Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – The International Golf Federation has announced the draw for the first and second rounds of the Women’s Golf Competition at Rio 2016.

Brazil’s Miriam Nagl will represent the host nation as she tees off beside Ireland’s Leona Maguire and Malaysia’s Kelly Tan in the first group at 7:30 a.m. local time. They will make history as the Women’s Golf event returns to the Olympic Games following a 116-year hiatus.

American Margaret Abbott took home the Olympic Women’s Golf title when the event was last included in the Olympics at the 1900 Games in Paris.

World No. 3 Brooke Henderson will tee off first for the Canadian contingent at 9:14 a.m. alongside two-time major champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway and World No. 4 Lexi Thompson of the United States. Henderson has put together a strong 2016 season with two wins on the LPGA Tour, and is eyeing a podium spot at her first Olympic Games.

Fellow Canadian Alena Sharp will take to the course at 10:25 a.m. with Mexico’s Gaby Lopez and Shanshan Feng of China.

An interview with Canada’s Alena Sharp – LISTEN

A full listing of the draw, which includes Wednesday and Thursday tee times, can be found here.

Despite battling an injured thumb, former World No. 1 Inbee Park of Korea will compete against the field of 60 alongside Spain’s Azahara Munoz and American Gerina Piller at 9:03 a.m.

Ariya Jutanugarn became the first golfer from Thailand to claim a major title when she emerged victorious at the 2016 RICOH Women’s British Open Championship, and will look to make more history in Rio. The second ranked Jutanugarn will tee off at 10:58 a.m. with Stacy Lewis of the United States and Korea’s Sei Young Kim.

World No. 1 Lydia Ko will headline the final group of Wednesday’s opening round. The New Zealand native will tee off at 11:09 a.m. in the company of Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, and Charley Hull of Great Britain.

As I write this, Englishman Justin Rose has just won the first Olympic gold medal for men’s golf since Canada’s George Lyon did so in 1904, and I am eagerly anticipating the start of the women’s competition on Gil Hanse’s magnificent course in Rio.

That may surprise some who follow me on Twitter, as I have voiced opinions on the field and the format, not to mention the abysmal “world feed” broadcast we are subjected to here in Canada thanks to an obtuse and incomprehensible decision by the CBC not to allow us access to the excellent Golf Channel coverage.

But my purpose is not to revisit those quibbles, which hopefully will be rectified over the next four years before golf is again contested at the Tokyo Games.

Speaking of “games,” the reappearance of golf in the Olympic Games has reignited a most polarizing debate topic: Is golf a sport or a game? The corollary is: Does golf belong in the Olympics?

Two Golf Canada Twitter polls were conducted over the weekend.

One asked: “Do you consider pro golfers to be athletes?” Ninety-six per cent of the respondents said yes.

Do you consider pro golfers to be athletes?

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) August 14, 2016

The other asked: “Do you think golf should be in the Olympics?” Seventy-seven per cent responded in the affirmative.

Do you think #golf should be in the #Olympics?

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) August 13, 2016

Granted, those who follow Golf Canada on Twitter are most likely keen golfers with a bias. That puts them in a worldwide community of an estimated 60 million people who golf, the vast majority of whom live in one of the 118 countries that are members of the International Golf Federation.

The vast majority of that vast majority no doubt considers golf to be a sport.

At this point, my inclination is to grab my dictionary and recite the definition of a “sport.”

But I will resist that trite and predictable urge and instead quote Gary Belsky, former managing editor of ESPN the Magazine and co-author of the book On the Origins of Sports.

“You don’t need a definition of sports,” Belsky said in a recent Newsweek article. “It’s more quantum physics, like the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. There are simply too many variables.”

Critics cite overweight golfers riding in carts, puffing on cigars and cigarettes, enjoying a refreshing ale or six. That’s not a sport, they claim. At that level, focussing solely on that narrow and unattractive demographic sliver, they are right.

