EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France – Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand shot 3-under 68 to lead the Evian Championship second round on Saturday, and could join her younger sister Ariya in golf’s record book.

Seeking to be the first sisters to win a major title, Moriya’s 9-under total left her one shot ahead of Ayako Uehara of Japan, who had seven birdies in her round of 66.

The leading group on Sunday is completed by Katherine Kirk of Australia, who carded a 69 to trail Moriya by two strokes. All three playing partners will seek their first major.

Victory for the Moriya – who as a career-best finish of 10th at a major – would make the Jutanugarns the first sisters to win a Grand Slam title since the U.S. LPGA Tour was founded 67 years ago.

Ariya, who was top-ranked this season, won the 2016 Women’s British Open.

“I probably don’t feel that bad playing on the golf course rather than watching my sister play,” said Moriya, who recalled feeling “nervous, excited” last year when finishing her round to watch Ariya win at Woburn, England.

Canada’s Brooke Henderson shot a 71 to sit at 3 over and slip inside the cut line.

Two pairs of brothers have won major titles, though not for more than 50 years.

Lionel and Jay Hebert of the United States each won a U.S. PGA Championship, in 1957 and 1960, respectively. The Park brothers of Scotland, Mungo and Willie, won back-to-back British Opens in 1874 and ’75. That was Willie Park’s fourth Open title.

The fifth women’s major of the season is a 54-hole event after weather-affected play on Thursday was wiped from the record.

Moriya had chances to match her 65 from Friday’s first round though let birdie chances slip after consistently accurate approach shots.

“I played pretty solid today,” Moriya said, “couldn’t make a little more putts.”

Uehara is ranked only No. 163 yet her 14 birdies so far are two more than anyone else on the rain-softened Evian Resort course looking across Lake Geneva to Switzerland.

A strong trio of recent major winners are on 6 under, three shots back, and will play together on Sunday.

First-round leader Sung Hyun Park, the U.S. Women’s Open champion, followed her 63 with a 73. Former No. 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand, the 2015 Evian winner, carded a second 68. Women’s British Open winner In-Kyung Kim bogeyed the par-4 18th in her round of 69.

Park has already played two days in a stellar group of the world’s three highest-ranked players with No. 1 So Yeon Ryu, her fellow South Korean, and No. 2 Lexi Thompson of the U.S.

Thompson (72) is level par and Ryu shot a 69 to make the cut at 2 over. Ryu acknowledged letting it affect her that she had been leading on Thursday when play was suspended and then scrapped.

“It was really hard to stop (thinking) about it,” the top-ranked Ryu said. “For my situation it was unfair. I just need to just accept it.”

Ariya won’t be playing on Sunday when her sister chases history. A second-round 74 left her 9 over and far below the cut line.

Defending champion In Gee Chun of South Korea, whose 21-under total then set a majors record, shot a second straight 70 to be 2 under.

London, Ont. – Rancho Cucamonga, California’s Rico Hoey shot an 8-under 62 on Saturday at Highland Country Club to take the third-round lead at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, the final event of the 2017 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

The 21-year old first-year professional made eight birdies on the day, including on his final two holes, to take a three-stroke lead over fellow Californians Cody Blick and Brett Lederer and Georgia’s Greyson Sigg with one round to go at Highland.

For Hoey, one last chance at victory on Sunday means the opportunity to move inside the coveted top five on the Order of Merit and earn Web.com Tour status for 2018. The University of Southern California alum said he’d do his best to put all of that out of mind, however, and get the job done with a solid final round.

“We have nothing to lose out here. We know we have to play well in order to squeeze inside the top 10 or top five, so we don’t need to add any unnecessary pressure. We’re just having a good time, and things will fall into place.”

Hoey began the day five shots off the 36-hole lead held by Blick – his hotel roommate and travelling partner this week – but quickly caught up with five birdies on the front nine. After closing poorly yesterday, he made sure to finish with a bang on Saturday, pumping his fist after pouring in a 12-foot birdie putt at the last.

“Yesterday I bogeyed 18, and that kind of left a sour taste in my mouth. I kind of wanted to come in and finish strong on the back nine, and I guess I did that,” said Hoey with a smile. “I’ve been working really hard, and I believe in myself. There’s nothing I can do but just keep going and hopefully I can pull it through.”

Blick, who carded a 61 on Friday, managed just an even-par 70 on Saturday to share second place with Sigg, who had a 63, and Lederer, who carded a 65.

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France – Sung Hyun Park took full advantage of a fresh start to the Evian Championship on Friday, firing an 8-under 63 to lead the rescheduled first round by three shots.

