Canada’s Juneau T8 at Donald Ross Centennial Classic at French Lick Resort
Canada’s Sara-Maude Juneau carded a 3-under-par 68 to move 4 under par and sit T8 after two rounds at the Donald Ross Centennial Classic at French Lick Resort in French Lick, Ind.
Juneau had five birdies and two bogeys to sit three shots back of Erynne Lee (Los Angeles, Calif.) heading into the final round of the 54-hole event.
The Fossambault, Que., native has 16 career top-10s on the Symetra Tour, but is looking for her first this season.
Juneau is a graduate of the Team Canada Amateur Squad.
Brittany Marchand from Orangeville, Ont., is T11 at 3 under par after an even par 71 in round two. She started the day in a tie for second just one shot off the lead.
Team Canada Young Pro Squad’s Anne-Catherine Tanguay is T16 at 2 under par (71-69). The Quebec City product is currently ranked sixth in the Volvik Race for the Card.
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Kramer Hickok takes third round lead at Players Cup
Dallas, Texas’ Kramer Hickok shot a 3-under 68 on Saturday at Pine Ridge Golf Club to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Players Cup, the fourth event of the 2017 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.
The 25-year old posted three birdies and zero bogeys to reach 10-under through 54 holes and led by one over Rancho Cucamonga, California’s Rico Hoey, Bakersfield, California’s Matt Picanso and The Dalles, Oregon’s Damian Telles with one round to go in Winnipeg.
Though he admitted he didn’t have his best game with him on Saturday, Hickok said it was his mental game that propelled him to the lead with one round to go.
“Patience, patience, patience,” said Hickok, describing his biggest asset in Round Three. “I’m mentally fried right now. I didn’t hit it well at all and managed my game really well, and that’s what you’ve got to do out here.”
Hickok was a college roommate of Jordan Spieth’s at the University of Texas and still lives with the two-time major champion, and while he says he doesn’t bombard his fellow former Longhorn with questions, he still makes the most of any opportunity to learn.
The action that's helped @KramerHickok to the 54-hole #PlayersCup lead ?️ pic.twitter.com/OKSUAL95F7
— Mackenzie Tour (@PGATOURCanada) July 8, 2017
Though a group of pursuers played their way into contention on Saturday, the University of Texas alum said he wouldn’t try to push things in Sunday’s quest to win on the Mackenzie Tour.
“If you get a little impatient and start attacking pins, you can make a quick bogey,” said Hickok. “You’ve got to stick to that game plan as much as you can. Tomorrow will be all about winning the tournament.
Picanso, the 54-hole leader, birdied the 18th to shoot an even-par 71 and sit 9-under with Hoey and Telles, while Order of Merit leader Robby Shelton was one shot further behind along with Lake Mary, Florida’s Jhared Hack.
That's one way to build some momentum ?@MattyPicanso birdies 18 to share second place heading into Sunday. pic.twitter.com/RnBvxSUN2b
— Mackenzie Tour (@PGATOURCanada) July 8, 2017
34-year old Matt Picanso is making his fourth career start on the Mackenzie Tour. The Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo alum was originally a baseball player and didn’t pick up competitive golf until his early 20s.
27-year old Damian Telles is making his third career Mackenzie Tour start this week. Telles has conditional status on the Mackenzie Tour this season after finishing T19 at the British Columbia Q-School this spring. He did not get into the Players Cup field as an alternate until Monday.
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Sebastian Munoz maintains Greenbrier Classic lead, Nick Taylor T8
Sebastian Munoz shot a 2-under 68 on Saturday to maintain a two-stroke lead over Robert Streb after the third round of The Greenbrier Classic, keeping the PGA Tour rookie in position to become the tournament’s first wire-to-wire winner.
The 24-year-old Colombian was at 14-under 196 at Old White TPC. Streb shot a 65.
Rookie Xander Schauffele and Jamie Lovemark were 11 under after 66s.
Davis Love III was at 10 under after a 68. At 53, he’s trying to become the oldest winner on the PGA Tour.
