitter.com/nPrTA4LYkE

— hugo bernard (@Hbernard63) July 11, 2016

See you at Oakland Hills #USAmateur #hammythekid pic.twitter.com/yJumujVCYF

— Blair Hamilton (@BlairHamilton12) July 12, 2016

FAIRVIEW, P.E.I. – The first round of the 2016 CN Future Links Atlantic Championship opened under clear skies at Countryview Golf Club. Defending champion Allison Chandler holds a five-stroke advantage atop the Junior Girls division, while defending Junior Boys champion Calvin Ross, Sam Reid and Shaun Margeson share the lead.

Chandler captured the 2015 CN Future Links Atlantic Junior Girls title at Gowan Brae Golf Club in Bathurst, N.B. The Chester, N.S., native picked up where she left off, notching four birdies and an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole en route to a 3-under 69.

Meghan McLean of Port Williams, N.S., stayed bogey-free through her final 10 holes to take sole possession of second at 2-over. Toronto’s Sarah Beqaj sits third at 3-over following a four-birdie showing. An eagle on the par-5 12th hole propelled Sarah Holt of Waterville, N.B., into fourth-place, while Port Williams, N.S., resident Heather McLean holds fifth.

Calvin Ross recorded four birdies on the day in pursuit of a second-straight CN Future Links Atlantic Junior Boys title. The product of Fredericton, N.B., shot 1-under 71 for a share of the lead alongside Sam Reid of Moncton, N.B., and Shaun Margeson of Fall River, N.S.

Andre Savoie (Dieppe, N.B.), Luke Gavin (Peterborough, Ont.) and Adrian Mallet (Cornwall, P.E.I.) matched 72s to hold shares of fourth.

The top six finalists in the Junior Boys Division will earn exemptions into the 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship at Clovelly Golf Club in St. John’s, N.L., from August 1-4. In the case of ties, exemptions will be decided via a hole-by-hole playoff. All competitors within the Top-6, including ties, in the Junior Girls Division will gain entry into the Canadian Junior Girls Championship. The tournament will be conducted from August 2-5 at The Links at Penn Hills in Shubenacadie, N.S.

The second day of competition will see the Junior Girls tee-off at 7:30 a.m. before the Junior Boys begin play at 8:20 a.m. Additional information, including pairings and up-to-date scoring is available here.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada and RBC are proud to announce that Web.com Tour player Brad Fritsch of Manotick, Ont., along with a trio of National Amateur Squad members are among the Canadians receiving tournament exemptions to compete in the 2016 RBC Canadian Open taking place at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., from July 18-24.

Fritsch, who will make his ninth appearance in Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship, is having a strong year on the Web.com Tour with a victory at the Servientrega Championship Presented by Efecty and a runner-up finish at the El Bosque Mexico Championship presented by INNOVA that positions the 38-year-old fifth on the Tour’s money list.

Tournament exemptions have also been given to Team Canada National Amateur Squad members Hugo Bernard of Mont St-Hilaire, Que., Calgary’s Jared du Toit and Burlington, Ont., native Blair Hamilton.

As well, this will be the second consecutive year in which Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., has earned his place in the RBC Canadian Open by claiming victory in the previous year’s Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

PGA of Canada professional Dave Levesque of Montréal earned his way into the 2016 RBC Canadian Open by claiming the No. 1 position on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC. Branson Ferrier of Barrie, Ont., shot 4-under 68 at King’s Forest Golf Course to top the 144-player field to earn an exemption through the RBC Canadian Open Ontario Regional Qualifier.

Fritsch, Bernard, du Toit, Hamilton, Rank, Levesque and Ferrier will be among 12 Canadians who will challenge for the 107th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship.

Leading the Canadian contingent at Glen Abbey will be Brantford, Ont., native David Hearn, whose 2016 season includes six Top-20 finishes, including a T9 result at The RSM Classic in Sea Island, Ga. Hearn, who held the 54-hole lead before finishing third in the 2015 RBC Canadian Open, is the No. 127-ranked player on the World Golf Ranking.

Joining Hearn will be fellow Canadian PGA Tour players Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., Abbotsford, B.C., natives Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., who will be playing in Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship for a 25th time.

