2016 Canadian Junior Girls Championship heads to the Links at Penn Hills
SHUBENACADIE, N.S. – The nation’s top junior golfers will gather at the Links at Penn Hills from August 2-5 to compete in the 2016 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. The field includes six Team Canada members and a host of qualifiers from the CN Future Links Championships – Canada’s regional junior competitions.
The Links at Penn Hills boasts a challenging Les Furber design with rolling hills and nicely wooded areas set against the tidal river dyke lands. Competitors will have the chance to become acquainted with the course during a practice round on August 1.
“We are thrilled to welcome Golf Canada and this prestigious championship to our course and Shubenacadie,” said Tanner Gayton, Host Club Tournament Chair and Head Golf Professional at The Links at Penn Hills. “We are proud of our preparations and look forward challenging the next generation of Canada’s best juniors.”
“The Links at Penn Hills is in tremendous shape to host our national Junior Girls Championship. The fantastic layout is going to make for a memorable week as this strong field chases a national title,” said Tournament Director Justine Decock.
Victoria native Naomi Ko will represent Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad in Shubenacadie. The 18-year-old finished third at the 2015 edition of this event at Deer Park Municipal Golf Club in Yorkton, Sask. The North Carolina State University sophomore is in the midst of an impressive summer in which she has competed in her first two LPGA events. She won the Cambia Portland Classic Amateur Open to earn entry into the Cambia Portland Classic before claiming victory in a sectional qualifier to join the field at the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open.
Currently in her first year on Team Canada’s Development Squad, Hannah Lee of Surrey, B.C., will look to improve upon her runner-up result from 2015. The 16-year-old finished fourth at the B.C. Women’s Amateur before posting a T2 at the B.C. Junior Girls’ Championship alongside teammate Tiffany Kong of Vancouver. Kong claimed 7th and runner-up finishes at the CN Future Links Pacific and Ontario Championships.
Richmond, B.C., native Kathrine Chan, who finished 4th in 2015, is hoping to carry forward momentum from 5th and 6th place finishes at her provincial amateur and junior championships. Ontarians Chloe Currie of Mississauga and Grace St-Germain of Orleans complete the Development Squad contingent at the national championship; the pair collected respective T9 and 12th place results last year. Currie is coming off a successful title defence at the Ontario Junior Girls’ Championship, while St-Germain won the Ontario Women’s Amateur title.
Five CN Future Links champions will vie for the Canadian Junior Girls title. Richmond Hill, Ont., native Monet Chun, who finished tied for 9th at last year’s national championship, took home the 2016 CN Future Links Quebec title. Isabella Portokalis of London, Ont., and Mary Parsons of Delta, B.C., claimed shares of 14th last year and earned entry through their respective victories at the Ontario and Pacific championships. CN Future Links Atlantic winner Allison Chandler from Chester, N.S., finished T22 in 2015, while Calgary’s Kehler Koss joins the field as the reigning Western champion.
Team B.C. will attempt to defend its inter-provincial team title which takes place over the course of the first two rounds, while a 16-and-under Juvenile Championship will also be played concurrently with the Junior Girls Championship.
In addition to the Canadian Junior Girls Championship title, the 2016 champion will receive an exemption into the 2017 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont.
Additional information about the tournament, including the full field and tee-times is available here.
Allisen Corpuz takes early lead at 2016 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship
NEW MINAS, N.S. – Heavy rains prompted a 60-minute delay at Ken-Wo Golf Club prior to the opening round of the 2016 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. When the skies cleared and play commenced, Allisen Corpuz shot 2-under 68 to claim sole possession of the first-round lead.
The Honolulu, Hawaii native teed-off with the morning wave at 9:14 a.m. ADT. Four birdies through her first six holes – including a string of three-in-a-row on holes 2 to 4 – led the University of Southern California Trojan onto the back nine at 3-under. The 18-year-old extended her advantage with two birdies on holes 11 and 14, and recorded three bogeys through holes 12-16 to take the clubhouse lead at 2-under 68.
Ten players sit one stroke behind Corpuz in second, led by Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont. The Texas A&M Aggie who began the day on the back nine, posted a 3-under 32 across her first nine holes, but faltered with bogeys on holes 2, 8 and 9. The 20-year-old is the top-ranked Canadian Amateur in the world at No. 37. Szeryk returns to the national championship following a T6 result at last year’s tournament hosted by Riverside Country Club in Saskatoon.