But if they widen their focus and clear their bias, they will see they are wrong; that they have ignored, intentionally or not, the variables Belsky mentions. Like the difference between the recreational and professional (or elite amateur) levels of any other sport, from soccer to basketball to hockey and baseball.

For the record, most recreational golfers walk. Over the average 18-hole course, that equates to an eight-kilometre hike, sometimes over challenging terrain, burning about 2,000 calories. Carrying clubs, using a push cart or a caddie makes little difference in both numbers.

And that is just recreational golfers.

Those fact-challenged critics (including one click-bait artist who demonstrated his ignorance in a piece published on the host broadcaster’s web site) conveniently disregard that today’s pros are without question athletes, with personal trainers, nutritionists and sports psychologists among their entourages. I defy the naysayers to play 36 holes of matchplay in a single day or challenge Henrik Stenson or Dustin Johnson to arm-wrestling.

Golf is a sport. Period.

Ignore the trumpery (look it up because it’s a perfect use of the word) of those critics, and I paraphrase here, with apologies to a line from the old movie Time Bandit,  who are mercifully unafflicted by the ravages of intelligence and/or facts.

Here’s a suggestion for those knuckleheads. Do some research. Play the sport. Try to attain a level of proficiency that will elevate you to the elite level and put the Olympics in your sights.

Then belly up to the table and prepare to eat your words.

The 116^th playing of the U.S. Amateur Championship begins today at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Twelve Canadians will vie for the title from August 15 to 21 in pursuit of the Havemeyer Trophy. The Canadian contingent will be lead by three Team Canada National Team members, including recent 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion Hugo Bernard of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.

Team Canada National Team members- 

• Eric Banks – Truro, N.S.
• Blair Hamilton – Burlington, Ont.
• Hugo Bernard – Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.

Canadians in the field-

• Maxwell Sear – Unionville, Ont.
• Austin James – Bath, Ont.
• Joey Savoie – Montreal, Que.
• Chris Crisologo – Richmond, B.C.
• Bradford Curren – Hammonds Plains, N.S.
• Luke Moser – Waterloo, Ont.
• Kaleb Gorbahn – Smithers, B.C.
• William Deck – Kelowna, B.C.
• Garrett Rank – Elmira, Ont.

The competition will begin with two rounds of stroke play from August 17 to 18, after which the field will be cut to the low 64 competitors for match play. The remaining competitors will partake in six rounds of match play through August 19 to 22, and the championship match will take place on August 23.

Full schedule-

• Monday, August 15 – First round of stroke-play qualifying (18 holes)
• Tuesday, August 16 – Second round of stroke-play qualifying (18 holes)
• Wednesday, August 17 – Round of 64 match play
• Thursday, August 18 – Round of 32 and Round of 16 match play
• Friday, August 19 – Quarterfinal round of match play
• Saturday, August 20 – Semifinal round of match play
• Sunday, August 21 – Championship match (36 holes)

The 2016 championship will be the second U.S. Amateur and 11th USGA championship to be hosted by Oakland Hills Country Club.

For more information on the 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship including scores and pairings, click here.

It’s amazing what can be accomplished when you have a team of passionate, driven leaders at the helm.

Take the “Moosehide Mommas” for example, a group of five ladies who have run Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru events for the last six years, raising close to $27,000 for breast cancer research—a great accomplishment in its own right. What’s even more empowering, is that this dedicated group has done so through a small town population just over 1,200 Canadians.

Nestled in the southern part of Canada’s Northwest Territories, a seven-hour drive west of Yellowknife, is the modest town of Fort Simpson. Small in size, but rich in history, Fort Simpson is home to just one golf course across its 78 km² area—Seven Spruce Golf Course. For the sixth consecutive year, this 9-hole course played host to the Moosehide Mommas’ annual Golf Fore the Cure event, which hosted over 40 women in a day of celebration with a round of golf and supporting events. At day’s end, this remarkable group of women raised over $14,000—their highest annual total to date.

How do they do it? Just ask one of the team’s lead site coordinators, Jennifer Thistle.