That meant a 14-shot turnaround for the No. 3-ranked Park, who had been 6 over through five holes in the rain and wind on Thursday morning. Play was abandoned and all scores wiped from the record, leaving the fifth and final women’s major as a 54-hole event.

The South Korean regrouped and had seven birdies and an eagle to lead by three from Australia’s Katherine Kirk (66).

“I forgot about yesterday and just focused on my play today,” Park said through a translator, acknowledging she was “surprised” that the U.S. LPGA scrapped Thursday’s play.

Tied for third four strokes back were Jessica Korda of the United States and Women’s British Open winner In-Kyung Kim.

Park, the U.S. Women’s Open champion, played in a stellar group with top-ranked So Yeon Ryu (75), her fellow South Korean, and No. 2 Lexi Thompson (70) of the U.S.

Ryu suffered a six-shot swing having been 2 under and sharing the lead with Korda on Thursday when play stopped.

Kirk, playing in the first group on course for a second straight day, said just before the suspension that Thursday had been “the worst conditions I have ever seen.”

Another player to seize their second chance in the cool sunshine was Ai Miyazato of Japan, who is playing her final event before retiring.

Miyazato, the 2009 and 2011 Evian winner before it had major status, was in a cluster of players at 3 under, trailing Park by five.

Lydia Ko, the former No. 1 from New Zealand and 2015 winner here, also shot a 3-under 68 on the scenic course looking across Lake Geneva to Switzerland.

English veteran Laura Davies, who won the last of her four majors 21 years ago, shot a 2-under 69 that included six birdies and four bogeys.

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., opened with a 74 while Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., struggled to a 78.

VICTORIA – Steve Flesch and Jerry Smith each shot 7-under 64 on Friday to share the first-round lead in the PGA Tour Champions’ Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship.

Flesh is making his 12th senior start after turning 50 in late May.

“It’s kind of an awkward golf course off the tee, so you need to be decisive about what club you are going to hit and if you can hit it in the right places, you can make some birdies,” Flesch said. “You have to pay attention out there. There are some tough tee shots out there and some awkward greens, so you can’t put yourself in the wrong place.”

The four-time PGA Tour winner had four birdies in a five-hole stretch on Bear Mountain’s Mountain Course and capped the bogey-free round with a birdie on the par-5 18th.

“I hit a lot of good tee shots and set myself up for a lot of short irons,” Flesh said. “I didn’t make a lot of putts early one, but I got it going in the middle of the round and ran off a few. It surprised me how much the golf course has dried out just in the last few days.”

Smith also closed with a birdie and had six birdies in a seven-hole span before bogeying the par-3 14th. He has one senior title.

Charles Schwab Cup points leader Bernhard Langer was a stroke back along with John Daly, David Toms and Jerry Kelly. Coming off a two-week break, the 60-year-old Langer opened eagle-birdie-birdie.

“Pretty easy eagle on No. 1 after a 3-wood,” Langer said. “I pretty much stiffed it on the next two holes, so suddenly I was 4 under after three. I played pretty solid, although there were a couple of loose shots. Overall, it was pretty decent. I had a couple of chances coming in, but didn’t make any putts.”

The German star won three of the tour’s five majors and is tied with Scott McCarron for tour victory lead with four.

“The greens have really toughened up and are really firm and really fast,” Langer said. “We don’t get conditions like this very often, so you have to be aware of it. You have to be on your toes and know what greens are firm and what fairways are running out.”

Daly won the Insperity Invitational in May in Texas for his first senior title. The fan favourite eagled the par-5 12th.

“Over the years, Canada has been just a wonderful place to come and play,” Daly said. “I always feel the support of the fans. I always love the fans and love playing for them, but it’s a hell of a lot better when you are playing good, however.”

Kelly took the Boeing Classic three weeks ago outside Seattle for his first tour victory.

“I wasn’t very happy with the way I started the year, but since I won, I have started to play much better,” Kelly said. “Took a change of putters, a change of irons, a change of drivers, a change of shoes to play better. These courses are not pitch and putts. They are tough golf courses, period. You need to shoot low every single week. You need to make putts.”

Canadian Stephen Ames topped the group at 66.

Defending champion Colin Montgomerie opened with a 70. He won last week outside Tokyo in the 50-and-over tour’s first event in Japan.

McCarron had a 71. He lost a playoff to Montgomerie last year at Bear Mountain, and tied for second last week in Japan after winning three of the previous six events.

Nick Faldo shot 73.