Victoria’s Naomi Ko – also of the National Team – was bogey-free across her first 15 holes and notched two birdies on the day to claim her share of second at 1-under 69. 2015 World Junior Girls Championship medallist and World No. 14 Hye-jin Choi (Paju-si, Korea), Kelsey Sear (Unionville, Ont.), Selena Costabile (Thornhill, Ont.), Malia Nam (Kailua, Hawaii), Stephanie Lau (Fullerton, Calif.), Kristen Gillman (Austin,Texas), Andrea Lee (Hermosa Beach, Calif.) and Hannah Green (Perth, Australia) make up the remaining contingent tied for second.
National Team member Josée Doyon of St-Georges, Que., and Mississauga, Ont., native Michelle Ruiz sit two-strokes back of the lead as part of a nine-way tie for 12th.
Doyon collected one birdie on the day to lead Team Québec to a four-stroke lead at a combined 1-over 141 in the inter-provincial competition. Katherine Gravel-Coursol of Mirabel, Que., recorded a 71, while St-Hyacinthe, Que., native Valérie Tanguay was 3-over.
Team British Columbia – comprised of a pair of Team Canada Development Squad members in Hannah Lee (Surrey, B.C.) and Kathrine Chan (Richmond, B.C.) alongside Coquitlam, B.C.’s Jisoo Keel – follows with a total of 5-over 145.
In addition to the 2016 Canadian Women’s Amateur title, the individual champion will earn exemptions into the 2016 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and two LPGA events: the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open at Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club in Calgary from August 22-28 and the Manulife LPGA Classic at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ont., from September 1-4.
For more Information on the 2016 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship including the full field, starting times and live scoring, click here.
Du Toit comes up short at RBC Canadian Open, but wins fans
OAKVILLE, Ont. – It was only fitting that Jared du Toit took the final shot of the RBC Canadian Open.
Although the amateur from Kimberley, B.C., fell out of contention in the final round of the PGA Tour event, he still got the biggest ovation of the day at the awards ceremony on the 18th green at Glen Abbey Golf Club. Fans gave him a rousing standing ovation when he birdied on the final shot of the tournament and again as he was given the Gary Cowan medal as the Canadian Open’s lowest scoring amateur player.
“It was awesome,” said du Toit of the hundreds of fans that followed him around the course on Sunday. “I probably could have shot a hundred out here and they would have been behind my back all day. Honestly unbelievable.”
Du Toit started the day tied for second and was in the top pairing with leader Brandt Snedeker. The 21-year-old Arizona State University player struggled in the front nine with two bogeys and a birdie before rallying with three birdies and a bogey in the back. Du Toit finished the day a 1-under 71 and tied for ninth at 9 under.
Although it was a solid performance for du Toit, he tumbled down the leaderboard as the PGA Tour’s professionals finally found their rhythm on a hard, firm course that had frustrated most players all week. Still, du Toit finished the week two shots better than world No. 1 Jason Day.
Jhonattan Vegas shot an 8-under 64, birdieing the final three holes, to rocket up the leaderboard and earn a one-stroke victory. The 29-year-old Venezuelan began the day five strokes behind Snedeker, and four behind du Toit and U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson.
Vegas earned US$1,062,000 and a spot in the PGA Championship next week at Baltusrol in New Jersey. He also received a two-year tour exemption and a spot in the Masters next year.
Du Toit, who only had 15 fans following his trio in Thursday’s opening round, had nothing but praise for the Canadian fans who rallied to support him after 5-under 67 in the first round thrust him to the top of the standings.
“Unbelievable. The atmosphere they were providing was unbelievable,” said du Toit, who added that he lost count of how many high fives he doled out on Sunday, but that there were enough to make his hands sore. “Every tee box, every green, everyone was clapping, hollering, ‘Go Canada!’
“It was truly unbelievable. I’m on cloud nine right now.”
Making his breakout performance even more impressive, Du Toit learned on Saturday night that he had bronchitis after what he initially thought was a cold grew worse over the past seven days. Coach Derek Ingram drove du Toit to nearby Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital and the young player only got five hours of sleep ahead of Sunday’s final round.
