SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – South Africa’s Dawie van der Walt won the Price Cutter Charity Championship on Sunday for his second Web.com Tour victory of the season.

Van der Walt closed with an even-par 72 at Highland Springs to finish at 23-under 265, two strokes ahead of tour rookie Smylie Kaufman.

“I feel very fortunate,” van der Walt said. “I didn’t think it was going to be enough. Everything was just a little bit off, but I’ll take it.”

He earned $121,500 to jump from 16th to third on the money list with $286,827, more than enough to wrap up a PGA Tour card for next season.

“My goal coming into this week was to secure my PGA Tour card,” he said. “I came to America to play college golf. Also, I wanted to play the PGA Tour.”

Van der Walt opened with rounds of 63, 65, 65 to take a four-stroke lead into the final round.

Kaufman finished with a 70.

Martin Piller, also a two-time winner this year, had a 71 to tie for third at 20 under with Dicky Pride (65) and Brad Elder (68).

Canadian Corey Conners closed with a final round 6-under 66 to finish T23. Taylor Pendrith signed for a 1-under round of 71 on Sunday. Brad Fritsch and Adam Svensson finished T62.

BROCKTON, Mass., – Vicky Hurst (Melbourne, Florida) was threatened early on the back nine, but managed to pull away towards the end to win her fifth career Symetra Tour event by carding a 3-under 68 on Sunday at the W.B. Mason Championship at Thorny Lea Golf Club to finish at 13-under 200. She closed three shots clear of Brittany Benvenuto (Langhorne, Pa.) and Alejandra Llaneza (Mexico City, Mexico).

With the win, Hurst moves from 25th to 14th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list.

“It feels really good, I haven’t won in six or seven years,” said Hurst, whose last win came on July 13, 2008 at the CIGNA Golf Classic. “It feels good to be back playing well and hitting it well so it was really exciting to be in the lead group and finish strong.”

Finish strong she did. The shot that ultimately won her the tournament came on the 14th hole. Hurst was 12-under at the time and she didn’t know that Llaneza had made double on the 14th hole to fall three back.

“I hit my drive through the fairway on 14 into the woods and I had 125 yards to the pin, but I really had to keep it low because of the trees everywhere,” said Hurst. “I hit a little punch 7-iron to about 10 feet which was pretty cool and I was able to make the putt which was big to get the momentum back.”

Hurst went onto birdie 15 to seize full control of the tournament. She made bogey on 16 and then par on 17 to take a three shot lead to the 18th. Hurst lagged her birdie putt to a foot and then tapped in for the win.

“I still was getting pretty nervous on the last few holes and on 18 I just wanted to find the fairway and green and lag it up there,” said Hurst. “It felt good to leave myself a one footer to win and it was pretty exciting.”

Hurst won her first Symetra Tour event at the age of 17 in 2008 and went onto win four official tournaments to lead the money list and earn an LPGA Tour card. At her peak in 2010 on the LPGA, Hurst earned over $400,000 and finished 28th on the LPGA Tour money list. She hit a low last year when she finished No. 162 on the money list and made south of $3,000 in 11 events.

“A year ago, I was pretty frustrated with my golf game and my injuries and I wasn’t really sure what was going to happen next because I didn’t know if my wrist would heal,” admitted Hurst. “I really worked hard with my coaches and my family has been great support emotionally and mentally. I came back to the Symetra Tour with a positive attitude, not a negative one, and that has really helped me.”

Hurst had two ganglion cysts in her wrist and a tear of the TFC (Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex).

Even the beginning of this season was a struggle for Hurst. In mid-July, Hurst was No. 127 on the Volvik Race for the Card money list. Over the last four events, she has moved to No. 14 with four top 11 finishes.

“My problem was off the tee. For the last year or so I really couldn’t hit the ball consistently off the tee and that is where I kept my focus,” said Hurst. “I worked closely with my coaches to fix my game and my swing and finally it is coming together. I’m hitting the ball long and straight and it feels good.”

Next up for Hurst is a trip to Pratville, Alabama to try and Monday Qualify for the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic.

