American tops Canadians at Ambassador
Anguiano closes with six-under 65 to win Mackenzie-PGA Tour Canada event
While the Canadians pressed, American Mark Anguiano refused to fold to the pressure. Kitchener’s Michael Gligic and Richmond Hill’s Taylor Pendrith both made a push for the lead during Sunday’s final round of play at the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada Windsor Championship. The 25-year-old Anguiano, who hails from Bellflower, Cal., briefly gave up the lead, but rebounded to secure the title at Ambassador Golf Club.
“There’s some stretches where you’re not going to hit it great or you’re not going to feel good on the greens,” the 25-year-old Anguiano said. “I stayed very patient during those times and that’s what you need to do to come out on top.” Gligic started the day one shot back of Anguiano and Pendrith, who were 18-under-par to share the lead after the third round. The 28-year-old Gligic moved to 23-under par with a birdie on No. 13 that gave him the lead. “Overall, a pretty good day, just a couple putts could have dropped down the stretch,” Gligic said. Bogeys on No. 14 and No. 16 were sandwiched around a birdie on No. 15 and Gligic could not pull away as he finished tied for second with American Joseph Harrison with a 22-under 262.
“Just a lot of birdies out there,” Gligic said. Meanwhile, a birdie on No. 13 put Pendrith to 22-under par, but disaster came on the 14th hole when he put his tee shot into the water and scored a double-bogey on the par-three.
“Basically, one bad swing all week and made double,” the 27-year-old Pendrith said. “That kind of blew it. I birdied the next hole and had some chances going in, but nothing was going in.”
He would get a birdie back on No. 15, but got not closer to finish tied for fourth with American George Cunningham at 21-under (263). After seeing Pendrith hit the water, Anguiano saw his opening and regained control. He birdied No. 15 and No. 17 to take the lead.
“It was tough out there all day,” Anguiano said. “All the guys in front of (me) put a lot of pressure on me.” But Anguiano was a model of consistency all week. He opened with an eight-under 63, had backto-back rounds of 66 and closed Sunday with a six-under 65 to finish at 24-under (260).
“It was a wild ride,” said Pendrith. “I shot 21-under, so I’m pretty pleased with that, but Mark was great all week.”
Even with a two-shot leading heading to the tee at No. 18, Anguiano was taking nothing for granted. “When I hit it on the green on 18, I had a good feeling I was going to pull it off,” Anguiano said. “I wasn’t sure until I got up to the green. My caddy knew, which was good, but I didn’t want to know. “When I got to my ball on the green, I knew I pretty much had it. It’s a great feeling.”
I shot 21-under, so I’m pretty pleased with that, but Mark was great all week.