“We are excited to have these 12 deserving Canadians compete in the 107th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin. “The passion that these talented players have shown in representing Canada is a true inspiration to the country’s young golfers and we are proud to welcome them to the field for the RBC Canadian Open.”

The 12 Canadian players will look to become the first Canadian to capture the national title since Pat Fletcher accomplished the feat in 1954.

The Canadians confirmed for Glen Abbey will join a field of PGA Tour and international stars that includes defending champion and World No. 1 Jason Day, U.S. Open champion and World No. 2 Dustin Johnson, World No. 15 Matt Kuchar, 2006-2007 RBC Canadian Open champion and World No. 20 Jim Furyk, 2013 RBC Canadian Open champion and World No. 23 Brandt Snedeker, World No. 71 Ryan Palmer, World No. 74 Graeme McDowell, 2016 Masters low amateur Bryson DeChambeau, former World No.1 amateur Jon Rahm and World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els.

Celebrating Canada’s Olympic Golf Team on Tuesday July 19…

The 2016 edition of the RBC Canadian Open is one of the final events before golf returns to the Olympic Games following a 112-year absence. For the first time since Canadian George S. Lyon captured gold in 1904, teams from around the globe will compete on international sport’s grandest stage.

The 2016 Canadian Olympic golf team will be officially welcomed by the Canadian Olympic Committee to Team Canada during a FREE public celebration at Glen Abbey on Tuesday, July 19 at 11 a.m. ET. The men’s team will compete from August 11-14, while the women’s team will take to the Campo Olimpico de Golf course in Rio de Janeiro from August 17-20.

In addition, Friday, July 22 will once again be Red and White Day at the RBC Canadian Open. Players and spectators are encouraged to wear Canada’s national colours in support of our Canadian hopefuls in the field challenging for Canada’s National Open Championship.

Confirmed Canadians in the 2016 RBC Canadian Open:

David Hearn

• Currently the No. 1-ranked Canadian on the World Golf Ranking (No. 127)
• Currently ranked No. 74 in the FedEx Cup standings
• Competing in his 14th RBC Canadian Open (finished 3rd in 2015)

Graham DeLaet

• Currently the No. 2-ranked Canadian on the World Golf Ranking (No. 146)
• Currently ranked No. 105 in the FedEx Cup standings
• Competing in his 8th RBC Canadian Open

Adam Hadwin

• Currently the No. 3-ranked Canadian on the World Golf Ranking (No. 182)
• Currently ranked No. 89 in the FedEx Cup standings
• Competing in his 7th RBC Canadian Open (finished T4 in 2011; T7 in 2015)

Nick Taylor

• Currently ranked No. 286 in the world and No. 106 in the FedEx Cup standings
• Competing in his 7th RBC Canadian Open

Mike Weir

• 8-time PGA TOUR winner
• 2003 Masters champion
• Inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2009
• Competing in his 25th RBC Canadian Open

Brad Fritsch

• Currently ranked 5th on the 2016 Web.com money list
• Won 2016 Servientrega Championship on Web.com Tour
• Competing in his 9th RBC Canadian Open

Jared du Toit

• Golf Canada National Amateur Squad member
• Currently the No. 1-ranked Canadian on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (No. 56)
• Competing in his 1st RBC Canadian Open

Blair Hamilton

• Golf Canada National Amateur Squad member
• Currently the No. 2-ranked Canadian on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (No. 106)
• Competing in his 2nd RBC Canadian Open (tied for low amateur at 2015 RBC Canadian Open)

Hugo Bernard

• Golf Canada National Amateur Squad member
• Currently ranked No. 255 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking
• Won NCAA Division II Championship
• Competing in his 1st RBC Canadian Open

Garrett Rank

• Former Golf Canada National Amateur Squad member
• 2014 & 2015 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion
• Competing in his 2nd RBC Canadian Open

Dave Levesque

• Currently ranked No. 1 on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC
• Competing in his 3rd RBC Canadian Open

Branson Ferrier

• Winner of RBC Canadian Open Ontario Regional Qualifier
• Competing in his 1st RBC Canadian Open

The final field for the 2016 RBC Canadian Open will be released on Friday, July 15 after 5 p.m. ET.