Llaneza moved from 5th to second on the Volvik Race for the Card money list with her tie for second.

“The first day I felt like I got off to a bit of a slow start,” said Llaneza, who carded a 1-over 72 on Friday. “I knew my swing was close and yesterday was really important. I found some good rhythm and tempo and I was able to carry that into today.

Benvenuto moved from 18 to 16 on the money list. The other big moves came from Lindy Duncan (Jupiter, Fla.), who finished in a tie for fourth to jump from 13th to eighth and Lee Lopez (Whittier, Calif.), who moved to No. 1 on the money list with a tie eighth.

The Tour takes two weeks off before heading to Sioux Falls, South Dakota for the Sioux Falls GreatLIFE Challenge at Willow Run Golf Club from September 3-6. The tournament is offering the largest purse, $210,000, in the history of the Tour.

Canadian Samantha Richdale finished in seventh place after a final round of 1-under 70. Sara- Maude Juneau signed for a 3-under 68 to finish T14. Maude-Aimée Leblanc finished T23 after a final round of 1-over 72. Jessica Wallace finished T36, Augusta James finished T49 alongside Nicole Vandermade while Natalie Gleadall finished T59.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Hannah O’Sullivan won the U.S. Women’s Amateur on Sunday, beating Sierra Brooks 3 and 2 in the 36-hole final at Portland Golf Club.

The 17-year-old O’Sullivan, from Chandler, Arizona, took the lead with a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-4 30th, added birdie wins on the par-4 32nd and par-5 33rd and ended the match with a two-putt par for a halve on the par-4 34th.

“I can’t really describe how good it feels,” O’Sullivan said. “It was just such a tough match today, and to be able to come out on top, it’s just incredible. I just feel so blessed.”

The 17-year-old Brooks, from Sorrento, Florida, took a 3-up lead with a birdie on No. 14 and led 1 up after 18 holes.

“This morning, I was striping it, and everything was really clicking,” Brooks said. “I didn’t miss a lot of shots. … When we came back out, she definitely played 100 percent and she definitely brought it on,” Brooks said. “I struggled a little bit, but I still played well, and she just played better, and she made more putts, and in match play that’s what it always comes down to.”

O’Sullivan eagled the par-5 23rd to pull even and took her first lead since the fourth hole with a 5-foot birdie putt on the par-4 24th. She won the par-3 26th with a birdie to take a 2-up lead.

Brooks fought back with a birdie on par-4 27th and tied it with a par on the par-4 29th.

O’Sullivan won Nos. 30, 32 and 33, holing a 7-footer on the 33rd.

“I knew if I was standing over that putt thinking about (winning), probably the result wouldn’t be what I would have liked,” O’Sullivan. “I just tried to push that aside and just stand over the putt, commit to it and put a good stroke on it, and to see it go in was awesome.”

Both players earned exemptions for the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open.

O’Sullivan won the Symetra Tour’s Gateway Classic in February at 16 to become the youngest winner in the history of the professional circuit. In May, she teamed with Robynn Ree to finish second in the inaugural U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball at Bandon Dunes.

Coquitlam, B.C. (Golf Canada) – The final four spots into the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open field will be determined Monday as the Final Qualifier is set for Pitt Meadows Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, B.C.

A total of 50 competitors will challenge for one of four spots into the field for Canada’s National Women’s Open Golf Championship.

The Final Qualifier features 18 holes of stroke play with the low four competitors receiving an exemption into the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open field.  If necessary, a hole-by-hole playoff will be conducted immediately following the conclusion of play.

Click here for pairings, start times and results for Canadian Pacific Women’s Open Final Qualifying on Monday, August 17. Results will be available as players complete their rounds.

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. – With six straight 3s on his card, Jason Day looked determined as ever Saturday to finally get that first major. He had a 6-under 66 and built a two-shot lead in the PGA Championship, the third straight major he has at least a share of the lead going into the final round.

One look at the leaderboard at the name right behind him – Jordan Spieth – made it clear it won’t be easy.

Spieth was five shots behind and had two holes to play when he capped off a stunning charge along the back nine at Whistling Straits with six birdies over his last eight holes, including three in a row at the end that gave him a 7-under 65 to get into the final group.

