Bo Van Pelt, who is gunning for his second career USPGA Tour title, fired a five-under 65 for a one-shot lead over hometown favorite Adam Hadwin after the third round of the Canadian Open.
American Van Pelt birdied four of his final five holes at the US$5.2 million event to reach five-under 205 on the unforgiving Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club course.
Hadwin, who grew up just an hour’s drive away from Vancouver in Abbotsford, shot a two-under 68 and is alone in second place at four-under 206.
Argentina’s Andres Romero (67) and first-round leader Kris Blanks (69) shared third at three-under 207 after another bruising day in the thick rough at the tree-lined Shaughnessy course.
American John Daly four-putted No. 18 for a triple-bogey on Friday, but rebounded with a solid 67 on Saturday. He was in a group of four at two-under with Sean O’Hair (66) and Australians Aron Price (69) and Geoff Ogilvy (70) as just 11 players were under par heading into yesterday’s final round.
The 36-year-old Van Pelt finished with seven birdies and set the nine-hole record on the 7,010 yard course with a 29 on the back nine.
He closed with a superb approach followed by a five-foot birdie putt on the par-four 18th hole.
Hadwin got into the tournament on a sponsor’s exemption and he had a chance to be the co-leader with Van Pelt, but missed a 12-foot birdie putt on his final hole.
The 23-year-old Hadwin is trying to become the first Canadian since Pat Fletcher 1954 to win the national championship.
Daly, a former British Open and USPGA champion, remains a fan favorite despite difficulties with his game and well-publicized battles with alcohol.
It was in Vancouver in 1998 that Daly began shaking and cried at the 15th hole during the first round of the Greater Vancouver Open.
This year, a slimmed-down Daly is playing on a sponsor’s exemption.
Organizers said they are stepping up security around the Shaughnessy golf club after someone poured bleach on the eighth green prior to the third round. Play was not affected by the vandalism, which was discovered by grounds crews on Saturday morning.
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