Kris Blanks of the US fired a three-under 67 to set the pace at the Canadian Open on Thursday, grabbing a first-round lead for the second time in three events.
Blanks also found himself perched atop the leaderboard after the first day of the John Deere Classic two weeks ago and the Puerto Rico Open last year, but so far the 38-year-old journeyman has been unable to translate his flashy starts into a strong finish and a first USPGA Tour win.
Helped by an eagle at the par-five seventh at the Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, Blanks battled to a one-shot advantage over a chasing pack of 11 players, including South Africa’s Ernie Els (68) and Matt McQuillian, who is among the 17 Canadians in the field bidding to become the first home-grown winner of the national championship since Pat Fletcher in 1954.
Photo: Reuters
“It was that way, the same way at John Deere ... so I will kind of draw on some of the stuff that happened in the following rounds after that, but it’s a little different this week,” Blanks told reporters. “I don’t necessarily feel like I’ve got to shoot six or seven-under tomorrow like I did at John Deere. I’m just going to try to stick to my game plan, get a good night’s sleep and get after it tomorrow.”
Still, it was unlikely to be a restful night for Blanks with another pack of nine golfers, led by American young guns Anthony Kim and Rickie Fowler, lurking a shot further adrift at one-under and ready to pounce.
Sean O’Hair of the US had been poised to snatch the lead from Blanks getting to four-under with four to play, only to bogey his final three holes to join the group on 69.
The spectacular tree-lined Shaughnessy layout bared its teeth as the field struggled to get under par in near ideal conditions.
The last time the Canadian Open was staged on the par-70 layout in 2005 it played as the most difficult non-major event on the USPGA Tour and it may hold that distinction again this year.
After missing the cut at The Open last weekend, Luke Donald looked as if he had brought his major hangover with him to Canada. Playing the back nine first, Donald got his round off to a disastrous start with double-bogeys on two of his opening four holes, but then the Briton suddenly began to live up to his top ranking, picking up back-to-back birdies at 14 and 15, before reeling off three consecutive from the fifth to finish at level-par 70 alongside crowd favorite John Daly.
Jose Maria Olazabal’s first visit to the Canadian Open will not provide many pleasant memories as the Spaniard labored to a four-over 74.
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