“It really starts with the incredible people we work with, who share a deep passion for the cause and what we are fighting for through this event,” she said. “We have such a memorable time golfing every year, and continue to challenge ourselves in new and exciting ways to make our event as special as it can be.”

Thistle was one of many site coordinators to receive a free polo shirt from adidas Golf, a new Pink Partner to Golf Fore the Cure in 2016. In the giving spirit, Thistle happily donated the adidas Golf polo towards the event’s raffle to help the cause.

To further help with events, Golf Canada ships a complimentary tournament kit to each team that includes pledge forms, signage, ribbons and prizing.

Committed to growing women’s participation, Golf Fore the Cure boasts over 100,000 participants throughout 12 seasons. During that period, the program has raised over $5.4 million dollars for the Canadian Cancer Society and Québec Breast Cancer Foundation in support of breast cancer research.

There are many other Canadian teams like the Moosehide Mommas that are behind Golf Fore the Cure’s mission, and you can be a part of that too.

Register to run an event—free of charge—by visiting golfcanada.ca/golfforethecure

FORSYTH, Ill. – Clariss Guce (Artesia, Calif.) made birdie on hole 14 and closed with four pars to win the Decatur-Forsyth Classic by two shots at 10-under, 206. The rookie carded a 1-under, 71 on Sunday at Hickory Point Golf Course to earn her second win of the 2016 season. Laura Gonzalez Escallon (La Hulpe, Belgium) posted a 5-under, 67 to finish in a tie for second with two-time winner Jackie Stoelting (Vero Beach, Florida) at 8-under, 208.

Guce, who was number 84 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list in mid-July, moves into the top 10 for the first time this season. She is now number seven with exactly seven events remaining. The 26-year-old earns the first-place check of $19,500 to increase her total to $56,656.

“Anytime you win, it feels great,” said Guce, who moved to the United States with her family from the Philippines in 2001. “Every win is special and I’m just overjoyed.”

Guce was doused with water again by her crew of rookie friends – Kristin Coleman, Jenny Coleman, Mallory Kent and Dana Finkelstein – as soon as she came off the green.

“I knew I was going to get soaked,” said Guce, who spotted her friends on hole 15. “I saw them walking around with a lot of bottles of water and I was thinking don’t screw it up and just two putt.”

Guce, who entered the day with a two shot lead, made eight pars and a birdie on the front nine to build a three shot lead at the turn. Her lone bogey of the day came on the 12th hole and all of a sudden her lead was down to one after Gonzalez Escallon drained a 20-footer on the 18th to finish at 8-under. Guce hit a great approach shot into the par-5 14th and made a 7-footer to build the lead back to two. She made par the rest of the way to comfortably win.

“My irons and my putting were the two keys,” said Guce. “I just stayed patient and I think I was a little more nervous today than Rochester because I had the lead. My friend Hayley (Davis) was on the bag and she kept me calm and we just laughed the whole day.”

Guce missed five cuts in a row in the middle of the season and had to take a few tournaments off to flush the negative thoughts and hone in on her swing.

“I didn’t really think about what others were saying, I’m just trying to go to each tournament and play as best I can,” said Guce. “If it works out, it works out. If it doesn’t, at least I know I gave my best.”

Guce doesn’t want to look too far ahead now that she is in the top ten with only seven events remaining.

“There is still a lot more golf and anything can still happen,” said Guce. “Just like in Rochester, I went from 84th to 12th so you just never know.”

Guce wins her second on the weekend of her parents 28th wedding anniversary. She also owes her dad, a professional jockey that has won over 1,000 races, a dinner or two now.

“Maybe I’ll by him dinner, it depends how many races he wins this week,” joked Guce. “I’ll definitely try to get them something nice because they are my inspiration.”

Guce remembers the struggles the family went through when they first relocated to the U.S. and her dad had a hard time finding races.

The Tour heads to Milwaukee and Brown Deer Park Golf Course for the 2nd annual PHC Classic next week. The field of 144 will compete for a total purse of $100,000.

