Late birdie has Hoffman on top
Langer opens up 4-shot lead in Sr. British Open
OAKVILLE, Ontario — Charley Hoffman birdied the final hole for a 7-under 65 on Saturday at Glen Abbey to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the RBC Canadian Open.
The 40-year-old Hoffman had six birdies in a seven-hole stretch that ended on No. 15, bogeyed the par-4 17th and rebounded with the two-putt birdie on the par-5 18th.
“When you’re playing good, I always say golf is fairly easy,” Hoffman said. “It’s been a fun run the last month or two months, actually all year, and it’s not very stressful, which is good.”
Hoffman had a 17-under 199 total. He won the Texas Open last year for his fourth PGA Tour title. Kevin Chappell was second. He bogeyed the 18th, hitting his third shot into the water.
Robert Garrigus matched the course record with a 62 to join Gary Woodland at 15 under. Garrigus had two eagles and six birdies to tie the Glen Abbey mark set by Leonard Thompson in 1981 and matched by Andy Bean in 1983, Greg Norman in 1986 and John Merrick in 2013.
Garrigus finished before Hoffman started play. Woodland followed his second-round 63 with a 68.
Defending champion Jhonattan Vegas had a 67 to join Sam Saunders (67), Andres Gonzales (66), Tony Finau (66), Ryan Ruffels (68) and Brandon Hagy (69) at 14 under. Saunders is Arnold Palmer’s grandson.
Top-ranked Dustin Johnson is tied for 16th.
SENIOR BRITISH OPEN: In Bridgend,
Wales, Bernhard Langer shot a bogey-free 6-under 65 on Saturday in calmer conditions at Royal Porthcawl to take a four-stroke lead in the Senior British Open.
The 59-year-old German star is chasing his fifth victory in the last 10 major championships. He had a 5-under 208 total.
Corey Pavin was second, also shooting 65 in some afternoon rain and wind gusting to 20 mph — far gentler conditions than Thursday and Friday.
Langer has a record nine senior major titles, winning the Regions Tradition and Senior PGA Championship in consecutive weeks in May.
LADIES SCOTTISH OPEN: In Irvine, Scotland, Hall of Famer Karrie Webb and Sei Young Kim topped the Ladies Scottish Open leaderboard Saturday after another rainy, cold and windy day at Dundonald Links.
Kim birdied the par-4 17th and par5 18th in strong wind and rain for a 3-under 69, and Webb birdied the 17th en route to a 70. They were at 6-under 210. Second-round leader Cristie Kerr was third at 4 under after a 73.
“Very lucky to get in,” Webb said. “Very happy with 2 under. That back nine was definitely a struggle once it started raining.”
The 42-year-old Australian won the last of her 41 LPGA Tour titles in 2014.