Kelly Kraft (67) and Russell Henley (68) also were 10 under.
After Round 3 of @GbrClassic, @jsmunozgolf holds the 54-hole lead for the first time in his career. pic.twitter.com/7v80PF7sEd
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 8, 2017
Nick Taylor (69) of Abbotsford, B.C., was the low Canadian at 8 under and tied for eighth. Brantford native David Hearn (70) is 6 under, Graham DeLaet (71) of Weyburn, Sask., is 5 under and Mackenzie Hughes (71) of Dundas, Ont., is 3 under.
While his birdie pace slowed to a trickle, Munoz overcame several miscues to stay atop the leaderboard. He saved par on the ninth hole after driving under a tree, regained the lead with a 26-foot birdie putt on the par-4 13th after driving into the rough, and added a 36-footer for birdie on the par-4 15th.
Streb, five strokes behind Munoz entering the day, birdied the 490-yard 11th and hit his 231-yard approach shot next to the flag and made eagle at the par-5 12th.
He’d like to do a little better than in 2015 at the tournament, when he lost in a four-man playoff won by Danny Lee.
That year, Streb broke his putter on the ninth hole in the final round when he tossed it at his bag next to the green. He made five birdie putts on the back nine with a 56-degree wedge. He was able to put a new putter in his bag for the playoff but was eliminated on the first extra without ever getting to use it.
From 231 yards in the rough to 1' 6".#MustSeeMoments https://t.co/FsTIfvRzbO pic.twitter.com/dPj0ruAsGx
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 8, 2017
That year, Streb broke his putter on the ninth hole in the final round when he tossed it at his bag next to the green. He made five birdie putts on the back nine with a 56-degree wedge. He was able to put a new putter in his bag for the playoff but was eliminated on the first extra without ever getting to use it.
Streb’s only top-10 finish this season was a tie for ninth at the Farmers Insurance Open. Munoz is still looking to crack the top 10. At the St. Jude Classic last month, Munoz was tied for the lead through 36 holes, but he played the final two rounds in 11 over and tied for 60th.
Love is among those trying to earn a spot in the British Open in two weeks. The leading four players not already exempt from the top 12 finishers will earn spots. Henley is the only player in the top 10 who has already qualified.
Age record-holder Sam Snead won the last of his eight titles at Greensboro in 1965 at 52 years, 10 months, 8 days. Love will try to break the mark at Snead’s former playground. Snead was the longtime head pro and pro emeritus at The Greenbrier resort. He died in 2002.
Kraft was tied for the lead with Munoz until making a double bogey at No. 13 and bogey at No. 14. Schauffele, another PGA Tour rookie, shot onto the leaderboard with a 60-foot eagle putt at No. 12.
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Canadians Conners and Yip T6 at LECOM Health Challenge, Choi T15
Team Canada Young Pro Squad’s Corey Conners carded a 5-under-par 67 in round three of at the Web.com Tour’s LECOM Health Challenge to sit T6 at 11 under par alongside fellow Canadian Ryan Yip at the Peek N’ Peak Resort Upper Course in Findley Lake, NY.
Conners, from Listowel, Ont., had six birdies and just one bogey to card his third consecutive round in the 60s and sit five shots back of Chesson Headley (Raleigh, N.C.) who’s bogey free 8-under-par 64 put him in solo first at 16 under par.
The six-year Team Canada veteran has two top-10s this season on the Web.com Tour. He made his U.S. Open debut at Erin Hills in June. He is currently ranked 43rd on the Web.com Tour’s Order of Merit.
Here’s the first “I made it” walk of the day. Birdie on 1. Good start for @coreconn. Photo credit to Jamie Stirling! pic.twitter.com/YgWXlKZbv6
— Listowel Golf Club (@lgc1920) July 8, 2017
Yip, a product of Calgary, Alta., was T5 after two rounds and carded a 2-under-par 70 in round three. He is looking for his second top-10 finish of the 2017 Web.com season.
A member of the inaugural Team Canada National Team in 2005, Yip came to Findley Lake ranked 100th on the Web.com Tour’s Order of Merit.