London, Ont. – Alamo, California’s Cody Blick shot a 9-under 61 on Friday at Highland Country Club to take the second-round lead at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, the final event of the 2017 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

The 23-year-old second-year Mackenzie Tour member made nine birdies and zero bogeys on the day to lead by three shots over Tucson, Arizona’s Jonathan Khan and Winter Springs, Florida’s Hank Lebioda through two rounds in London.

“Everything was just pretty solid. I played with Rico (Hoey), and he’s a good buddy of mine. He’s been a friend of mine since I don’t even know. We just had fun, and he got off to a really hot start and I was trying to just keep up with him,” said Blick

The San Jose State alum is no stranger to low rounds on the Mackenzie Tour, having shot a 10-under 60 during the third round of this year’s Bayview Place Cardtronics Open presented by Times Colonist. During that round, Blick bogeyed the 18th to miss out on a chance at 59.

It was a birdie at the 18th this time for Blick, who matched Jared du Toit’s 61 yesterday for the low round of the tournament.

“I’m still kind of kicking myself for 18 at Victoria. I made five there to shoot 60, but out here I wasn’t really thinking anything special until I birdied 15, and then I realized I have a chance to beat du Toit’s round from yesterday and maybe sneak in a 59 if something special happens,” said Blick.

Khan and Lebioda both shot their second straight rounds of 65 to sit three back at 10-under, while three players – Hoey, Brett Lederer and Jordan Niebrugge – were two shots further behind at 8-under.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Marc Leishman has a short memory when it comes to golf, which only helped him at the BMW Championship.

He forgot all about that 62 in the opening round.

He was nearly just as good Friday with a 7-under 64 to open a three-shot lead over Jason Day and Rickie Fowler going into the weekend at Conway Farms.

“I really took that as a challenge today, to not take it for granted that you’re just going to make birdies,” Leishman said. “You still have to earn every birdie. I think when you do get ahead of yourself, that’s when bad stuff can happen.”

There was plenty of good stuff from the guys chasing him in the third FedEx Cup playoff event.

Day, who has gone 16 months since his last victory, chipped in from behind the 14th green for his second eagle of the week, and then added a third eagle with one swing. He made a hole-in-one on the 17th hole with a 7-iron that turned into a payoff for multiple parties.

It carried day to a 65, putting him in the last group on the weekend with Leishman. BMW awarded $100,000 to the Evans Scholars Foundation, and then Day decided to give the car he won to the Evans Scholars, which will yield another full, four-year scholarship for another student.

Fowler also chipped in for eagle on the reachable par-4 15th hole on his way to a 64.

“The ultimate goal is to win this week,” Day said. “That’s the thing I’ve been trying to do this whole season – at least win once, and try to build on that.”

Leishman was at 16-under 126, two short of the 36-hole record Day set at Conway Farms two years ago on his way to a wire-to-wire, six-shot victory. Leishman has some experience with that, but it was long ago and the memory is vague, naturally. He recalls opening with a 70 at the Toyota Southern Classic on the Von Nida Tour in Australia and winning big.

He already has 18 birdies in 36 holes at Conway Farms, where the scoring average was a shade under 69 through two rounds.

It hasn’t been easy for everyone, particularly defending champion Dustin Johnson. The world’s No. 1 player can’ seem to buy a putt, and even when he started to make a little progress, he finished bogey-bogey by taking two chips to get on the 17th green and hitting into the water on the 18th.

Patrick Cantlay extended his remarkable run this season with a 65, leaving him alone in fourth place but six shots behind. Cantlay returned after three years away to cope with a severe back injury and the death of his close friend and caddie, Chris Roth, who was hit by a car as they were walking to dinner.

Cantlay is playing his 11th tournament this year, yet he is No. 41 in the FedEx Cup and could get into the Tour Championship if he finishes in the top 30 after this week. Phil Mickelson is trying to work his way into the top 30, and while he sputtered with two birdies, two bogeys and too many pars, he drilled an approach to 5 feet on the par-5 14th for an eagle. He shot 69 and was at 7-under 135, in a tie for 12th.

Jordan Spieth, No. 1 in the FedEx Cup after successive runner-up finishes in the playoff events, only managed a 70 and joined Mickelson in the group at 135.

Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., is tied for 12th at 7 under after shooting a 68. Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., shot his second-straight 71 and is even for the event.

Leishman is hitting his stride at just the right time. Two weeks ago at the TPC Boston, he took a two-shot lead into the back nine only to get passed by Justin Thomas and Spieth by shooting 40 on the back nine to finish third behind Thomas.

