Clark, Wilson share Canadian Open lead
July 24, 2010
TORONTO (AP)—Tim Clark shot a bogey-free 6-under 64 on Friday for a share ofthe second-round lead with Dean Wilson in the Canadian Open in anotherlow-scoring day at straight-hitter friendly St. George’s.
Wilson had his second straight 65 to match Clark, The Players Championshipwinner in May, at 10-under 130 on the hilly, tree-lined course.
“I certainly didn’t expect to be scoring like that around this course,”Clark said. “I felt like it was going to be pretty tough. I’ve been able todrive it really well. … Driving the fairway is a huge key on the course andI’ve done that.”
Wilson closed with a 20-foot par putt on the par-4 18th after missing thefairway.
“That was a nice way to finish off the day,” said Wilson, the 2006International champion. “You can’t ask for a better position.”
Brent Delahoussaye and Steve Wheatcroft were a stroke back. Delahoussaye hada 69 a day after matching the Canadian Open record with a 62.
“It’s tough to follow up an 8-under-par round,” Delahoussaye said. “So, Ifigured anything under par today would be great for me. I’m pleased with theround.”
Wheatcroft shot a 66. J.J. Henry (65), Rob Grube (66), Hunter Mahan (67) andBrock Mackenzie (68) were at 8 under, and Tim Herron (63) and defending championNathan Green (65) topped the group at 7 under.
Kevin Sutherland had the best round of the day, matching the tournamentrecord with a career-best 62 to reach 5 under.
Sutherland took advantage of soft, receptive greens and calm earlyconditions after rain delayed the start for two hours. Because of the wetconditions, players were allowed to use preferred lies in the fairways.
“If you drive the ball in the fairway, with the greens being soft, it’s notthat hard,” Sutherland said. “If you get in the rough, this golf course canreally beat you up. And I did a pretty good job of keeping the ball in thefairway.”
After opening with a 73, Sutherland was 5 under on his first four holesFriday, making an eagle on the par-5 11th. The 2002 Match Play Championshipwinner played the front nine—his first and last eight holes—in 5-under 29.
“It got kind of silly,” Sutherland said. “The hole just got so big forme. I was just making putts from everywhere. I made a putt on the last hole thatI don’t even know how far it was. Seventy feet? I’m guessing, 60 feet.”
Canadian star Mike Weir missed the cut for the 12th time in 20 Canadian Openstarts, following his opening 72 with a 74.
“You can’t score from the rough,” said Weir, fighting tendinitis in hisright arm.
Adam Hadwin shot a 66—holing a 15-foot par putt on 18—to top the 18Canadians at 6 under. Stephen Ames, a naturalized Canadian citizen from Trinidadand Tobago, was 5 under after a 68.
“That’s pretty exciting for me,” said Hadwin, making his first PGA Tourstart. “Coming up to that putt on 18, I looked at the scoreboard and I saw Amesat 5, and I knew I was at 6, so I wanted to make that putt to stay low Canadian.That was a huge momentum boost for me for the weekend.”
Hadwin and Delahoussaye were in the same group.
“He’s a good player, and just fresh out of college, and doesn’t look likeany of this is affecting him,” Delahoussaye said. “Some young guys get alittle nervous out here, but he’s hitting it well. He hits it long and he canputt it really well.”
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