Team Canada Young Pro Squad golfer Albin Choi (Toronto, Ont.) is T15 after a 4-under-par 68 in round three. His best finish this season was a T5 at the rain shortened BMW Charity Classic presented by Synnex Corporation.
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Katherine Kirk takes LPGA Tour lead after career best 63
Katherine Kirk shot a career-best 9-under 63 on Friday to take a three-stroke lead in the weather-delayed second round of the inaugural Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.
Kirk, a 35-year-old Australian who has two victories in 14 years on the LPGA Tour, played the back nine in 7-under 29 at Thornberry Creek, the Oneida Nation-owned resort near Green Bay. She eagled the par-5 13th and hit a hybrid to 4 feet on the 196-yard, par-3 17th for her final birdie of the day to finish at 13-under through two rounds.
“My husband was up here Monday and Tuesday with me, and he said to me last night, ‘Someone could easily shoot 8 under around here,”’ Kirk said. “I’m just happy it was me, or 9 (under), I guess.”
Kirk finished her round before a 3 1/2-hour delay for lightning in the area.
“Perfect conditions, really,” she said. “We only had a little bit of breeze, but the greens for us are softer than usual, so we’re able to basically throw darts at it, and I think that’s why you’re seeing so many low numbers out there.”
Jaye Marie Green birdied eight of her final 12 holes to shoot 66 and was three shots back. Sandra Gal of Germany was also 10 under through 13 holes when play was suspended because of darkness.
Green, 23, who played college golf at Florida and has never won on the LPGA Tour, had her brother, Matt, on the bag.
“Everything was clicking, and then my brother is cool to caddie for me,” Green said. “He helps keep me calm when I don’t want to kill him.”
Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand was four shots back after a second-round 68. Her younger sister, second-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn, withdrew with a shoulder injury on Friday, one day after struggling to a 78.
South African Ashleigh Buhai (66), South Korean Ilhee Lee (68) and Pavarisa Yoktuan of Thailand (68) were also four shots back. Christina Kim, Karine Icher, Amelia Lewis and Madeleine Sheils were another shot behind, along with Cristie Kerr, who had five holes left to play.
“I’m trying to tighten up my putting a little bit because this is a putting match out here,” Lewis said. “Whoever can make the putts is going to win this thing.”
Top-ranked So Yeon Ryu, No. 3 Lexi Thompson and No. 4 Lydia Ko are among those taking the week off before the U.S. Women’s Open next week at Trump International in New Jersey.
In Gee Chun, the highest-ranked player remaining in the field at No. 5, was 5 under through 12 holes. Eighth-ranked Brooke Henderson was also 5 under after a 68. Henderson finished runner-up to Danielle Kang in last week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
First-round co-leader Laura Gonzalez Escallon made a quadruple-bogey 8 on the par-4 18th and was in danger of missing the cut.
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Matt Picanso extends lead at Players Cup
Bakersfield, California’s Matt Picanso shot a 3- under 68 on Friday at Pine Ridge Golf Club to extend his lead at the Players Cup, the fourth event of the 2017 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.
One day after shooting a 6-under 65, the 34-year old Mackenzie Tour rookie made five birdies against two bogeys to lead by two over Dallas, Texas’ Kramer Hickok and Lake Mary, Florida’s Jhared Hack heading into the weekend.
“I hit it really well,” said Picanso, who birdied the 18th to build a two-stroke cushion. “I just really focused on picking good targets from the tee, where if I missed a little I could still attack from there. Through 36 holes it’s worked really well.”
Though he’s new to the Mackenzie Tour, the former collegiate baseball player is familiar with being in contention at other levels of game, with more than a dozen mini tour titles to his name. That experience, he hopes, will help him stay aggressive on the weekend in Winnipeg.
“Foot on the pedal. You can get lapped out here pretty quick. It’s a long four days and there’s still a lot work to be done,” said Picanso.
Hack and Hickok posted a pair of 4-under 67s to reach 7-under through two rounds, while Camarillo, California’s Johnny Ruiz and Gainsville, Florida’s J.D. Tomlinson were a shot further behind at 6-under.