Laura Gonzalez Escallon (La Hulpe, Belgium) peaked at the leaderboard on 18 and saw she was in a 3-way tie at the time for second. She had a 20-footer for birdie and nailed it.

“I was like ‘I don’t want to be in a tie’ and it was big to make that,” said Gonzalez Escallon with a wide smile. “It’s always nice to play on Sundays and try to shoot as low as I can. I was also having a blast with my caddy.”

Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., carded five birdies through a bogey-free day for a final-round 67. The former Team Canada National Squad member registered a 6-under 210 tournament total to claim her share of eighth.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – It took 112 years for golf to find a new Olympic champion, but it was well worth the wait.  Great Britain’s Justin Rose followed in the footsteps of the long-departed George Lyon of Canada when he climbed onto the podium to collect the Olympic gold medal in Rio de Janeiro.

On a sun-drenched final day, in front of a sell-out crowd of 12,000 at Reserva de Marapendi Golf Course, Rose added the Olympic crown to his 2013 US Open title after a prolonged and exciting battle down the stretch with Sweden’s Henrik Stenson.

In the end, the packed grandstand which turned the 18th arena into a noisy sporting amphitheatre, watched spellbound as Rose got up-and-down from the side of the green for the birdie which sealed a worthy gold medal performance.

Stenson, who knew he needed to hole a 25-footer of his own to force a play-off, three-putted and the first Olympic golf competition since 1904 had a new champion.

Stenson, who emerged on top after a similarly epic shoot-out with Phil Mickelson in The Open at Royal Troon last night, had to accept second place this time and the silver medal was a deserving reward for his part in a wonderful spectacle which saw Matt Kuchar of the United States claim the bronze medal after a course record-equalling last round of 63.

Rose finished with four rounds in the sixties and his closing 67 secured the gold medal with a 16-under-par total of 268. Stenson took silver with a fourth-round 68 for 270 and Kuchar’s swashbuckling last day brought home the remaining medal on 271.

The leading three players completed the 72-hole test detached from the rest of the field, in which Belgium’s Thomas Pieters finished a highly creditable fourth after slicing 12 shots off his third-round 77 with a final day 65.

After holing out for a birdie four on the 18^th, Rose punched the air in celebration and fell into the arms of his wife, Kate, before savouring the medal ceremony as the Olympic golf champion.

“Olympic gold medalist – It sounds absolutely incredible,” said the 36-year-old.  “I was on that last green, just sort of pinching myself and taking myself back to the quote that I had given about the Olympics all along – that I hoped my resumé one day read: ‘multiple major champion and Olympic gold medalist’ and if that happened then I’d be a very, very happy man.  I pretty much just need the multiple major now, but for the most part, I’m there on that quote.

“The whole week, I’ve been so focused, really, to be honest with you.  I’ve been so into it.  I’ve been so up for it.  I’ve been just so determined, I suppose, to represent Team GB as best as I could, and it was just the most magical week, it really was.”

The final round in Rio delivered the anticipated head-to-head between two outstanding major champions. And both men held a narrow lead at different times as they exchanged birdies.

It seemed that Stenson might repeat his Open victory at Royal Troon when he edged in front due to a Rose bogey at the 13^th, but he handed back the initiative to the Englishman when he bogeyed the 14^th and Rose knocked in an eight-footer for birdie on the 15^th.

Despite both men missing the green at the last, it was Stenson who blinked first, hitting a weak chip to 25 feet while Rose struck a deft chip close to the hole for a cast-iron birdie four.

Stenson recognised the quality of the golf on display on the final day and admitted: “When you’re in good position to try and win, you always kind of feel a little disappointed afterwards.  But at the same time, we said that all along in the Olympics, you’ve got some pretty good consolation prizes.

“I guess if you would have asked me before the week that I would leave here with a medal, I would have been pretty pleased and I managed to do that.  I’m quite happy, I didn’t feel like I played my absolute best throughout the week but I played good enough to put myself in contention and that was my goal.  Once I was up there, I played pretty well but I needed to play one or two shots better to win it today.”

