MONTREAL – Michael Putnam and Tim Petrovic mastered the afternoon winds to shoot six-under-par 64s and take a share of the first-round lead at the US$5.7 million RBC Canadian Open on Thursday.

But the surprise of the day was big-hitting amateur Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., who shot five-under 65 for a share of third place with Kyle Stanley.

Putnam and Petrovic played bogey-free golf at the 7,153-yard par-70 Blue Course at Royal Montreal on a near perfect day for scoring, with sunny weather and soft greens from heavy rains the previous day.

A gust wind came in for the those with afternoon starts, but it didn’t stop Putnam or Petrovic from shooting the low scores of the day, which set the course record for an opening round.

“It was tough ball-striking, but somehow I was able to keep it in the fairway and take advantage of the soft greens to hit a couple of shots close and make a couple of five-to-ten-foot putts,” said Putnam, who has been playing his best golf of the season of late with top-35 finishes in his last three outings.

The 47-year-old Petrovic didn’t know he would play until he got a call on Tuesday saying he was in as the seventh alternate. The former PGA Tour regular, playing only his eighth Tour event this season, didn’t even have his name on the program.

There was no rust in his game, however.

“I didn’t set my expectations high because I got in late, so this was kind of my practice round,” said Petrovic. “I walked the back nine (Wednesday).

“It wasn’t that I played conservative. I was just trying to hit fairways and greens, trying to see the golf course and see if I could make a few putts. I drove the ball pretty good overall.”

There were 11 players tied at 4-under 66, including Nick Watney and Charl Schwartzel, and another 16 at 3-under 67, including David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., and two-time Canadian Open champion Jim Furyk.

Another dozen were at 2-under 68 and there were 23 at 1-under 69, including top-ranked Canadian Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., and defending champion Brandt Snedeker.

Another sunny day is forecast for the second round on Friday, with a possibility of wet weather on the weekend.

The 23-year-old Pendrith, Canada’s top amateur, had a dream day in his first round of his first Canadian Open. He recently graduated from Kent State University and hopes to play in the world amateur championships this summer before likely turning pro in the fall.

Although it’s early, he’s one stroke off the lead of a tournament no Canadian has won since Pat Fletcher in 1954.

“I never expected that,” said Pendrith. “I was playing good golf coming in here, so I just played golf.

“Five-under is pretty nice. Everybody has some nerves. If you didn’t have nerves on the first tee something would be wrong with you. But after I played the first hole, I felt calm and felt I should be here.”

He played in the last threesome to tee off in the afternoon, when the worst of the wind was up, but used his long drives to cut through the tree-lined fairways and get close to the greens. He had seven birdies, including one on a putt that trickled in on the 18th, and two bogeys.

“The front nine suits my game a lot,” he said. “I can shoot driver nearly every hole.

“I had four birdies on the front nine, all with wedges.”

Pendrith is 18th in world amateur rankings, tops among Canadians. He and fellow national team members Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., who shot even-par 70, and Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., who was at 4-over 74, were given entries into the Open.

Stanley’s 5-under was the best among the early tee times.

“I love this golf course,” the Gig Harbor, Wash., native said. “It’s similar to the one I grew up with in Washington, so I felt pretty comfortable.

“I hit the ball well on my first nine today. I was able to make a few of the long range putts that got the round going for me.”

The soft greens made for ideal scoring conditions, but Stanley said the course is still a challenge.

“That front nine is pretty difficult,” he said. “There’s a couple of mid-irons into the par-3s and a 500-yard par-4 (the fourth), so it’s a kind of sneaky-demanding course.”

Stanley is best known for posting his only PGA Tour win a week after a memorable collapse.

In 2012, he blew a six-shot lead in the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open and lost in a playoff to Snedeker, then bounced back with a victory at the Phoenix Open.

This season has been trying for the 26-year-old. He sits 164th in FedEx Cup standings with only one top-25 finish, which was in October.

He said it was premature to think about turning the season around after one good round.

“There’s a ton of golf left,” he said. “It’s nice to get a round like this because it shows I’m working on the right things.”