“Very pleased to have a chance to win another major,” Spieth said.

He is trying to join Tiger Woods (2000) and Ben Hogan (1953) as the only players to win three majors in one year, and Spieth hopes to rely on his experience of having already won the Masters and U.S. Open this year.

Day showed plenty of moxie, though.

After making a double bogey that cut his lead to one shot, and then failing to birdie the par-5 16th, he poured in a 25-foot birdie putt and pumped both arms to show how much it meant.

“One more day left,” Day said before heading off to the practice range before the sun set on this wild day along Lake Michigan. “I got to keep pushing forward, keep grinding, keep doing the best I can out there and see how it goes tomorrow.”

Saturday featured abundant sunshine and endless action, starting in the dead calm of the morning when Matt Jones finished the storm-delayed second round with two birdies for a two-shot lead. In the hunt at a major for the first time, Jones kept his cool even when his drive landed in a hospitality tent left of the ninth fairway and he chose to play off the blue carpet, over the white fence and just off the green.

But he imploded at the end, dropping four shots over the last four holes for a 73.

Day looked like he was headed that direction. One moment it looked as though the 27-year-old Australian was pulling away. The next minute he was pulling himself together.

He played a six-hole stretch around the turn in 6 under, which included a 15-foot eagle at No. 11 for his first lead of the round. When he stuffed another approach close on the 14th hole for birdie, he was 16 under.

One swing changed everything.

He tugged a 5-iron into a bunker left of the 15th green and was surprised by the amount of sand. The first shot didn’t make it up the slope and rolled back into the sand, and Day wound up with a double bogey right about the time Spieth shifted into another gear.

Spieth was trying to stay close enough to have a chance on Sunday. The volunteers were slow to post Day’s double bogey on the large leaderboard on the 18th green, which Spieth couldn’t help but notice as he lined up his 7-foot putt.

“I saw Jason was at 16 under and I said, `You’ve got to be kidding me. When is he going to slow down?'” Spieth said. “I saw that he was 16 under with four holes to go, thinking he could get to 17 (under pretty easily). I need to make this to have a chance within four of the lead. And then I think he’s dropped a couple of shots since then. But I did all I could do to finish off the round.”

Day did his part, even after failing to make birdie on the par-5 16th. Instead of getting down, he hit 4-iron into 25 feet on the 17th hole and rolled in the birdie.

He was at 15-under 201.

This was hardly a two-man race. Branden Grace of South Africa, tied for the lead with three holes to play in the U.S. Open when he hit a tee shot out-of-bounds onto the train tracks at Chambers Bay, holed a bunker shot for birdie on the 18th hole for a 64 to finish three shots behind.

“It’s another chance,” Grace said. “This is what we all play for. We all play to give ourselves the opportunity to get close to a major championship and we’re all here.”

Justin Rose also was three shots behind, even with a double bogey on the fourth hole for the second straight day. Rose also missed the 18th and made bogey, giving him one more shot he just make up against Day.

Still in the mix was Martin Kaymer, who had a 65 and was four shots behind. Kaymer won the PGA at Whistling Straits five years ago.

Day already has two wins this year and plenty of heartache in the majors. He was in a four-way tie for the lead at Chambers Bay while coping with vertigo symptoms, and he faded on the last day. A month ago, he needed birdie on the last hole at St. Andrews to get into a playoff at the British Open, and it stopped just short.

“It’s just all been trending in the right direction,” he said Saturday morning after finishing his second round.

Canadian Nick Taylor posted a third-round of 3-over par 75.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Brooke Henderson gave herself some breathing room in her bid for a breakthrough victory.

The 17-year-old Canadian opened a five-stroke lead Saturday in the Cambia Portland Classic, shooting a 7-under 65 at Columbia Edgewater.

“To get a good round together and try and increase my lead, and definitely just hit good shots. I’m really happy to get it to (18 under), and hopefully tomorrow just improve on that just a little bit,” Henderson said.

She’s trying to join Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson as the only players to win an LPGA Tour title before turning 18.