Information regarding tickets, free 17-and-under junior passes, volunteer opportunities and corporate hospitality for the 2016 RBC Canadian Open can be found at www.rbccanadianopen.com.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – ZTE and Golf Canada announced today a one-year partnership that will see ZTE become the Official Smartphone of the RBC Canadian Open. This year’s RBC Canadian Open is set to take place at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario, from July 18-24, 2016.

As the Official Smartphone of the RBC Canadian Open, ZTE will have exclusive naming rights to the Spectator Village, which will be known as the ZTE Spectator Village. ZTE is also the official sponsor of the ZTE Tweet Caddies, a group that will be keeping fans updated on the tournament, games and giveaways through social media channels.

“We’re thrilled to sponsor the RBC Canadian Open and showcase our devices at this world-class event. This partnership marks the second PGA TOUR event we’ve sponsored and a major step forward in our North American sports marketing strategy,” said Lixin Cheng, chairman and CEO of ZTE North America. “ZTE is committed to ensuring consumers get cutting edge technology at an affordable price and we’re looking forward to letting RBC Canadian Open spectators get up close and personal with our newest flagship device, the Axon 7.”

ZTE will offer charging stations for patrons, as well as showcase the popular Axon smartphone series, Grand X View tablet and SPro 2 Smart Projector. There will also be exciting games and giveaways throughout the Championship, with prizes including free rounds of golf, stays at a resort, swag bags and chances to win the Axon 7 smartphone all located in the ZTE Spectator Village.

“We are pleased to welcome ZTE as a partner of our National Championship,” said Golf Canada Chief Commercial Officer Gavin Roth. “Innovative technology is having a positive impact on fan engagement at major sporting events and we know ZTE will deliver an exciting spectator experience at this year’s RBC Canadian Open.”

SAN MARTIN, Calif. – Eleven years after finishing as runner-up as an amateur in her first U.S. Women’s Open, Brittany Lang won her first major title – with help from a playoff penalty on Anna Nordqvist.

Lang made par on all three holes of the aggregate playoff and Nordqvist was given a two-stroke penalty for touching the sand with her club in a fairway bunker on the second playoff hole Sunday, helping deliver Lang the title.

The players were not told of the penalty until they were in the middle of playing the final hole after officials reviewed replays in the latest controversy at a USGA event.

Lang then sealed the win with a short par putt on the final playoff hole, while Nordqvist made bogey to lose by three shots.

At last month’s men’s U.S. Open, eventual winner Dustin Johnson played much of the final round not knowing if he would be penalized one stroke because his ball moved as he addressed it on the fifth green. The penalty ended up proving moot as Johnson won by three shots.

Lang shot a 1-under 71 to finish with a 6-under 282 for the tournament at CordeValle for her second win in 287 tournaments on the LPGA Tour. She survived a bogey on the 17th hole that led to the playoff before recovering in the playoff for a breakthrough win at age 30.

Both players made pars on the first hole of the playoff, which was played on the final three holes of the course. Then things got interesting on the next hole after Nordqvist hit her tee shot into a fairway bunker.

While preparing to hit the shot, Nordqvist’s club barely touched the sand. She did not realize it and both players made par on the hole, heading to the final playoff hole seemingly tied.

But television replays showed the infraction and USGA officials studied the video before determining if the two-stroke penalty was necessary. An official told Nordqvist about the penalty after she hit her third shot on the 18th hole but before Lang did, giving her a possible advantage.

Lang hit her shot onto the green and the two-putted for the win, getting hearty congratulations from many of her fellow Americans on tour after she joined Michelle Wie (2014) as the only U.S. golfers to win the Open in the past six years.

Lang capitalized on a surprising final-round collapse by world No. 1 and 54-hole leader Lydia Ko, who made a double-bogey 7 on the ninth hole and shot 3-over 75 on the day, finishing two shots off the lead in a four-way tie for third with Amy Yang, Sung Hyun Park and 2009 winner Eun Hee Ji.

Lang took sole possession of the lead when she perfectly read a putt from more than 20 feet that broke slightly right before going in the hole to move her to 7-under, with Nordqvist in the clubhouse at 6-under after making an eagle on the par-5 15th.

But Lang followed that up with her first three-putt of the week when she just missed a par from about 5 feet, leading to groans from the crowd. She followed with a two-putt for birdie on the par-5 18th, setting the stage for the playoff.