Hearn had a great round going until he bogeyed the 14th and 15th on his back nine. He recovered with a birdie at the 16th.

“Any day you come off the course and shoot 3-under and feel you left a few out there, you feel it’s a good day,” said Hearn. “I’m not overly disappointed with the way I played.

“I hit the ball great from tee to green. If I can continue to do that for the rest of the week I know I’m going to play well.”

It was a rough opening round for some. Both Stephen Ames of Calgary and one of the tournament favourites, Dustin Johnson, shot 4-over 74. John Daly had 6-over 76, Scott McCarron turned in a 78 and Erik Compton shot 79.

OWINGS MILLS, Md.– Yani Tseng made a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to give Taiwan a sweep of the top-seeded United States team Thursday in the opening round of the International Crown.

Tseng and Phoebe Yao never trailed in a 1-up win over Stacy Lewis and Lexi Thompson. Earlier, Candie Kung and Teresa Lu beat Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr 4 and 3.

The inaugural International Crown features 32 players from eight countries.

Each team receives two points for a win and one for a tie. The U.S. was the only team that failed to secure a point on the first day.

On Friday, the United States (0 points) will face Spain (3) in Pool A, and Taiwan (4) will take on Thailand (1). Pool B matchups are Japan (3) against South Korea (2), and Australia (2) versus Sweden (1).

Japan took the lead in Pool B with a strong performance against Sweden. Although the Japanese team of Ai Miyazato and Sakura Yokomine led from start to finish, it took a birdie on No. 18 by Yokomine to secure a 2-up win over Pernilla Lindberg and Mikaela Parmlid.

“That was a great start, for sure,” Miyazato said. “But still a long way to go. I’m exhausted already, because I used so much energy on the golf course.”

In Japan’s other match, Mamilo Higa and Mika Miyazato halved with Caroline Hedwall and Anna Nordqvist, who trailed by two strokes with seven holes left.

“We played really well, both of us, and just gave ourselves a lot of chances,” Hedwall said. “Then they managed to hole a couple more putts than we did. But I think we fought back really nice, and it’s good to get one point at least.”

The first points of the tournament were secured by Spain against Thailand in Pool A. The duo of Carlotta Ciganda and Azahara Munoz won 3 and 2 over Pornanong Phatlum and Onnarin Sattayabanphot, and Spain’s Belen Mozo and Beatriz Recari halved with sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn.

That provided the elated Spaniards with three points.

“From the beginning we started playing really well and kept hitting fairways and greens,” Munoz said. “We had many chances. We’re extremely happy to get those two points.”

Ciganda and Munoz were no strangers on the golf course.

“I played with Azahara lots of years when we were amateurs, then we went to school together and we played last year at the Solheim Cup,” Ciganda said. “Playing today with her, we were so comfortable out there, just having fun, laughing and making birdies.”

South Korea split with Australia, leaving each country with two points in Pool B. After Inbee Park and So Yeon Ryu forged a 3-and-2 win over Katherine Kirk and Lindsey Wright of Australia, Karie Webb and Minjee Lee beat I.K. Kim and Na Yeon Choi 2 up.

Park and Ryu both eagled the par-5 12th hole for a three-hole lead and coasted to finish.

The Webb-Lee tandem didn’t lead by more than one stroke until Lee sank her fourth birdie putt on the 18th hole.

OWINGS MILLS, Md.– Yani Tseng made a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to give Taiwan a sweep of the top-seeded United States team Thursday in the opening round of the International Crown.

Tseng and Phoebe Yao never trailed in a 1-up win over Stacy Lewis and Lexi Thompson. Earlier, Candie Kung and Teresa Lu beat Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr 4 and 3.

The inaugural International Crown features 32 players from eight countries.

Each team receives two points for a win and one for a tie. The U.S. was the only team that failed to secure a point on the first day.

On Friday, the United States (0 points) will face Spain (3) in Pool A, and Taiwan (4) will take on Thailand (1). Pool B matchups are Japan (3) against South Korea (2), and Australia (2) versus Sweden (1).