“We’re going to take care of this bronchitis a little bit, probably hold off the celebration a little more,” said du Toit. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I haven’t thought that far ahead.”
Ingram, who was named the head coach of Canada’s men’s golf team earlier in the month, wasn’t surprised by du Toit’s performance.
“Jared’s been playing great, he’s been trending really well for the past six months,” said Ingram. “He’s been playing great, a bit of a surprise to be in the final group of the Canadian Open as an amateur, but not surprised that he played well at all.”
Adam Hadwin (71) of Abbotsford, B.C., tied for 49th at 1 under, amateur Garrett Rank (76) of Elmira, Ont., was in a group tied at 77th 8 over and Corey Conners (78) of Listowel, Ont., finished at 12 over in 80th.
Hadwin won the Rivermead Cup as low professional Canadian, but even then he didn’t feel wholly comfortable taking the award from du Toit.
“Little awkward holding this with Jared playing so well this week, y’know, he beat me by eight,” said Hadwin during the awards ceremony. “Not sure I should be holding this, but I’ll accept it.”
A Canadian hasn’t won the national golf championship since 1954, when Pat Fletcher accomplished the feat at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf Club. An amateur hasn’t won the Canadian Open since American Doug Sanders at Montreal’s Beaconsfield Golf Club in 1956.
Can't say enough about @Jareddutoit's performance @RBCCanadianOpen this week – a terrific ambassador for golfhttps://t.co/mJfJFn2mjO
— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) July 24, 2016
Jhonattan Vegas rallies to win RBC Canadian Open
OAKVILLE, Ont. – Jhonattan Vegas rallied to win the RBC Canadian Open for his second PGA Tour victory, birdieing the final three holes at Glen Abbey Golf Club for an 8-under 64 and one-stroke victory.
The 29-year-old Venezuelan began the day five strokes behind leader Brandt Snedeker, and four behind U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson and Canadian amateur Jared du Toit.
Du Toit finished tied for ninth at 9 under after a final round of 71. He was trying to become the first Canadian to win the event since Pat Fletcher in 1954.
Du Toit struggled to start today’s round with two early bogeys, but birdied 16 and 18 to finish two shots ahead of world No. 1 Jason Day.
Vegas earned US$1,062,000 and a spot in the PGA Championship next week at Baltusrol in New Jersey.
He also received a two-year tour exemption and a spot in the Masters next year.
Paul Broadhurst wins Senior British Open
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland – Paul Broadhurst won the Senior British Open on Sunday at Carnoustie for his first senior major title, closing with a 4-under 68 for a two-stroke victory over Scott McCarron.
The 50-year-old Broadhurst overcame an opening 75 to become the third English player to win a PGA Tour Champions major, joining Mark James and Roger Chapman. Broadhurst also is the first player to win the event in his debut since Fred Couples in 2012 at Turnberry.
“It’s massive, absolutely massive,” Broadhurst said. “I’m not aware of how big it is yet, honestly. I’m trying not to think about it. Beyond my wildest dreams to be honest. This sort of thing doesn’t happen to players like me normally. I’ve won a few tournaments over the years, but nothing anywhere near as big as this event. I feel very, very privileged to have won this event.”
Broadhurst shot a 66 on Friday and a 68 on Saturday to enter the final round four strokes behind leader Miguel Angel Jimenez. The winner birdied the par-5 sixth, par-4 10th, par-3 13th and par-4 15th in his bogey-free round in mostly cloudy conditions with 8-16 mph wind and occasional drizzle. He finished at 11-under 277.
McCarron bogeyed the par-3 16th and par-4 18th in his 69.
“I didn’t really have everything this week,” McCarron said. “I had a bad neck all week and was kind of playing around that a little bit. I just didn’t putt all that well all week long but I kind of hung in there. I had a chance with a couple holes to go, so that’s all you can ask for. Unfortunately, the bogeys on 16, 18, cost me the tournament.”
Jimenez had a 75 to drop into a tie for third with Magnus Atlevi (67) at 8 under.
“The 75 today was the other side of the coin from yesterday,” Jimenez said. “I was a little bit tense, not loose in the beginning of the round, and then didn’t play as well as yesterday.”