Lang came on the scene as an amateur back in 2005 when she finished tied for second at the U.S. Women’s Open at Cherry Hills. But in more than a decade as a pro, Lang has won just one tournament, the 2012 Manulife Financial LPGA.

After shooting a 75 in the second round to drop seven shots behind leader Park, this tournament didn’t appear to be the one where she would have her breakthrough.

But she staged one of the best U.S. comebacks in years, with her 36-hole deficit the biggest for any winner at the tournament since Betsy King came from nine shots back after two rounds to win in 1990.

Ko had a two-shot lead heading to the eighth hole and seemed on her way to becoming the youngest man or woman to win three majors. But then she bogeyed the eighth hole before her collapse on nine.

Ko’s tee shot went left into the rough. Instead of just chipping out, Ko decided to try to clear the hazard and get back into position to make a possible birdie.

But her shot from the rough landed in the hazard and Ko could not find it and took a penalty. Then her wedge shot went over the green into the rough before Ko managed to get up and down from there for a double bogey that dropped her out of the lead for good.

“I should have judged the lie a little better and maybe played a little smarter and laid up short of the hazard,” she said. “Then just lay up again and try and make up-and-down for par.”

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp led the Canadian contingent with an even-par final round to finish T21 for her best career result at a major championship. Maude-Aimée Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., earned a share of 26th with a 2-over showing. Smiths Falls, Ont., native Brooke Henderson finished 64th, while Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Sue Kim of Langley,  B.C., tied for 65th.

WINNIPEG – Syracuse, New York’s Dan McCarthy took his record-breaking season to new heights on Sunday, capturing the Players Cup to become the first player in the PGA TOUR-era on the Mackenzie Tour to win three times in a season.

The 30-year old shot a final-round 7-under 64 at Niakwa Country Club to win by seven over Olympia, Washington’s Cameron Peck and Burlington, Ontario’s Michael Gligic, guaranteeing himself a spot in The Five and Web.com Tour status for 2016.

“It feels amazing. It hasn’t fully set in and I’m kind of shaking here,” McCarthy said. “It never gets old, and it feels better every time. Each time is a new test, and I’m very happy with the way I did today.”

Entering the day with a five-stroke advantage, McCarthy cruised past a flurry of low scores around him by carding birdies on three of the first six holes, never letting his lead shrink to more than two shots. The Le Moyne College graduate went without a bogey over his final 36 holes.

“It wasn’t as easy as the score made it look,” McCarthy said. “That was my plan all day, to keep the foot on the gas. I knew guys were going to make birdies in front of me, and I figured if I went low, then it would be tough to catch me.”

The win adds another chapter to what has already been a record-breaking season, with McCarthy matching his own record for the lowest 72-hole total on the Mackenzie Tour, as well as the largest margin of victory, set earlier this season at the GolfBC Championship. In addition to becoming the first three-time winner in a season, McCarthy is the first player to surpass $100,000 in single season earnings, now sitting at $105,428 for the year.

“It’s a tremendous confidence boost to know that I can do it, even just once. Now three times is really, really special. All these guys out here that are playing well deserve to be at the next level and are good enough. Like myself, they just haven’t played well enough at the right time. It’s a huge confidence boost for me going forward.”

Now with a virtually insurmountable lead on the Order of Merit, McCarthy can turn his sights towards competing at the next level – including a start at the RBC Canadian Open in two weeks. Even with opportunities on the horizon, however, the fifth-year Mackenzie Tour veteran said past experience has taught him not to take anything for granted.

“I’m not going to change anything. I’m just going to continue doing the drills that I always do, that keep me going. I’m going to try to treat it as just another tournament. I’m sure when I get there the whole scene is going to be a bit unusual with the bigger crowds and all that, but I’m sure I’ll handle it okay.”

With the Players Cup win, McCarthy adds his name to a list of champions that includes PGA TOUR players Erik Compton, Graham DeLaet and a long list of other legends of the game, including Moe Norman.

“It’s extremely special. [Players Cup Executive Director Ryan Hart] was telling me during the trophy ceremony that Moe Norman’s name is on here four or five times, and I’ve studied a lot of Moe Norman’s swing, so it’s pretty special to add my name to the same trophy that he’s on.”