Rose paid tribute to his rival and friend by saying: “I just said today that I had to out‑Stenson Stenson.  I knew I wasn’t going to get much from him at all.  Obviously the bogey at the last only came because he had to force the putt in.

“But he is unbelievable.  He’s relentless and a great player, and I can’t wait to be on the same team as him in The Ryder Cup.  He’s a great player and he’s a great friend, and I just gave him a hug on the 18th green and he was as gracious as ever. I just said to him, ‘Great summer – winning The Open Championship’, I was so pleased for him.  There are very few guys are you really genuinely, genuinely happy for, and Henrik is one of them.”

Bronze medalist Kuchar just came up short, despite equaling the record 63 set by Australian Marcus Fraser on Thursday. Had he not three putted the 16^th and failed to birdie the 18^th, he might just have grabbed another colour of medal.

The American Ryder Cup player said: “It’s just an amazing week. It’s a boyhood dream come true. I keep expressing the feeling of sheer pride.  I knew when I was out there playing that I was in third place.  I certainly didn’t want to lose that but also wanted to keep pushing forward.

“While I was out there, playing that back nine, the sense of being an Olympic medalist really hit me.  There were times I kind of had to back off a few times and regather my thoughts and composure to make sure I try to continue to hit good shots and keep making birdies.”

Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar Interview: Transcript

Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., collected two birdies and an eagle through the day en route to a final-round 69. The 34-year-old carded a 4-under 280 tournament total to claim sole possession of 20th.

Graham DeLaet Interview: Audio

Brantford, Ont., native David Hearn recorded six birdies on a 5-under day to secure his share of 30th at 1-under 283.

David Hearn Interview: Audio

SILVIS, Ill. – For all the late pars and the closing run of 46 holes without a bogey, Ryan Moore thought the key to his victory Sunday in the John Deere Classic was a 24-foot birdie putt on the fourth hole.

It moved him to 20 under and kept him two strokes ahead of Morgan Hoffmann, who was about to birdie the fifth hole.

“That was huge to get another birdie early, just to show the guys behind me I’m not messing around,” Moore said. “The worst thing to do is to be even or 1 over after five or six holes. Then all of a sudden you’ve got 10 guys thinking, ‘All right, I can go get this today.'”

With Moore making three birdies on the front nine and another on the 10th hole en route to a 4-under 67, they had no chance. He won his fifth PGA Tour title by two strokes over Ben Martin.

The 33-year-old Moore finished at 22-under 262 at TPC Deere Run, making only one bogey in 72 holes. He won for the first time since successfully defending his CIMB Classic title in Malaysia in 2014.

“Every win is a little different,” Moore said. “I like how steady this was, with no bogeys on the weekend.”

Martin had three straight back-nine birdies in a 68.

“I never got a whole lot going,” Martin said. “I just told (Moore), ‘You couldn’t make one bogey out there for me today?’ Hats off to him for just a solid round of golf. I don’t think he really ever sniffed a bogey.”

South Korea’s Whee Kim shot 67 to tie for third with Hoffmann (71) at 17 under.

Moore birdied Nos. 2, 4, 9 and 10 and closed with eight pars. He had a five-stroke lead when Hoffmann bogeyed the 12th hole. Martin, playing with Moore in the final twosome, birdied Nos. 12-14, but couldn’t get closer than two strokes. Martin parred his last four holes, and Hoffmann his final six.

“I just wanted to make a putt, which didn’t happen all day,” Hoffmann said. “In the middle of the round, it kind of went sideways.”

Moore hit 13 of 14 fairways in the final round and 14 of 18 greens in regulation, including the 18th, which he two-putted from 47 feet for the victory. He opened with three straight 65s in the event thrown off schedule by rain Thursday and Friday.

Jordan Spieth chose not to defend his title because he didn’t think it would be appropriate in light of his decision to skip the Rio Olympics.