After a week at home in Virginia, with the clubs never leaving the garage, he picked up where he left off.

It’s easy to overlook Leishman because the Australian has only two PGA Tour victories, including the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this year. He’s OK with that, and laughs at hearing fans whisper as he walks by, “Who’s that bloke?” That was his phrase, though apparently he’s heard it Down Under, too.

As for that short memory, he does have some specific recall of tournaments long ago.

One of them was eight years ago in the Chicago area. It was his rookie season on the PGA Tour. He made an eagle on the 18th hole at the TPC Boston just to advance to the third round at No. 67. Then, he was paired with Tiger Woods in the final round at Cog Hill.

“I remember being really, really nervous on the first tee, which I’m generally not a nervous person, but that was a new thing for me,” he said.

He also remembers having an eagle putt on the ninth hole, with Woods well to the right off the tee and then stuck behind a tree. Woods hit a 9-iron out of trouble and ended up making birdie, and he went on to win by eight shots.

But that was a big day for Leishman. He tied for second and advanced to the Tour Championship for the first time, leading to his first appearance in the Masters. That’s no longer an issue. Leishman now is No. 7 in the FedEx Cup and simply trying to win to get into the top five heading to the Tour Championship.

RICHMOND, B.C. —British Columbia’s fourth-largest city is set to host the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf.

The 54-hole national championship takes place Sept. 18-20 at the Richmond Country Club and features a field stacked with talent.

“The PGA of Canada is excited about visiting the beautiful province of British Columbia and the highly-regarded Richmond Country Club,” says PGA of Canada president Steve Wood. “The PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf annually features some of the best players in our association and this year is no different.”

This year’s field at Richmond Country Club features such standouts as:

• The PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC Nos. 1 and 2-ranked players Marc-Etienne Bussieres (Club de Golf Longchamp) and Bryn Parry (Point Grey Golf & Country Club)
• This year’s PGA Championship of Canada winner Jean-Philip Cornellier (Club de Golf Knowlton)
• Past PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada past winners Dustin Risdon (National Academy Golf Dome), Brad Kerfoot (Maple Downs Golf Club), Brian McCann (Brampton Golf Club), Mike Belbin (Royal Mayfair Golf Club) and Eddward Boudreau (Gorge Vale Golf Club).

Other players to keep a keen eye out for during the week include Christine Wong (Pacific Golf Academy); Nick Kenney (The National Golf Club of Canada); Oliver Tubb (University Golf Club); Pierre-Alexandre Bedard (Club de Golf Cap Rouge); Ed Maunder (Deerfield Golf & Recreation Centre); Sonny Michaud (Club de Golf La Tempete); Thomas Keddy (Oslerbrook Golf Club); Kevin Stinson (Valley Golf Centre); Wes Heffernan (Golf Canada Calgary Centre); Adam Bruce (Glendale Golf & Country Club); Douglas Morgan (Richmond Country Club); Cory Renfrew (Cordova Bay Golf Club); and John Shin (Northview Golf Academy).

For the full field and first round tee times, click here.

Designed by famed golf course architect A.V. Macan, Richmond Country Club has become known as one of British Columbia’s premiere golf venues. Set within the greenbelt of the agricultural land reserve, the venue is known for its tree lined fairways, well-positioned bunkers, and its signature raised, undulating greens.

There will also be a 36-hole Inter-Zone competition compiled of four players on each team representing their respective PGA Zone and is contested over the first two rounds.

Admittance to the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada is free and spectators are encouraged to attend during championship play.

London, Ont. – Kimberley, B.C.’s Jared du Toit shot a 9-under 61 on Thursday at Highland Country Club to take the first-round lead at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, the final event of the 2017 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

The 22-year old member of Golf Canada’s national team made nine birdies on the day to lead by three shots over Californians Brett Lederer and Jonathan Garrick after 18 holes in London.

“I was never really out of position. I might have been out of position two times, and both times I was able to get them up-and-down for par, and I was able to convert on a lot of birdies,” said du Toit. “Overall it was a solid round and I just kind of managed well.”

With Highland Country Club playing firm and fast in Rd. 1, the recent Arizona State graduate said he felt comfortable as he meticulously plotted his way around the course instead of trying to overpower it, showing impressive wisdom for a first-year professional.

“I’m probably more on the thinking side anyway. I probably overanalyze, if anything, so when it’s firm and the wind is swirling like it was I think I have a bit of an edge just because I think a lot,” said du Toit.

du Toit can move as high as No. 5 on the Order of Merit with a win this week and was projected there after Thursday’s play with three rounds to go.