On a warm, calm day, Henderson made seven birdies in her bogey-free round. Henderson, who turns 18 in September, tied the tournament 54-hole record of 18-under 198 set by Yani Tseng in 2013. The five-stroke margin is the largest third-round lead on the LPGA Tour this year.

Morgan Pressel was second after a 65.

Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ontario, also had the 54-hole lead in April in California in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. She closed with a 74 and ended up finishing third. She’ll be banking on that experience Sunday.

“Saturday I wasn’t feeling the nerves, and then Sunday I did. I’ll just have to be aware of that tomorrow,” Henderson said. “It was interesting in San Francisco. I learned a lot about myself and my game, and I think I’ve come leaps and bounds from there early in the season.”

The Canadian won the Symetra Tour’s Four Winds Invitational in June in Indiana, and tied for fifth in the Women’s PGA Championship – the second of the LPGA Tour’s five majors.

A win Sunday would assure Henderson of finishing among the tour’s top 40 on the money list, giving her an LPGA Tour card for next season. Through nine LPGA Tour tournaments, Henderson has made $466,818. LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan denied Henderson’s age petition last year, preventing her from playing Q-school. She earned a spot in the Portland Classic field in Monday qualifying.

Henderson is attempting to become the second Monday qualifier to win an LPGA Tour tournament. The only player to accomplish the feat was Laurel Kean in the 2000 Rail Classic.

Had it not been for Henderson’s older sister, Brittany, there’s a chance none of this happens. Brittany received a sponsor’s exemption for the Portland Classic, and Brooke decided to take a chance on the Monday qualifier after running out sponsor’s exemptions.

She was asked if she would have tried to qualify without Brittany in the field.’

“I don’t know,” Henderson said. “I think it was a blessing in disguise that she’s got the sponsor’s invite and I came out here, because it is a long way to travel from home, and I’m not sure I would have made the trip.”

Henderson took a one-stroke lead over Masson into the day. After the two matched birdies at the par-4 first, Henderson increased her lead to two strokes with a birdie at the par-3 second. Masson closed within a stroke with a birdie at the par-5 fifth, and both players birdied the par-5 seventh.

Henderson pulled away on the back nine, starting with birdies on the par-5 10th and par-4 11th. Masson bogeyed the par-5 12th, giving Henderson a four-stroke lead. Even though Pressel birdied three of her final four holes, Henderson increased her lead to five strokes with birdies at the par-4 15th and par-3 16th.

On Sunday, Henderson will play alongside Pressel. The two played in Sunday’s final group when Henderson had the 54-hole lead at Swinging Skirts.

“Brooke is a great player. I mean, to Monday qualify and obviously be playing this well, she knows what’s at stake for her. She’s a great girl, and she has a lot of potential, for sure,” Pressel said.

Pressel, who made nine birdies during her second and third rounds, says she’ll have to stomp on the gas again if she’s to have a shot at catching Henderson.

“I’ll take another nine birdies tomorrow,” Pressel said. “I need to just give myself a lot of opportunities and eliminate the sloppy mistakes that I’ve made the last few days.”

German players Sandra Gal (65) and Caroline Masson (70) were tied for third 12 under.

Jaye Marie Green had a 63 – the best round of the week – to move into a tie for ninth at 9 under. Ko was tied for 53rd after 2 under after a 72.

Alena Sharp posted a third-round of 70 to sit T9 heading into tomorrow’s final-round.

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. – The second round of the PGA Championship offered a little bit of everything Friday.

Except a conclusion.

On one side of the golf course, Jordan Spieth was piling up enough birdies to momentarily tie for the lead at Whistling Straits. On the other side with far less attention, Hiroshi Iwata ran off five birdies and an eagle and tied the major championship record with a 63.

Dustin Johnson was losing ground in the rough and in the bunkers, falling out of the lead with three bogeys in a four-hole stretch. John Daly lost his cool and then lost a 6-iron when he heaved it in Lake Michigan.

And that was before a wicked storm that packed gusts up to 48 mph and suspended the second round.

