‘Consolation prize’ helps Hughes up rankings
Hamilton golfer earns Rivermead Trophy as the top Canadian, Dave Hilson writes.
OAKVILLE, ONT. Don’t get him wrong — Mackenzie Hughes is thrilled to walk away from the RBC Canadian Open as the low Canadian. It just wasn’t his goal.
The PGA Tour rookie from Hamilton won the Rivermead Trophy as best Canadian after firing a final-round 4-under 68 Sunday to finish this year’s edition of the national championship at a 10-under 278, tied for 32nd.
Like all the players at Glen Abbey this week, Hughes was looking to win the 108th Canadian Open, not just be the top homegrown player.
“It’s a consolation prize, I would say,” said Hughes, who was playing in the world’s thirdoldest national open as a professional for the first time.
“You know, it’s a nice honour for sure, and I’m beating a lot of good players that came out of Canada this week. But I think if you asked Graham (DeLaet) or I or David (Hearn), I think we all wanted to win. So being low Canadian is great, but next year I’m coming back for more.”
Seventeen Canadians were entered in the field of 156 players, but only Hughes and DeLaet made it through to the weekend. Both spun their wheels on Saturday after being just four strokes behind second-round leader Martin Flores. Hughes was 2-over 74 while DeLaet had 73. DeLaet finished up with 71 Sunday to wind up in a tie for 48th at 8-under 280.
Hughes played much better on Sunday, picking up an eagle on the second hole and birdies on 10, 15, 16 and 17. His only blemishes were bogeys on 4 and 18. Hughes said he was very disappointed by the bogey on the final hole, a par 5, which at 524 yards is very reachable in two.
He put his tee shot into the same right-hand bunker that Tiger Woods hit that miraculous six-iron out of to win in 2000. Hughes had to lay up with his next shot and put his third just off the back of the green, ending up with a six.
“It’s a bit sour-tasting right now making six on the last hole,” Hughes said. “It’s not playing very hard. I’m probably going to think about that one for a little while. I had my sights set on three and I made six. That’s a pretty tough pill to swallow, but lesson learned — don’t get ahead of yourself.”
All in all, it was a good week for the world No. 112, just as it has been a good season so far with a tour victory back in November at the RSM Classic.
Sunday was all about picking up FedExCup and Presidents Cup points for both Canadians as they had no realistic chance of challenging the leaders.
Hughes sits 26th in the FedEx standings and 28th in the Presidents Cup for the international squad. The top 10 in the standings automatically make the team for the event against the U.S. at the end of September in New Jersey.
“If I could somehow squeak out a win in the next few weeks, that would be even better for trying to make that Presidents Cup team,” Hughes said. “We’ll see. If I can play the way I did today, I’m feeling good going forward.”
DeLaet’s day wasn’t quite as good as Hughes, but it was still a fine week for the Weyburn, Sask., native who at 27th in the Presidents Cup standings will likely be leapfrogged by his compatriot.
“You can’t get much done out here shooting par on the weekend,” said DeLaet, whose round Sunday included four birdies and three bogeys. “It was pretty mediocre golf to say the least, but it was fun. We’ll be back next year and hopefully somebody can get it done.”
FANTASTIC
There was still plenty of support out on the Jack Nicklausdesigned course for both Canadians despite them not being in contention. DeLaet was greeted by loud applause and pounding on the boards of the hockeythemed par-3 seventh hole, and even louder cheers erupted when he sunk his 12-footer for birdie.
“The support we get as Canadians in this golf tournament is great, and you really want to be able to give them something to cheer about,” DeLaet said.
Hughes said he wanted to “thank the fans” for their support all week.
STRIKE ONE
Kevin Chappell, who started the day a stroke off the lead at 16 under, did something you don’t see from a pro very often: he missed the ball.
The Fresno, Calif., native got into some trouble when he put his tee shot into the rough on the 527-yard par-5 second hole and had some branches to content with.
Chappell’s swing was a bit restricted and when he finally got down to addressing the ball, it was a swing and a miss. He went right over the ball and completely whiffed on it.
Chappell wound up with a bogey on the hole.
CHIP SHOTS
Andres Gonzales drained a short iron from 139 yards for an eagle on the 433-yard par-4 fifth hole … Matt Every had a bit of a strange 18th hole. He hit his second shot on the 524-yarder onto the clubhouse patio, took a drop, then hit into the green-side bunker, from where he holed out for a birdie to get to 15 under … World No. 1 Dustin Johnson pounded a drive 390 yards on the par-5 18th hole.