Wesley Bryan, the leader Friday when play was suspended, tied for eighth at 14 under after his second straight 70. He earned a PGA Tour card last week with his third Web.com Tour victory of the year. Bryan was joined by Abbotsford, B.C., native Adam Hadwin who carded eight birdies through the final day of competition to move into his share of eighth.

NCAA champion Aaron Wise followed his third-round 63 with a 70 to tie for 16th at 12 under in his PGA Tour debut as a pro. The former Oregon player won a PGA Tour Canada event two weeks ago in Edmonton, Alberta.

Zach Johnson, the 2012 winner and member of the tournament’s board, shot a 69 to tie for 34th at 9-under 275. He’s from nearby Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Steve Stricker had a 72 to tie for 52nd at 6 under. The 49-year-old Stricker, a former University of Illinois player from Wisconsin, won the event in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Springfield, Mo. – Canadian Mackenzie Hughes outlasted the field Sunday afternoon in Springfield to earn his first Web.com Tour victory at the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper.

The 25-year-old Team Canada Young Pro Squad member birdied the 72nd hole, fired a final-round 6-under-par 66 and posted 24-under-par 264 to finish one clear of Richy Werenski (66).

“This is the hardest day of my life,” said Hughes, who earned $121,500 for his effort at Highland Springs Country Club. “I’m so proud of the way I hung in there. I had to dig so deep. The thoughts were going crazy in my head.”

“Trying to quiet that down was the greatest challenge I’ve had in my life.” continued Hughes. “I kid you not, there were so many times I thought about the outcome and what it could mean to my family and everything like that. I had to bring myself back so many time. I just wanted to get across the line and it feels so good.”

Hughes moves from No. 88 to No. 14 on the money list virtually assured of securing one of the 25 PGA TOUR cards awarded at the conclusion of the WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by Kraft Heinz.

“That’s silly talk right there,” said Hughes, who was endanger of heading back to Q School before his victory in Springfield. “PGA TOUR? Let’s go. It’s exciting.”

Hughes knows what it takes to win. He took home the trophy at the Cape Breton Celtic Classic in 2013 on Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada. The Hamilton, Ontario native also finished No. 1 on the Order of Merit and earned Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year honors that year.

Werenski did his best to force overtime. He eagled the final hole and posted 23-under which tied Hughes for the lead.

Hughes opted to layup on the par-5 and was left with 108 yards for his third. He stuffed his approach to within a foot of the hole to answer Werenski’s effort.

“That is the moment of my career so far,” said Hughes. “There were some moments where I need to hit a shot and I needed to make a putt.”

Before his victory on Sunday Hughes’ plans were to try and regain his Tour card through Q School in December. The former Kent State University standout is also getting married to his fiancé Jenna Shaw on October 22nd and wasn’t sure when the two would be able to go on their honeymoon this fall before his maiden Tour win.

“When I think about what it means and everything that comes with this win, it just blows my mind,” Hughes said.

A 2-under day landed Hughes’ Young Pro Squad teammate Albin Choi of Toronto in a tie for 22nd at 14-under, while Langley, B.C., natvie Adam Cornelson finished the event T71.

UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio – The final round of the U.S. Senior Open was postponed Sunday because of heavy rain, giving Miguel Angel Jimenez another night to sleep on the third-round lead.

The course at the Scioto Country Club absorbed 2.36 inches of rain late Saturday and Sunday, leading to the decision late Sunday afternoon. The USGA had hoped to get at least the first groups through during a break in the rain on Sunday, but the course was too wet to play.

Rain was forecast for Monday, too. The first groups are scheduled to off at 7:30 a.m.

“We’re going to have a drying period overnight, and we think we’ve got a shot to get it in tomorrow,” said John M. Bodenhamer, the USGA’s senior managing director of rules, competitions & equipment standards.

Jimenez was at 3-under 207 on Jack Nicklaus’ boyhood course, a stroke ahead of Gene Sauers, and in position to win after blowing leads in his last two tournaments.