Seven shots back in a tie for second were Peck, who played in the final group with McCarthy, and Gligic, who recorded his best finish on the Mackenzie Tour in two seasons.

With a total score of 18-under par in a tie for second place, Burlington, Ontario’s Michael Gligic finished as the top Canadian on the leaderboard, earning Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Week honours and a $2,500 prize.

The top Canadian on the leaderboard each week takes home the award, with the top Canadian on the Order of Merit at season’s end earning the Dan Halldorson Trophy, Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year honours and a $25,000 prize.

ENDICOTT, N.Y. – Paul Goydos likes to say his golf game is two good rounds, then a mediocre one.

“That’s kind of all tournaments, not just here,” he said before playing in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open.

Last year, he did just that at En-Joie Golf Club, fading late while challenging for the lead and losing to Jeff Maggert by two shots.

For one day at least, Goydos didn’t follow that script. He shot a bogey-free 69 on Sunday to beat Wes Short Jr. (69) by two shots on a tricky day at En-Joie buffeted by gusting winds, finishing at 14-under 202 for his third career victory on the Champions Tour.

“My game is like a jack-in-the box, kind of keep spinning it and it pops up every once in a while,” Goydos deadpanned afterward. “There was no inkling that I was going to play well, other than the mythical law of averages. Things hadn’t gone well, hadn’t played well, my attitude was bad, so naturally I won.”

Qualifier Neal Lancaster (70) was alone in third at 11 under, while John Riegger (72) finished tied for fourth at 10 under with Joe Durant (68).

Glen Day (69) and Kevin Sutherland (69) were another shot back in a tie for sixth.

John Daly (73) was three shots behind to start and couldn’t muster anything. He made bogey at the par-5 fifth hole and another at No. 9 to make the turn at 7 under, where he finished.

First-round leader Scott Dunlap began the overcast day one shot off the lead and took himself out of contention with a disastrous second hole. Dunlap twice plunked shots into the greenside water hazard at the par 4, a 379-yard dogleg left, and carded a quintuple-bogey 9. He finished with a 75 to tie Daly.

Goydos began play tied for the lead at 11 under with Riegger and was the steadiest of the leaders, carding eight pars and making birdie at the par-4 sixth hole while none of the others staged a threat in difficult conditions. A birdie at No. 10 dropped him to 13 under, three shots ahead of Riegger, Short and Lancaster.

Riegger, who played the first two rounds without making bogey, had his streak end with a bogey on Sunday’s opening hole. He had another at the par-3 fourth hole after having recovered with a pretty fairway chip for eagle at the par-5 No. 3, but another bogey at No. 10 dropped him to 10 under in a three-way tie for second.

Riegger’s strength over the first two rounds had been his play at the generous par-5s, having gone 7 under, and his streak of excellence on the holes continued on the back side. At the par-5 No. 12, he notched his second straight eagle at the hole to move within a shot of Goydos.

Despite another bogey at No. 14, Riegger was still within striking distance at No. 16 and rallied once more. He drove the trees right at the short par 4 but rallied for birdie. Unfazed, Goydos, who played it safe on the hole by laying up short of the elevated green that’s guarded by a handful of bunkers, matched Riegger’s birdie to maintain his two-shot edge.

“I mean, John couldn’t have hit a better putt,” Goydos said. “He hit that putt and I’m like, ‘Wow!’ I was very happy with the way I kind of didn’t rush it. I kind of stayed in my routine, kind of went through whatever I needed to do to hit a good putt.”

Both drove into the bunker on the right of the green at No. 17, their balls sitting side-by-side in the white sand, and only Goydos escaped. After Riegger hit out past the pin and two-putted for bogey, Goydos blasted to 4 feet and saved par.

“John hit a nice bunker shot. Him going first I think was an advantage for me,” Goydos said.

Riegger also made bogey at 18 to slip back further.

Lancaster, in only his second tournament of the year, watched his chances fade when his tap-in putt for birdie at No. 16 lipped out while trailing by two shots.

“I guess just so close you kind of took it for granted,” Lancaster said. “I just think it’s nerves. I feel like I should have won the tournament.”

Calgary’s Stephen Ames finished in a tie for 23rd at 4-under. Jim Rutledge of Victoria posted a 3-under on the day to earn a share of 39th, while St. Catharines, Ont., native Rod Spittle finished T66.