PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open leaderboard http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/rbc-canadian-open/leaderboard.html
Nobody in this country, nor anywhere else expects young Jared du Toit to go out today and win our national championship, the RBC Canadian Open.... but he just might which makes today absolutely intriguing.
If I were advising this 21 year old, the top ranked amateur in Canada, I would tell him he has nothing to lose, everything to gain, so just try and put all the impossibles out of his mind and go out and enjoy another hot sunny day at the Abbey.
If you had forgotten let me remind you a Canadian hasn’t won the national golf championship since 1954, when Pat Fletcher accomplished the feat at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf Club.
Further, an amateur hasn’t won the Canadian Open since American Doug Sanders at Montreal’s Beaconsfield Golf Club in 1956. The last amateur to win a pro event was Phil Mickelson in 1991.
Not one of his Canadian golfing heroes, Mike Weir, Graham DeLaet, David Hearn, nor legends like George Knudson, Moe Norman, Al Balding have won it before him. Almost all had their chances but couldn't get it done.
He made a curling 40 footer on the 18th hole for eagle and -2 70 -8 total which means he'll be in the final pairing with Brandt Snedeker at 1.35 today. Snedeker made a much shorter version of the same putt to shoot a -6 66 to take the lead at -9. Pretty heady company for the kid, eh!
Then right behind du Toit on the same -8 score lurks Dustin Johnson (71) who started the day as the co-leader with Luke List who slipped to a 77. Then there is American Steve Wheatcroft (64) and Germany’s Alex Cejka (69) T4 at -7
Then there is his roommate from college Jon Rahm, who was T3 with du Toit at the start of Saturday’s third round, and shot 72 to remain at -6 in a group that includes Matt Kuchar, Ricky Barnes, Martin Laird, all world class pros, household names..
It would seem impossible for du Toit, but it is still possible. When asked if he thought he could win he had this to say "I have no idea. I’ve been surprising myself all week,” he said. “If I play good, solid golf, get a good night’s sleep, do all the little things right, yeah, I like my chances"
All of Canada is in his corner, he is already a winner just getting this far, so like I said, nothing to lose, everything to gain... go get 'em kid.
The other Canucks who are cheering du Toit on today are Adam Hadwin (74) T44 E, while amateur Garret Rank (76) T71st at +4 and Corey Conners (76) 78th, at +6
Bryan Angus
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