Cambridge golfer Leonard qualifies for Canadian Open
CALEDON Brendan Leonard qualified for the RBC Canadian Open in the morning and had a little fun in the afternoon.
The Cambridge golfer defeated David Li Sheman of Aurora on the fourth playoff hole early Thursday at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley to earn a spot at the Canadian stop on the PGA Tour, June 9 to 12 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto.
Leonard celebrated his victory by driving back to the Whistle Bear Golf Club, which sponsors him, and letting loose.
“I actually played a few more holes with my buddies at Whistle Bear and we had a few beers,” said Leonard. “I’m super pumped, so I’m just having a good time. I’ve been waiting a long time for this.”
Leonard, 30, earned his spot at St. George’s with a par on the fourth playoff hole, a par-4, and Sheman carded a bogey. The two advanced to the playoff by shooting 6-under 66s on Wednesday. After two playoff holes Wednesday, it was too dark to continue, so they returned Thursday morning.
Leonard calls earning his spot in the Canadian Open “at the top of the list” of his golf achievements and is hopeful of putting on a good show at Canada’s national championship.
He just wishes the tournament was starting sooner. “My game is really going right now, so I’m ready to get out there,” he said.
Leonard will compete next week on the Toronto Players Tour and head to British Columbia the following Monday to play in the opening event of the PGA Tour Canada schedule.
It’s back to Ontario on June 3 to play in a 36-hole sectional qualifier at Rattlesnake Point in Milton for the June 14 to 17 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, followed by his first practice round the next day at St. George’s.
“That’s my goal right now, to go Canadian Open, U.S. Open on backto-back weeks,” said Leonard.
Sheman moves on to the Canadian Open Monday qualifying event at Oakdale Golf and Country Club on June 6, along with 21 other players from the TPC Toronto event. That list includes three-time Canadian Open participant Victor Ciesielski (4-under 68) of Cambridge and Keaton Jones (2-under 70) of Kitchener.
Austin Ryan (73) of Kitchener, Ryan Kings (74) of Kitchener, Mark Hill (75) of Kitchener, Brock Brown (84) of Waterloo and Marcus Roth (87) didn’t advance.