Lederer and Garrick both birdied the 18^th hole to shoot 64, while seven players – Jonathan Khan, Chris Killmer, Seann Harlingten, Chris Williams, Jordan Niebrugge, Hank Lebioda and Order of Merit leader Kramer Hickok – were a shot further behind at 65.

If you’re taking some nationalistic pride in watching Brooke Henderson, Adam Hadwin and the other Canadians on the pro tours enjoy unprecedented success, then it’s time to ask yourself, “What can I do to support upcoming generations of Canadian golfers? How can I give back to the game?”

Surprise! I have the answer: Support the second annual Adopt a School Week from Sept. 18 to 22.

Adopt a School is a component of Future Links Golf in Schools driven by Acura, an umbrella junior development initiative created by Golf Canada in conjunction with the PGA of Canada and PHE Canada with support from the National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada as a program partner. It provides golf facilities, companies and individuals with the opportunity to “adopt” one or more schools of their choosing to introduce the Golf in Schools program at that school. (Schools can also enroll in the program on their own.)

Since the program’s inception in 2009, adoptions have accounted for almost half of the more than 3,200 registered schools delivering the Future Links Golf in Schools driven by Acura curriculum. Last year, 234 new schools were adopted, introducing golf to an average of 120 students per school. Currently, the Golf in Schools program is in more than 3,200 schools with more than 380,000 students coast to coast.

While each of the preceding partners has a vital role, much rests on the country’s golf facilities and golfers to make this program succeed. Why? Because, ideally, each school is linked with a green-grass facility like a course or a range and none of this is feasible without financial support from donors like you.

Facilities that have linked to schools have reported significant increases from the business side, such as memberships, lessons and food and beverage, as well as the long-term gratification of enhancing the ongoing vitality of the game. Participating teachers at “adopted” schools laud the program for its emphasis not just on golf but on developing affiliated values such as perseverance, etiquette, character and honesty.

So whether your support helps develop the next Brooke Henderson or Adam Hadwin or just gets kids in your community interested in the game you love, you can take justifiable pride in the fact that you’ve given back to the game.

Invest in the future of golf in Canada. Support Adopt a School Week.

To support Adopt a School Week, visit www.golfcanada.ca/adoptaschool/ or call 1-800-263-0009 ext. 475.

KAHNAWAKE, Que. – American Gene Elliott carded an even-par 70 during the final round to claim the 2017 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship at Kanawaki Golf Club and hoist the John Rankin Memorial Trophy.

The native of West Des Moines, IA, finished at 3-over (283) for the championship, which was good enough for a 2-shot win over third-round leader Doug Hanzel of Savannah, GA.

“I am so thrilled – this is tough competition,” said Elliott, who recently competed in the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship where he fell in the round of 32. “Senior golf is tough; these guys are good. You win very little in golf at all and when you do it’s very special. To win in Canada, I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

Elliott may be new to the senior circuit having just turned 55 in February, but he’s enjoyed a stellar competitive golf career throughout the years. Among his many accomplishments, he’s amassed more than 20 titles in his home state of Iowa and also won the prestigious Porter Cup in 1998.

The veteran had high praises for the host club of Kanawaki.

“I hit the ball well today. I hit a lot of greens this week. I didn’t have many 3-putts,” he added. “But this Kanawaki, it’s a tough little bugger. It looks like you can get after it, but it gets after you. It’s a wonderful place to host a championship.”

With the win, Eliott earns an exemption into the 2018 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore., from August 25^th to 30^th.

He’s also committed to returning to Canada to defend his title at next year’s Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, which will take place September 4-7 at Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club in Bathurst, N.B.

“I can’t wait to get to New Brunswick,” he laughed. “I have no idea where it is or how to get there, but I’ll be there.”

Hanzel, who finished runner-up, never could get things on the right track during Thursday. His 5-over round of 75 included four bogeys, a double bogey and just a single birdie.

A trio of Americans tied for third. Allen Barber of Yorktown, VA, Paul Simson of Raleigh, NC and Jack Hall of Savannah, GA, all finished at 7-over (287).

Doug Roxburgh, an honored member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, was the top Canadian finisher. The Vancouver native finished tied for 6^th at 8-over (288). Roxburgh won the Canadian Junior Boy’s Championship in 1970 and Canadian Amateur titles in 1972, 1974, 1982 and 1988. He also claimed the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship in 2014.

Additional information, including complete scoring info for the 2017 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship can be found here.