Hadwin still in the hunt despite tough finish

ERIN, WIS. Every golfer knows one shot at the end of a round can leave you with a better or worse taste in your mouth than you rightfully deserve.

That was Adam Hadwin’s Friday at Erin Hills, where a double bogey at the penultimate hole dropped him off the first page of the U.S. Open leaderboard after two very good days. The Canadian shot a second-round 2-over 74, but is still in the mix heading into the weekend at 2-under par.

The other Canadian in the field, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., isn’t as fortunate after shooting 4-over 76 for the second straight day. Sitting at 8-over 152, he won’t be around for the weekend.

“A little disappointing to end with the double on 17 but I started hitting it a lot better on the back side,” Hadwin said. “The putter was hot on the front side to keep me in it, so it’s all there, it’s just a matter of putting it together and I’m not out of it.”

After hitting his drive into the rough on the 17th hole, Hadwin did well to get his second shot up by the green. It’s there the mistake was made when Hadwin tried to be too perfect with his third shot up to the raised putting surface.

“I made the mistake of leaving it short and having it come back down to my feet,” he said. “That was the big mistake on the hole. I needed to make sure I got it up on top to give myself a chance.”

A do-over chip and two putts later, Hadwin’s scorecard had its first double bogey of the championship. But any bad taste in his mouth shouldn’t last long because it’s been an impressive week for the 29-year-old Valspar Championship winner from Abbotsford, B.C. In Thursday’s first round, he tied a U.S. Open record by making six consecutive birdies en route to a 4-under 68 and a share of seventh place.