Jason Day ran off three straight birdies and was tied for the lead with Matt Jones at 9-under par when players were taken off the course. The storm was severe enough to topple the main scoreboard at the entrance and rip flags off the poles atop some of the grandstands.

The round was to resume at 7 a.m.

Justin Rose pulled within one shot of the lead with back-to-back birdies. He headed to the 18th tee, feeling good about being able to finish.

“I opened my big mouth to the boys playing with us,” Rose said. “I said, `The end is in sight.’ And 30 seconds later, they blew the horn. So my name is mud all over here.”

Tiger Woods, for all his struggles in the majors this year, can at least say he made it to the weekend in three of them. He made the cut at the Masters. He missed the cut on Saturday at the wind-delayed British Open. There was still hope at the PGA Championship, though he was 4 over with five holes to play, two shots away from the projected cut.

The leaderboard was as clouded as the sky over Whistling Straits.

Seven players had at least a share of the lead at some point Friday, when a strong breeze in the morning gave way to steamy sunshine and virtually no wind until the storms moved in. When players were evacuated from the course, 11 players were separated by three shots.

David Lingmerth of Sweden made only four pars in his wild round of 70 and was the clubhouse leader at 7-under 137. One shot behind was a group that included Spieth, the Masters and U.S. Open champion who is very much in the picture to join Woods and Ben Hogan as the only players to win three majors in one year.

Scott Piercy (70) and Brendan Steele (69) joined Spieth at 6-under 138.

The star of the day was Iwata, a 34-year-old from Japan who had every reason to think his first appearance in the PGA Championship would be a short one. He opened with a 77 and still was 3 over when he reached the back nine. Iwata reeled off five birdies and an eagle, and he saved par on the 18th for a 63.

It was the 27th time that a player shot 63 in a major, 13 of those in the PGA Championship and most recently Jason Dufner at Oak Hill two years ago.

“When I came here, I was thinking just to make my game better and better and on Sunday, I can be in the top 10,” Iwata said through a translator.

Even with a record-tying score, he still has plenty of work ahead of him to do that. Iwata was at 4-under 140 and losing ground as one player after another took aim at Whistling Straits in good scoring conditions.

Day was through 14 holes while Jones, his fellow Australian, was through 12 holes and on the front nine.

Day shared the 54-hole lead at the U.S. Open while coping with vertigo symptoms. He missed by one turn of the golf ball a birdie on the 18th hole at St. Andrews that would have put him in a playoff at the British Open. Now it looks like he gets yet another chance. He was thrilled to stop play, especially as the storm clouds turned dark and he had trouble with depth perception on some of his wedges.

“We’ll see how it goes tomorrow,” Day said. “We’ve got some scoring holes and some tough ones to finish on. But I’m real happy to be done.”

Dustin Johnson, the 18-hole leader, took a brief lead at 8 under until he ran into trouble on the par-5 11th with a wicked lie in the bunker that led to bogey. He added two more bogeys and was four shots out of the lead at 5 under.

“Hopefully, I can come back in the morning and make a couple birdies coming in, and then we’ll get the day started on Saturday,” he said.

Rory McIlroy had hopes of being a little closer to the lead. Coming off an ankle injury that has kept him out since the U.S. Open, he world’s No. 1 player went cold with the putter and had to settle for another round of 71 that put him at 2-under 142.

McIlroy was keeping pace with Spieth until a big turnaround on the 18th hole at the halfway point of their round. Spieth holed out from a bunker for birdie, while McIlroy went well left into knee-high hay, took two chips to reach the green and made double bogey.

“You’re going to have to have more of a short game to be able to salvage par sometimes,” he said. “I wasn’t quite able to do that today at points. But there’s still enough good stuff to give me encouragement and make me feel that I can shoot a low one tomorrow and get myself back into it.”

Woods had his work cut out for him. He opened with two quick birdies, only to give them back with a double bogey from the bunkers on the fourth hole.

As for Daly?

His tournament effectively ended on the seventh hole when he hit 4-iron into the lake, and then followed with two more tee shots with his 6-iron into the lake. After a fourth attempt found the green, Daly heaved his 6-iron into the lake and made 10. He shot 82 and missed the cut.