Three weeks ago at Carnoustie in the Senior British Open, the 52-year-old Jimenez took a four-stroke lead into the last day, only to shoot 75 and tie for third – three strokes behind winner Paul Broadhurst. Last week in the 3M Championship, The Spanish player was a stroke ahead entering the final round and ended up losing when Joe Durant shot 63 and eagled the first hole of a playoff.

He said the delay in finishing the tournament is inconvenient more than anything else.

“I think all the people have the same effect, you know?” he said. “And everybody wants to finish a tournament on Sunday. That’s with everything. It will affect hotels, flights and everything. So anyway, we have to do what we have to do.”

Ian Woosnam, Loren Roberts and senior newcomer Billy Mayfair were tied for third at 1 over.

The 53-year-old Sauers said a delay and a soggy course won’t change how he’ll approach his round Monday.

“You have to just keep hitting fairways and greens and give yourself opportunities,” Sauers said. “I’m going to the range a bit right now and try to work out things, try to work the ball left to right, vice versa, and try to figure out how I feel today,” he said. “I wasn’t too comfortable yesterday. So I’m going to try to see where I feel today and hopefully continue it into tomorrow, just kind of not think about things and just kind of relax and clear my mind of all what’s been happening today, because I was ready to play today.”

Bernhard Langer, tied for sixth place at 2 over, said some adjustments will be necessary Monday after the dry, hard course they played in the first three rounds.

“It will play quite different because it was pretty firm,” Langer said. “So (we’ll) probably get plugged balls in the fairways, mud balls. So don’t know if they’ll play preferred lies or not, and the greens will be softer, might spin balls back off the green instead of going over. So things like that. It will be different.”

Stephen Ames of Calgary is tied for 15th at 4-over, while Rod Spittle from St. Catharines, Ont., is T51 at 12-over.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Mackenzie Hughes accomplished his goal of getting into the final group on Sunday. The 25-year-old from Hamilton, Ont., birdied the final two holes of his third round and shot a bogey-free 8-under 64 to take the 54-hole lead at the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper. Hughes’ 18-under-par 198 total puts him one clear of Australian Steve Allan (63), Xander Schauffele (64) and No. 3 on the Web.com Tour money list Richy Werenski (66).

PGA TOUR veteran Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (66), Kevin Tway (68), Sam Ryder (67) and Chris Baker (69) are tied for fifth at 16-under-par 200. There are a total of 10 players within three strokes of Hughes heading into the final round.

Toronto resident and fellow Young Pro Squad member Albin Choi is tied for 21st at 12-under, while Adam Cornelson of Langley, B.C., sits T66 at 5-under.

“It’s going to be a new experience for me, but I’ve won tournaments before,” said Hughes, who has never led after any round of a Tour event in his career. “This is on a larger scale, but the things you have to do and the way you have to manage your emotions. It’s all the same, so I’m just going to try and do that tomorrow.”

Hughes has tasted victory on the professional level in the past. In 2013, the former Kent State University standout won the Cape Breton Open on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada circuit. Hughes finished the year No. 1 on the Order of Merit in large part due to his triumph in Nova Scotia.

“I’ll definitely draw on that tomorrow,” said Hughes, who overcame a six-stroke deficit to take home the title. “There’s so many guys within three shots, it’s going to be a shootout tomorrow. I have to put my head down and try and make a bunch of birdies.”

Hughes has had no problem going low this week. The Charlotte, N.C., resident has feasted on the par 4s at Highland Springs Country Club. Through 54 holes he has played them in 10-under-par, lower than anyone else in the field.

Hughes entered the week No. 88 on the money list and in danger of losing his Tour card. His sophomore campaign got a huge boost at the LECOM Health Challenge in July where he finished tied for fifth after a sizzling final-round 66. He never imagined it would take him this long to settle in given his success in Canada, but remains optimistic that he’s heading in the right direction.

“There’s definitely a big adjustment,” said Hughes. “Everyone’s got a different learning curve out here. I feel comfortable now and I know that if I just play my game I can compete with these guys.”