Japan took the lead in Pool B with a strong performance against Sweden. Although the Japanese team of Ai Miyazato and Sakura Yokomine led from start to finish, it took a birdie on No. 18 by Yokomine to secure a 2-up win over Pernilla Lindberg and Mikaela Parmlid.

“That was a great start, for sure,” Miyazato said. “But still a long way to go. I’m exhausted already, because I used so much energy on the golf course.”

In Japan’s other match, Mamilo Higa and Mika Miyazato halved with Caroline Hedwall and Anna Nordqvist, who trailed by two strokes with seven holes left.

“We played really well, both of us, and just gave ourselves a lot of chances,” Hedwall said. “Then they managed to hole a couple more putts than we did. But I think we fought back really nice, and it’s good to get one point at least.”

The first points of the tournament were secured by Spain against Thailand in Pool A. The duo of Carlotta Ciganda and Azahara Munoz won 3 and 2 over Pornanong Phatlum and Onnarin Sattayabanphot, and Spain’s Belen Mozo and Beatriz Recari halved with sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn.

That provided the elated Spaniards with three points.

“From the beginning we started playing really well and kept hitting fairways and greens,” Munoz said. “We had many chances. We’re extremely happy to get those two points.”

Ciganda and Munoz were no strangers on the golf course.

“I played with Azahara lots of years when we were amateurs, then we went to school together and we played last year at the Solheim Cup,” Ciganda said. “Playing today with her, we were so comfortable out there, just having fun, laughing and making birdies.”

South Korea split with Australia, leaving each country with two points in Pool B. After Inbee Park and So Yeon Ryu forged a 3-and-2 win over Katherine Kirk and Lindsey Wright of Australia, Karie Webb and Minjee Lee beat I.K. Kim and Na Yeon Choi 2 up.

Park and Ryu both eagled the par-5 12th hole for a three-hole lead and coasted to finish.

The Webb-Lee tandem didn’t lead by more than one stroke until Lee sank her fourth birdie putt on the 18th hole.

Woodstock, Ont. – Team Canada’s Augusta James set records with an 8-under 63 on Thursday at the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

James’ bogey-free 63 set a new women’s course record at Craigowan Golf and Country Club and also became the lowest 18-hole score ever recorded in the history of the 101-year-old championship. 

“It’s maybe my second or third bogey-free round ever, I think it might be my first one in a tournament,” James said. “It’s always good to have one of those, you come so close sometimes and I’m happy that I could eliminate the big mistakes that would turn into bogeys or doubles.” 

The Bath, Ont. native opened with a 5-under 30 on the front-nine that was highlighted by four straight birdies over the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th holes at Craigowan. 

“I putted well but I hit the ball pretty close too which made it a lot easier, I made a few putts that you don’t expect to make everyday,” she continued.

The 21-year-old currently holds a six-stroke lead heading into the final round over Team Canada’s Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. and Australia’s Su-Hyun Oh. Sitting at 12-under 201 for the championship a win on Friday would be the biggest title of her career.

“It’s been a few years since I’ve held a trophy for first place and it would be a great honour to have competed with this field and won,” the N.C. State Wolfpack senior said.  “That is a long way away still, lots of work left to do tomorrow for that.”

Henderson, the defending champion, posted a 1-under 70 playing alongside her Team Canada teammate in the final pairing to finish 54-holes in a tie for second place alongside Oh who fired a 4-under 67 on Thursday. 

In the Mid-Amateur division (25+), Christina Proteau, the defending champion, carded a 1-under 70 to open a large gap in the race for her fourth consecutive title. The Port Alberni, B.C. native currently sits eight strokes ahead of Helene Chartrand of Pincourt, Que. Chartrand leads the Mid-Master division (40+) by nine strokes over Marion Reid of Etobicoke, Ont. 

The champion of the 101st Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship receives an exemption into the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and also the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur. 

Starting times, post-round results, full field list, and live scoring are available here.

MONTREAL – Kyle Stanley took advantage of sunny weather and soft greens to take the early clubhouse lead with an opening round of 5-under 65 at the US$5.7 million RBC Canadian Open on Thursday.