Canadian Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., is tied for 69th after a a 1-over 73. David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., shot a 1-under par and is tied for 76th at 3-over.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Brooke Henderson is trying to leave everyone else behind – and not get too far ahead of herself.

The 17-year-old Canadian took the outright lead in an LPGA Tour event for the third time this year, birdieing three of her last four holes Friday for a 5-under 67 and a one-shot advantage in the Cambia Portland Classic.

“Just to stay within myself and play my own game,” she said when asked what she has learned this season. “Playing as an amateur I was used to a lot of people, a lot of media and television and stuff like that, but it’s a little bit different on the LPGA Tour, and I think that’s something that I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable with this year.

“I think if I can just stay patient and play my own game and not focus on outside factors, I think good things will happen.

Playing in cool, breezy and sometimes wet conditions, Henderson finished with an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-4 ninth to reach 11-under 133 at Columbia Edgewater. She made her only bogey of the tournament at 11, but rebounded with birdies at 12, 14 and 3 before the late burst.

Henderson, who turns 18 in September, has made $466,818 in nine LPGA Tour tournaments and needs to finish in the top 40 on the money list to earn a card for next year. LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan denied Henderson’s age petition last year, preventing her from playing Q-school. She earned a spot in the field in Monday qualifying.

“Right now, I’m just taking it one day at a time and one tournament at a time, but I’m really looking forward to the next couple years,” Henderson said. “Hopefully, this week I can secure my card for next year and be full time on the LPGA.”

Henderson is attempting to become the third player to win an LPGA tournament before turning 18, joining Lydia Ko and Lexi Thompson.

“That would be really good, but I’m still a long way from that, and I realize that,” Henderson said. “I have to go low and shoot some good numbers.”

Caroline Masson has second. The German player shot a 64, the best round of the week.

Masson had eight birdies, four on each nine, in her second straight bogey-free round after missing the cuts in five of her six previous tournaments. Masson is winless in her three-year LPGA Tour career. In the 2013 Portland tournament, she shot a second-round 64 on the way to a fifth-place finish.

Masson is attempting to win and make a late bid for European team berth in the Solheim Cup, set for Sept. 18-20 in Germany.

“It’s been on my mind a lot. I don’t know, maybe not too much. It’s the only Solheim Cup probably that’s going to be in Germany while I’m playing,” said Masson, who played in the 2013 Cup. “It means a lot to me, obviously, to be on that team. But you can’t think about it and you can’t play with that being on your mind because it just puts too much pressure on yourself.

Candie Kung, Julieta Granada and Jenny Shin were tied for third at 9 under. Kung, a four-time LPGA Tour winner, had a 66, Granada shot 69, and Shin 68.

Amy Anderson and Sandra Changkija, tied for the first-round lead at 65, each shot 72 to drop into a tie for ninth at 7 under.

Defending champion Austin Ernst was 6 under after a 66.

No. 3 Stacy Lewis was 4 under after a 69, and No. 2 Ko shot a 72 to remain 2 under.

The 36-hole cut was at even par. Among those failing to advance were two-time Portland champion Suzann Pettersen. She was 5 over after a 74. Also missing the cut was Henderson’s sister Brittany, who was 5 over after a 75.

The Portland Classic is the penultimate tournament before the U.S. Solheim Cup team is set Aug. 24. The top eight players in the Solheim Cup standings, the top two in the world ranking not among the top eight in the standings, and two captain’s picks will make up the 12-player team. Six players have clinched spots in the standings.

No. 7 Angela Stanford failed to make the cut after shooting 74, while No. 8 Gerina Piller was even par after a 72. Of those outside the top eight, No. 9 Lizette Salas (70) and No. 10 Brittany Lang (71) are in the best position to make a move, as both are 3 under through 36 holes.

Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont., posted a second round of 2-under to sit T9 at 7-under for the tournament.

Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont., signed for a round of 75, Sue Kim had a round of 74 and Brittany Henderson recorded a round of 75. The trio not play the weekend.

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Jim Rutledge cruised to win his fourth Mr. Lube PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by Adams Golf since 2010 Friday at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club.