25-year old Hickok is making his fourth career start on the Mackenzie Tour this week. He was a college teammate of Jordan Spieth’s at the University of Texas and is currently a roommate of the two-time major champion.
“I missed a few puts early on, and that’s typically when I would try and make a birdie or hammer a putt home, said Hickock, “But I just kept on trying to hit the right shots and just stay as patient as possible.”
27-year old Jhared Hack is making his fourth career start on the Mackenzie Tour this week. He finished T3 earlier this year at the Bayview Place Cardtronics Open presented by Times Colonist and sits 10th on the Order of Merit.
“You have to stay below the hole and not short side yourself, and the birdies will come, said Hack. “The greens are firm, the rough’s up pretty good and the pins are on crowns. You can play ping pong if you’re not careful.”
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Canada’s Blair Bursey T4 at the Sahalee Players Championship
Canadian Blair Bursey carded a 1-over-par 73 in the final round of the Sahalee Players Championship to finish T4 at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash.
The Gander, NL, product had four birdies and five bogeys to finish at even par for the championship three shots back of winner Chino Hills, Calif., native Sahith Theegala who defeated Australian Min Woo Lee in a playoff.
Bursey, 20, is a junior at the University of Utah Valley. He had two top-10s with the Wolverines this season.
In 2016 Bursey finished T5 at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. He is the two-time defending Newfoundland Amateur Champion.
Calgary native Matt Williams was T19 at 10 over par, one stroke ahead of Kevin Kwon (Pitt Meadows, B.C.) who was T22.
Lawren Rowe (Victoria, B.C.) finished T45 at 19 over par alongside Emmett Oh from Calgary.
Henry Lee (Coquitlam B.C.) was T49 at 21 over par. One shot ahead of the final Canadian in the field fellow Coquitlam native Team Canada Development Squad golfer A.J. Ewart who finished T52 after a final round 7-over-par 79.
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Team Canada’s Max Sekulic wins Alberta Boys Junior Championship
Team Canada’s Max Sekulic carded a final round 1-under-par 71 to move to 5-under-par for the tournament and win the Alberta Junior Boys Championship at Coal Creek Golf Resort in Ryley, Alta. His Development Squad teammate Chandler McDowell was third.
Sekulic from Rycroft, Alta., had five birdies and four bogeys to finish one stroke ahead of Matt Bean (Canmore, Alta.) who carded a final round even par 72.
Sekulic, 18, was 12th at the Future Links driven by Acura Pacific Championship in May and finished sixth at the 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship.
This year's 2017 Alberta Junior Boys Interprovincial Team. @ChandlerMcd99, @Maxsekulic & Matt Bean to compete in nationals @Catgandcc! ?? pic.twitter.com/VxS8DK8LZl
— Alberta Golf (@Alberta_Golf) July 8, 2017
McDowell, a native of Springbrook, Alta., had the lowest score of the final round with a 3-under-par 69 to finish at 3-under-par for the championship.
In solo fourth was Kai Iguchi from Banff, Alta., who’s 1-under par 287 four day score was good enough to secure him the 16-and-under Juvenile Championship.
Rounding out the top-five was Pincher Creek, Alta., product Ethan Choi who was even par for the tournament.
For the full Alberta Junior Boys Championship leaderboard click here.
Canada’s Marchand T2 after 18 holes of Donald Ross Centennial Classic at French Lick Resort
Canadian Brittany Marchand carded a 3-under-par 68 in round one of the Donald Ross Centennial Classic at French Lick Resort, in French Lick, Ind.
The Orangeville, Ont., native had four birdies and just one bogey in her opening round at the Donald Ross Course at French Lick to sit one shot back of Australian Hannah Lee who carded a 4-under-par 67 to take sole possession of first.
A graduate of the Team Canada Amateur Squad Marchand recently made her first cut at an LPGA Tour event playing into the weekend at the Manulife LPGA Classic in Cambridge. She started the fourth round just five shots off the lead but finished T46 after a final round 81.
