Snedeker’s three-round total of nine-under par 207 put him one shot ahead of US Open champion Dustin Johnson and Canadian amateur Jarde du Toit. “It’s a great feeling”. I mean, last week, I had a 6-shot lead going into the weekend and lost by 3.
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The Venezuelan Vegas was nearly flawless at the Glen Abbey Golf Club, kicking off his round with a flurry of five successive birdies starting at the second hole, after opening the day five shots adrift of overnight leader Brandt Snedeker.
“It’s a insane sport”, Vegas said. He failed to birdie the par-5 16th, couldn’t convert a sand save at the 17th, and then skulled his third from a greenside bunker at the par-5 18th over the green and into the water, eventually squaring 6 and a bogey-bogey finish.
“To be honest, I didn’t really watch the leaderboard that much”, Vegas said.
“I want to go out there and think well tomorrow, give myself a chance, give me a lot of confidence going into the PGA Championship, FedEx Cup playoffs and help me secure a Ryder Cup spot”.
He headed to the range expecting at least one of the other contenders to match his score but, after Rahm birdied 16 and 18 to complete a 67 which left him a shot shy, Laird bunkered his drive and pulled his second into the the gallery before pitching to 35 feet and missing the putt for the tie. 16 and 17 and gracefully lagged his 43-footer for eagle at 18 within tap-in range.
He was joined by Spain’s Jon Rahm, who closed with a bogey-free 67 that included a birdie on the final hole, and Scotland’s Martin Laird, who also signed for a 67.
He earned US$1,062,000 and a spot in the PGA Championship next week at Baltusrol in New Jersey and received a two-year tour exemption as well as a spot in the Masters next year. The 38-year-old was chasing his maiden TOUR title in his 130th career start, beginning the finale on 7-under (T4), two shy of 54-hole leader Brandt Snedeker.
Vegas’ win wasn’t the one Canadians hoped for. He birdied the 16th and closed with two pars.
Du Toit said he plans to finish his senior year at Arizona State, play more amateur tournaments and “just have some fun”. I’m trying not to think about it. Beyond my wildest dreams to be honest. “I’m on cloud nine right now”.
“I’ve never been in this kind of pressure, this atmosphere before”, said du Toit, an Arizona State senior from Kimberley, British Columbia. I really hit the ball nicely. I’m looking forward to meeting him.
That’s exactly what happened to Steve Wheatcroft on the 18th hole of the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday. “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”.
Top-ranked defending champion Jason Day tied for 28th at 2 under after a 69.
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English team takes lead: Charley Hull and surprising England grabbed the lead in the UL International Crown in Gurnee, Illinois, and the United States advanced with a sweep against Japan. Lexi Thompson and Cristie Kerr posted their second consecutive victory with a 4-and-2 victory over Ai Suzuki and Ayaka Watanabe, and Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) and Gerina Piller surged to a 3-and-1 victory over Haru Nomara and Mika Miyazato. He putted from the rough 21 feet away, but came up a few feet short on his eagle try and tapped in for a tie for second.