The 55-year-old Victoria, B.C., native put together rounds of 64-71-69 for a three-day total of 9-under-par. His 54-hole score was three shots better than David Wettflaufer and Ken Tarling, who both fired 6-under-par 65 final rounds.

For the first time all week Rutledge managed to get through Credit Valley’s tough opening five holes under par, which he says was the key to the day.

“The good thing was I got through the top side of the golf course at 1-under and that had been my issue really all week,” he said. “Once I got down into the valley I just kind of held my own out there and no one really managed to make a real charge at me . . . so I was thankful for that.”

Rutledge’s final round playing partners—Rod Spittle and Scott Allred—finished T4 at 4 under, while Keir Smith placed sixth at 2 under. Phil Jonas and Serge Thivierge were T7 at 1 under, with last year’s winner Remi Bouchard and this year’s Super Senior’s winner Daniel Talbot rounding out the top 10.

For the full leaderboard, CLICK HERE.

On Credit Valley’s back nine, Rutledge had some tree troubles on Nos. 13 and 14, but kept his round together with some nifty wedge work.

“I had some really good saves today after hitting some stray tee shots,” Rutledge said. “I made a good birdie on 13 after clipping the tree on my approach and then an even better par on 14 when I got a wild bounce into the trees off the tee.”

With his win Rutledge is halfway to Moe Norman’s record of eight PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada wins. Rutledge says he’s well aware of Norman’s record, but also admits this week is about much more than winning.

“As long as I can keep healthy I’ll keep playing in this championship and keep chasing Moe,” he said. “But I’ve said it in the past and I’ll say it again: as much as it is about winning this week; it’s also about coming home, seeing some old buddies and having a bunch of laughs.”

The PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada was first played in 1938 as a division of the Canadian PGA Championship. In 1973, the championship became an independent event and has stayed that way since.

Among the Canadian golf legends to win the PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada are Stan Leonard, Moe Norman—who won a record seven straight years from 1979-1985—Bob Panasik, Al Balding—who wowed the golf world by winning at age 76 in 2000—and Jim Rutledge.

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. – 12 Canadians will take to the Olympia Field Country Club on Monday to kick off the U.S. Men’s Amateur from Aug. 17–23.

Highlighting the field of Canadians are both Team Canada National Amateur Squad members, dual-citizen Austin Connelly and Burlington, Ont., native Blair Hamilton. They will be joined by Development Squad member and Texas State sophomore, Tyler Saunders of Sturgeon County, Alta.

Another notable is former long-time National Amateur Squad member Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., who competed for Canada alongside Connelly at the 2015 Pan-American Games in Toronto. The 27-year-old Rank is coming off a strong T2 finish last week at the Canadian Men’s Amateur, co-hosted by Weston Golf & Country Club and Lambton Golf & Country Club in Toronto.

2014 Canadian Junior Boys champion, Austin James of Bath, Ont., will also tee-it-up at Olympia Fields.

The format for the championship consists of two stroke-play qualifying rounds, followed by six rounds of match-play concluding with a 36-hole final on Sunday.

Olympia Fields Country Club, a two-time U.S. Open venue, will host its first U.S. Amateur with stroke-play being conducted on the 7,037-yard South Course and match-play on the 7,234-yard North Course.

In 2014, Canadian Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., fell in the final 36-hole match to South Korea’s Gunn Yang, 2 and 1. Both finalists are usually invited to compete in the Masters tournament the following April, alongside exemptions into next year’s U.S. and British Opens.

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The full list of Canadians is below:

Austin Connelly (Dual-citizen)

Garrett Rank (Elmira, Ont.)

Blair Hamilton (Burlington, Ont.)

Tyler Saunders (Sturgeon County, Alta.)

Nicholas Ross (Dundas, Ont.)

Joey Savoie (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Qué.)

Eric Banks (Truro, N.S.)

Turner Southey-Gordon (Toronto)

Brett McIntosh (London, Ont.)

Josh Whalen (Napanee, Ont.)

Austin James (Bath, Ont.)

Stuart Macdonald (Vancouver)

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