10 players are 1 back at -2 including @Britt_Marchand??. Check this touch on 10 at @FL_Resort! ?️
Scores ➡️ https://t.co/u5GkLOlpwm pic.twitter.com/3NwEn0dtpG
— Symetra Tour (@ROAD2LPGA) July 7, 2017
Marchand’s best result this season on the Symetra Tour was a T11 at the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa.
Megan Osland (Kelowna, B.C.) is T16 at 1 under par after an opening round 70. Team Canada Young Pro Squad Golfer Anne-Catherine Tanguay from Quebec City is T26 at even par.
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Munoz extends lead to 3 at Greenbrier Classic; Nick Taylor T7
PGA Tour rookie Sebastian Munoz has found a comfortable routine at The Greenbrier Classic _ go play golf, then watch a movie at night.
After catching “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” following an opening-round 61, Munoz kept it going Friday, shooting a 3-under 67 for a three-stroke lead over Ben Martin and Hudson Swafford heading into the weekend on the Old White TPC.
On Friday night, his plans were the same.
“I’m here with one of my best buddies, so we’re just going to hang out and watch a movie and be ready for tomorrow,” Munoz said.
Munoz has been in this situation before. At the St. Jude Classic last month, Munoz was tied for the lead through 36 holed, but he played the final two rounds in 11 over and finished tied for 60th.
“I feel like Memphis taught me that maybe I was caring too much, trying to hit too many perfect shots all the time,” Munoz said. “(I’ll) just take those past experiences and use them this week.”
The 24-year-old Colombian played his college golf at North Texas and said he got a wake-up call when his coach threatened to take away his scholarship for his senior year. Then, former college teammate Carlos Ortiz won three times in his first season on the Web.com Tour in 2014.
“I talked to him and was like, ‘Hey, man, I know you’re good, but come on. Like, I can get you sometimes,”’ Munoz said. “So that really helped me kind of push through and realize I was good as well.”
“I just feel comfortable.”@jsmunozgolf takes a three-shot lead into the weekend. pic.twitter.com/YRTKFlRzft
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 7, 2017
Munoz won the Conference USA individual title in 2015 and earned his PGA Tour card through the Web.com Tour last year. He’s still looking for his first top-10 finish.
Starting his second round on the back nine, Munoz birdied four of his first seven holes, making three putts of over 20 feet. After two bogeys on the front nine, he made a 13-footer for birdie from the fringe on the par-4 seventh. He was at 12-under 128.
No first-round leader has won at Old White TPC since the tournament debuted in 2010. Munoz’s closest challengers all have victories on tour.
Swafford, who hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation Friday, won the CareerBuilder Challenge in January and has two other top 10 finishes this season.
Martin, who won in Las Vegas in 2014, is coming off his first top 10 finish of the year last week at the Quicken Loans National.
Martin shot 67 and Swafford had a 66. Both were at 9 under.
Davis Love III, seeking to become the oldest-ever winner on the PGA Tour, followed up his first-round 63 with a 69. He was at 8 under, along with defending champion Danny Lee (68) and Russell Henley (64).
.@Love3D will have that left for back-to-back ?#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/uZ4rZuIfdc
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 7, 2017
Nick Taylor (69) of Abbotsford, B.C., was five shots back while David Hearn (69) of Brantford, Ont., Graham DeLaet (70) of Weyburn, Sask.,were six back at 6 under. Mackenzie Hughes (67) of Dundas, Ont., was eight back.
Phil Mickelson accomplished one thing he never managed with longtime caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay on the bag – he made the cut at The Greenbrier Classic. He did not play the weekend in three previous starts.
Mickelson had five bogeys and three birdies to shoot 72 and make the cut on the number at 1 under.
“This has been probably the two worst putting days I’ve had this year,” Mickelson said. “The greens are perfect. I just haven’t putted well.”
Mickelson and Mackay announced after the U.S. Open they were parting ways. Tim Mickelson is carrying his brother’s bag for the rest of the year. Mackay has signed to do on-course commentary for NBC and Golf Channel.
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