Broadhurst earned $279,144, a full PGA Tour Champions exemption through the 2017 season, a spot in the 2017 British Open at Royal Birkdale and a five-year exemption into the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hawaii. The 1991 Ryder Cup player won six times on the European Tour and also took the European Senior Tour’s Scottish Senior Open.
Where does this victory rank?
“Bigger than all of them, I think – a lot, lot bigger,” Broadhurst said. “I played some of my best golf this week. I really hit the ball nicely. My iron play today I thought was really good. I hit some top iron shots into 10 and 15. Yeah, the hard work I’ve put in paid off this week.”
Broadhurst played his final 45 holes in 14 under after going 3 over on his first 27. His final 54-hole total in relation to par of 14 under matched Carl Mason and Bruce Summerhays – both in 2003 – for the lowest in the history of the event. Broadhurst’s opening 75 was the highest start by a winner since Tom Watson also had a 75 in 2005.
Brandt Jobe (66) and Tom Byrum (72) were 7 under, and Joe Durant (73) and Wes Short Jr. (73) were another stroke back.
United States wins UL International Crown
GURNEE, Ill. – Cristie Kerr held on for a 3-and-2 victory over Melissa Reid on Sunday to give the United States the UL International Crown.
Kerr and company were shut out in the first session of the LPGA Tour event, but they got progressively better each day. Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller each closed out wins before Reid missed a birdie putt on 16, handing the decisive victory to Kerr.
“I think I play better when there is more pressure,” said Kerr, who was the last player to tee off for the U.S.
Lewis and Piller ran to the green for a group hug with Kerr when it was over. Kerr’s caddie, Brady Stockton, grabbed the flag at 16 to save it for his player.
Lexi Thompson lost 2 and 1 to South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu, and then joined the celebration at a muggy Merit Club about 40 miles northwest of Chicago. The Americans won a silver trophy, and each of the players took home a crown and $100,000 apiece.
Lewis, Kerr and Thompson played on the U.S. team that finished a disappointing sixth in the inaugural event in 2014 in Maryland. But Piller joined the group for an American victory in the Solheim Cup last year in Germany, and their chemistry and confidence in each other was on full display when they decided to keep the same four-ball pairings after they came up empty Thursday.
“What would it be without a little drama,” Kerr said.
Kerr and Thompson teamed for wins on Friday and Saturday, and the momentum carried over into singles. Piller cruised to a 4-and-3 victory over Taiwan’s Yani Tseng, and Lewis posted a 3-and-2 win over Japan’s Mika Miyazato.
South Korea, which was the top seed coming into the event, finished second with 12 points, one back of the United States. Taiwan and England tied for third with 11, and Japan finished fifth with eight points.
South Korea and Japan each had a long day after thunderstorms postponed the final part of the third session to Sunday. South Korea advanced to the singles matches with a pair of four-ball victories against Australia, and Japan won a three-team playoff for the final spot in the singles session.
Sei Young Kim showed no signs of fatigue in a dominant 5-and-4 victory over England’s Charley Hull, but countrywomen Amy Yang and In Gee Chun lost their matches. Japan also split its four singles matches, with Haru Nomara and Ayaka Watanabe on the winning side.
England had the lead with nine points coming into the day, but it wasn’t able to keep up its surprising play. Jodi Ewart Shadoff beat Taiwan’s Ssu-Chia Cheng 1 up for the country’s only victory of the final session.
Amateur Hour: du Toit eagles 18 for share of second at RBC Canadian Open
OAKVILLE, Ont. – Jared du Toit was the first to start celebrating.
The amateur from Kimberley, B.C., had the best view, of course, of his 40-foot putt for eagle on the 18th hole. The shot helped move him to 2-under par on Saturday afternoon and into a tie for second at the RBC Canadian Open.
His caddy Sean Burke – who met du Toit for the first time on Monday – was next, rushing to hug the 21-year-old on the green as the fans started to cheer. The hundreds of supporters who’d endured the relentless heat on the baked hills surrounding the bunkered green at Glen Abbey Golf Course got to their feet and started clapping, most of them with their hands above their heads.
Spain’s Jon Rahm, who was teammates with du Toit at Arizona State University, had stayed to watch his long-time friend finish his round and started jumping up and down and shouting.
Finally, as du Toit started the steep climb up to the official scorer’s trailer, the fans started singing. Straining to be heard over the cheers and applause, a growing section of fans belted O Canada.