Stanley was 5-under over his first nine holes, which was the back nine at Royal Montreal’s par-70 Blue Course, and held that score to take the lead with half the field still on the course.

“I love this golf course,” the Gig Harbor, Wash., native said. “It’s similar to the one I grew up with in Washington, so I felt pretty comfortable.

“I hit the ball well on my first nine today. I was able to make a few of the long range putts that got the round going for me.”

Six players were tied at 4-under 66, including Justin Hicks, Charlie Wi, Greg Chalmers, Nick Watney, Robert Allenby and Troy Merritt. Another 10 were at 3-under.

Heavy rains the previous day made for ideal scoring conditions, but Stanley said the 7,153-yard layout is still a challenge.

“I’m surprised that 5-under is leading right now,” he said. “But you can take advantage of a lot of these holes if you drive it in the fairway.

“That front nine is pretty difficult. There’s a couple of mid-irons into the greens and a 500-yard par-4, so it’s a kind of sneaky-demanding course.”

Stanley is best known for posting his only PGA Tour win a week after a memorable collapse.

In 2012, he blew a six-shot lead in the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open and lost in a playoff to Brandt Snedeker, then bounced back with a victory at the Phoenix Open.

This season has been trying for the 26-year-old. He sits 164th in FedEx Cup standings with only one top-25 finish, which was in October.

He said it was premature to think about turning the season around after one good round.

“There’s a ton of golf left,” he said. “It’s nice to get a round like this because it shows I’m working on the right things.

“It hasn’t been my best year by any means but I’m starting to play a little bit better and that’s nice.”

Watney, who has also had a trying season, was glad to get in a solid opening round.

“You’re not playing behind the 8-ball to make the cut,” the 33-year-old said. “It’s only one round, but I’d much rather play well in the first round than not.”

It was a rough opening round for some. Both Stephen Ames of Calgary and one of the tournament favourites, Dustin Johnson, shot 4-over 74. John Daly had 6-over 76 and Scott McCarron turned in a 78.

BRIDGEND, Wales  — Bernhard Langer made a statement of intent when he opened with a 6-under-par 65 to take a two-stroke lead over American Bob Tway in the British Senior Open at a sweltering Royal Porthcawl on Thursday.

Langer, who threw away a two-stroke lead on the final hole at Royal Birkdale last year and then was beaten for the title in a playoff, was out in a best-of-the-day 31.

He birdied the third, fourth, sixth and eighth holes, and went 5 under when he birdied the long 13th. He dropped a shot at the 16th but then hit back immediately with birdies at the two closing holes.

“Six under is very satisfying,” Langer said. “I played smart, some good, some great.

“I kept it out of the bunkers and out of the hay, and gave myself some opportunities. And I’m pleased with a birdie-birdie finish.”

Langer is trying to add a second British Senior title to the one he won at Carnoustie in 2010.

Tway set the early target at 4-under 67, with birdies at the first, sixth, 12th and 13th, and no dropped shots.

“It was a pleasure to play a nice round of golf on a great golf course,” Tway said. “I probably should have bogeyed a couple of holes coming in, but I got lucky.”

Chris Williams of England was alone in third on a bogey-free 68 with birdies at Nos. 2, 4 and 6, while Andrew Oldcorn of Scotland was a stroke behind in fourth. Spain’s Pedro Linhart and Canadian Rick Gibson were tied for fifth on 70.

Mark Wiebe, who beat Langer in last year’s playoff and played with him in the first round, carded 5-over 76.

Colin Montgomerie, bidding for his third successive seniors’ major, was on 74 with just two birdies, and three dropped shots.

Tom Watson had a roller-coaster front nine of 1-over 36, steadied the ship for five holes after the turn, then dropped three strokes on successive holes before birdieing the last for a 3-over 74.

On the way out he birdied the first, dropped a stroke at the next three holes, parred No. 5, birdied the sixth, dropped a stroke at the seventh, birdied the eighth, and parred the ninth.