“Unbelievable,” said du Toit. “The atmosphere out here has been unbelievable. Walking to each green, each tee box, everybody hooting and hollering ‘Go Canada!’
“It’s been unbelievable.”
A Canadian hasn’t won the national golf championship since 1954, when Pat Fletcher accomplished the feat at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf Club. An amateur hasn’t won the Canadian Open since American Doug Sanders at Montreal’s Beaconsfield Golf Club in 1956.
On Sunday, du Toit will be in position to end both droughts.
When asked if he could win the tournament, du Toit puffed out his cheeks and loudly exhaled.
“I have no idea. I’ve been surprising myself all week,” he said. “If I play good, solid golf, get a good night’s sleep, do all the little things right, yeah, I like my chances.”
He’ll be in the top pairing with American Brandt Snedeker in the fourth and final round. Snedeker had a seven-foot eagle on the same hole about an hour before du Toit overshadowed him.
Snedeker shot a 6-under 66 to move 15 spots up and take sole possession of the lead at the PGA tour event at nine under.
“I think I’m going to be the most hated man in Canada tomorrow, but it’s going to be a lot of fun trying to figure it out,” said Snedeker, who had yet to meet du Toit. “For a 21-year-old kid to be playing golf here is awesome, let alone to do it in your national open.
“I mean, I can’t imagine the nerves this kid has to be playing as great of golf as he has.”
Dustin Johnson (71) started the day as the co-leader with Luke List, but took a step back to sit at eight under with du Toit. American Steve Wheatcroft and Germany’s Alex Cejka were tied for fourth, two shots behind Snedeker.
List struggled in the top pairing with Johnson, carding a 5-over 77 to drop from first down to a tie for 28th.
Johnson drained a birdie putt on the 18th hole to salvage his day somewhat, finishing 1-under 71 on the day.
“I had a rough day on the greens,” said Johnson, ranked No. 2 in the world. “It didn’t feel like I was hitting bad putts. I don’t know, ball was not going in the hole.
“You know, tomorrow, hopefully get some putts to roll in.”
Rahm, who was tied for third with du Toit at the start of Saturday’s third round, shot par to remain at 6-under par and stay in contention in a group tied for sixth.
Adam Hadwin (74) of Abbotsford, B.C., finished in a tie for 44th at even, while amateur Garret Rank (76) of Elmira, Ont., tied for 71st at 4 over and Corey Conners (76) of Listowel, Ont., finished the day 78th, at six over.
Canada’s Jared du Toit sits a shot back headed into the final round of the #RBCCO.https://t.co/Zld9AMM4zR
— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) July 24, 2016
Snedeker leads headed into final round of RBC Canadian Open
OAKVILLE, Ontario – Brandt Snedeker overpowered the par-5 18th hole Saturday at the RBC Canadian Open to take a one-stroke lead over Canadian amateur Jared du Toit.
Snedeker hit a 378-yard drive and 121-yard approach to set a 7 1/2-foot eagle putt that he holed for a 6-under 66. He had five straight birdies on Nos. 2-6, bogeyed 11 and 15 and birdied the par-5 16th.
Snedeker – a member of Team RBC – won the 2013 tournament at Glen Abbey. The 35-year-old American won the Farmers Insurance Open in February at Torrey Pines for his eighth PGA Tour title.
Du Toit, coming off his junior season at Arizona State, made a 40-foot eagle putt on 18 for a 70. On Friday, he rebounded from a triple bogey and bogey with three straight birdies.
Pat Fletcher, born in England, was the last Canadian winner in 1954 at Point Grey in Vancouver. Carl Keffer is the only Canadian-born champion, winning in 1909 and 1914. Albert Murray, a Canadian also born in England, won in 1908 and 1913.
Phil Mickelson was the last amateur winner on the tour in the 1991 Northern Telecom Open.
U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson, tied for the lead with Luke List after each of the first two rounds, was a stroke back after a 71. He birdied the final hole.
Steve Wheatcroft and Alex Cejka were 7 under. Wheatcroft had a 64, and Cejka shot 69.
Jon Rahm, du Toit’s former Arizona State teammate, was in the group at 6 under in his fourth start since turning professional. The Spaniard eagled 16 and birdied 18 in a 72.
Matt Kuchar also was 6 under after a 70.
Top-ranked defending champion Jason Day tied for 28th at 2 under after a 69. He shot a 76 on Friday after opening with a 69.
List also was 2 under after a 77. He had a triple bogey and two double bogeys on the back nine.
Team Canada’s Ko falls short in PNGA Women’s Amateur Final
It wasn’t meant to be for No. 1 seeded medalist Naomi Ko of Victoria, B.C., who fell in the 36-hole match-play final of the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) on Saturday to Princess Superal of Sun City, Fla.
Ko’s run at the title was thwarted by Philippines native Superal, who jumped out to an early commanding lead with a string of five out of six holes on the first nine at the Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum, Wash. The 2014 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion kept up the pace afterwards, maintaining a lengthy lead to eventually close with a 6&5 victory over Ko at the 115th playing of the championship.
After playing 36 holes for three days in row through the match-play bracket, Superal was tired but happy with the victory. “I am a little tired,” she said with a laugh. “I came here to have fun and to get some experience. I really didn’t expect to win. Naomi is a really good player. I putted well, and my short game was working today.”
Ko, a member of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad, adds to an impressive season that features a win at the Cambia Portland Classic Amateur Open alongside qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open. The 18-year-old N.C. State sophomore was also named the PNGA’s Junior Girls’ Player of the Year in 2014.
Team Canada teammates Michelle Kim (Surrey, B.C.) and Jacyln Lee (Calgary) were also in action at Suncadia Resort, drawing each other as opponents in the quarterfinal. Due to an ankle injury, Lee withdrew to hand Kim the win—who eventually went on to lose to Ko in the semifinal, 3&2.
The Pacific Northwest Women’s Amateur and Mid-Amateur are two of 15 major, regional, amateur championships for men, women, juniors, and seniors conducted annually by the PNGA throughout the Northwest.
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Miguel Angel Jimenez opens lead in Senior British Open
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland – Miguel Angel Jimenez opened a four-stroke lead in the Senior British Open, shooting a 7-under 65 on Saturday in mild conditions to fall one short of matching the Carnoustie Golf Links record.
The 52-year-old Spaniard had a bogey-free round in wind at 6-12 mph on the mostly cloudy afternoon. He had an 11-under 205 total after opening 70-70, putting him in position for his first major title.
“Tonight, I’m going to do exactly the same thing I did the previous night,” Jimenez said. “I go with my friends, we go to a nice diner with a nice bottle of Rioja and after that I’m going to have a bit, fat cigar with a nice malt whisky.”
Jimenez won in Mississippi in March for his third career PGA Tour Champions victory. He has 15 regular European Tour victories, the last in the 2014 Spanish Open at a tour-record 50 years, 133 days.
“Of course, I care,” Jimenez said. “I love what I do, and what I’ve done for the past 28 years. I want to do well, to be as relaxed as possible and do my best.”
He hit a 4-iron into 17 to set up a birdie, but missed a 6-footer on 18 after a 5-iron approach.
“It was a very nice day on the golf course,” Jimenez. “I played very solid from tee to green. Everything was working perfectly today. I played the last two holes beautifully so I am happy with my day and the score, despite not making the last putt for a 64.”
Paul Broadhurst (68), Wes Short Jr. (69), Tom Byrum (71) and Joe Durant (72) were tied for second.
Broadhurst opened with a 75 and had a 66 on Friday. He saved par on 18 with an 8-footer.
“You don’t want to finish with a bogey so it’s nice to have dinner on a high rather than a low,” the Englishman said. “Miguel’s going to be the man to beat, without a doubt. I was hitting some good shots in the group ahead of him, and every time I turned around he had just hit it inside me.”
Durant slipped back after sharing the second-round lead with Kohki Idoki.
“I played horrible today, I really did,” Durant said. “My iron game was terrible. I just couldn’t figure it out. I tried about 20 different swing thoughts and just couldn’t zero it in for some reason. I just kept flaring everything out to the right. My sequencing was bad.”
Scott McCarron (71) was 6 under.
Bernhard Langer was tied for 12th at 3 under after his third 71. He won the 2010 event at Carnoustie.
Idoki had a 77 to drop into a tie for 18th at 2 under. Defending champion Marco Dawson was tied for 68th at 9 over after a 78. He won last year at Sunningdale.