The winner at Royal Birkdale two years ago, Fred Couples, was out in 39 after a triple-bogey eight at the long sixth, but stormed back with a birdie-eagle-birdie run from the 12th to get back to level, dropped a stroke at the 16th, and birdied the last to be back in 32 for a par 71.

Calgary’s Rick Gibson and Rob Spittle of St. Catherine’s, Ont. are representing Canada in the Senior Open, and shot 70 and 76 respectively in the opening round.

MOSCOW  — David Horsey birdied four of his final six holes Thursday for a 7-under 65 and a one-stroke lead in the first round of the Russian Open.

Former French Open tennis champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov, one of 10 Russians in the field, shot an 11-over 83 with one birdie, six bogeys and three double-bogeys.

Horsey has four top-10 finishes this season, including a share of ninth in last month’s Lyoness Open in Austria.

“I have been working hard on my game the last 9-to-10 months and while it’s been a bit inconsistent, the good stuff has been really good and it’s just that inconsistency and a lack of confidence with it that’s hurt a bit,” the 29-year-old Englishman said. “However, that comes with the territory when you bring in changes, but they’re starting to bed in and I’m starting to get more comfortable.”

Scott Jamieson and Peter Whiteford (both 66) were tied for second at the Tseleevo Golf and Polo Club. A further eight players shared fourth place at 5 under.

Jamieson capped his round with an eagle at the par-5 eighth hole and a birdie at the last. Whiteford birdied four of his last seven holes.

Defending champion Michael Hoey withdrew from the event with a left foot injury.

Thornhill, Ont. (Golf Canada) – The top golfers in the country will be on display at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 28-August 1 at Thornhill Golf and Country Club in Thornhill, Ont. 
 
In its 60th year, the Canadian Junior Girls Championship continues to showcase Canada’s top players. This year 125 players will vie for the title over 72 holes of stroke play with the field being cut to the low-70 players and ties after 36 holes.
 
“The excitement continues to build around this year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship,” said Tournament Director Justine Decock. “The field is incredibly strong and it should prove to be a very exciting four days of action at Thornhill Golf and Country Club as Canada’s best juniors compete for the prestigious title.”

Challenging for the title will be various provincial champions including Team Canada Development Squad member, Jaclyn Lee, 18, of Calgary who finished tied for 7th at last year’s event and Naomi Ko, 16 of Victoria. Lee has been on an impressive run this summer capturing the CN Future Links Prairie Championship along with the Alberta Women’s Amateur and Junior Girls titles, while Ko picked up the CN Future Links Pacific Championship and B.C. Junior Girls title earlier this summer.

Four additional CN Future Links champions are also entered into the field including, Team Canada Development Squad’s Valerie Tanguay of St. Hyacinthe, Qué., Annie Songeun-Lee of Surrey, B.C., Alyssa Getty of Ruthven, Ont. and Rachel Cormier of Rothesay, N.B.

Other notable contenders include recent Ontario Junior Girls’ Match-Play Champion Grace St-Germain who also won the Québec Women’s Amateur title, Development Squad’s Sabrine Garrison of Calgary who finished tied for 5th at the 2013 Canadian Junior Girls Championship at Cherry Downs Golf and Country Club and Courtney Tolton of Mitchell, Ont. who claimed the 2014 Ontario Junior Girls’ Championship.

Thornhill Golf and Country Club has a rich history in championship play having previously hosted the 2006 Canadian University/College Championship and the 2009 Toronto Star Women’s Amateur. In addition, the Stanley Thompson design was the site that played host to 1945 Canadian Open where Byron Nelson claimed his remarkable 11th victory in a row.

“It’s a great honour to host the top juniors in our country and there is certainly a lot of excitement building in the Thornhill community,” said Craig Stait-Gardner Host Club Tournament Chair at Thornhill. “The support from our local sponsors and volunteers has been outstanding and everyone is looking forward to a great championship.”

This year’s Canadian Junior Girls Champion will receive an exemption to the 2015 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, as well as each of the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour events.
 
In 2013, Maddie Szeryk, a dual-citizen of Canada and the United States ran away with the Junior Girls’ title, winning by an impressive 14 strokes. Szeryk will not be in the field this year.

Practice rounds will be held Monday, July 28, while championship play will be conducted Tuesday, July 29 through Friday, August 1 with 18 holes of stroke play each day.  Any tie after 72 holes will result in a hole-by-hole play-off.
 
Starting times, post-round results, full field list, and live scoring are available here.

The Canadian Junior Girls Championship is open to female amateur golfers who have not reached their 19th birthday by the last scheduled day of the Championship, Aug. 1, 2014. The Canadian Juvenile Championship is open to female amateur golfers who have not reached their 17th birthday by the last scheduled day of the Championship.

Niagara Falls, Ont.  – Canada’s top junior males are headed to Niagara Falls for the 76th playing of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship where players will compete for the Junior Boys national title. This year’s field features a strong contingent of players, including members of the Team Canada Development Squad, provincial champions, and top finishers from all six of the 2014 CN Future Links Championships. 

A tournament that has seen the likes of players such as the Web.com Tour’s Nick Taylor, Jim Rutledge of the Champions Tour, and Canadian Golf Hall of Famers George Knudson, Gary Cowan, and more, the Junior Boys Championship continues to stand as a proving ground for young male golfers under 18 years of age. This year, 156 players will vie for the national title over 72 holes of stroke play, with the field being cut to the low-70 players and ties after 36 holes. 

“The Junior Boys Championship has seen past champions who have went on to have successful golf careers both as amateurs and professionally,” said Tournament Director Cam Crawford. “This year’s field features the strongest players from across the country, so there’s no doubt that each round will provide excitement, challenges, and close scores.”  

Legends on the Niagara’s Battlefield Course, located in Niagara Falls, Ont. and maintained by The Niagara Parks Commission, continues to be recognized as a premier championship course. It has previously played host to the 2004 Canadian Women’s Open, as well as the Canadian Women’s Tour Ontario stops in 2012 and June 2014. 

“The Niagara Parks Commission believes that hosting national championships of this caliber demonstrates our efforts to help grow the game of golf across the country,” stated NPC Chair Janice Thomson. “We look forward to hosting this prestigious tournament and to working with Golf Canada to ensure our competitors and their families have the most memorable of experiences when they visit Niagara and Niagara Parks.”

Leading this year’s field is 16-year-old Tony Gil of Vaughan, Ont. A member of Team Canada’s Development Squad, Gil sits atop the CN Future Links National Junior Boys Order of Merit and has claimed champion titles in both the 2014 GAO Junior Spring Classic and the 2013 CJGA Canadian International Junior Challenge. Gil is joined by his Development Squad teammates Étienne Papineau, 17, of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., Carter Simon, 18, of Sutton, Ont., and Matt Williams, 18, of Calgary, Alta. Last year’s Junior Boys title was claimed by the fifth member of the Team Canada Development Squad, Kevin Kwon of Pitt Meadows, B.C. At 19 years of age, Kwon will not return to defend his 2013 champion title.  

The national field is also highlighted by strong finishers from 2014 provincial championships. Papineau recently claimed the Quebec Junior Boys title for the second year in a row, while Simon finished tied for third in the GAO Junior Boys championship. Tyler Saunders, 18, of Sturgeon County, Alta. took home first place at both the 2014 Alberta Junior Boys Championship and the Sun Life Financial Men’s Amateur. Additionally, 18-year-old Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S. took home this year’s CN Future Links Atlantic champion title less than one week after winning the Nova Scotia Junior Championship by 16 strokes.  

The Canadian Junior Boys Championship is open to male amateur golfers who have not reached their 19th birthday by the last scheduled day of the Championship, Aug. 1, 2013.  Practice rounds will be held Monday, July 28, while championship play will be conducted Tuesday, July 29 through Friday, August 1 with 18 holes of stroke play each day.  Any tie after 72 holes will result in a hole-by-hole play-off.
 
Starting times, post-round results, full field list, and live scoring are available here.