Kuchar rallies; Flores leads by 1 at RBC Canadian Open
OAKVILLE, ONTARIO » Matt Kuchar rallied to make the cut in the RBC Canadian Open on Friday, a day after fighting dizzy spells.
Coming off a second-place finish Sunday in the British Open, Kuchar shot a 4-under 68 to reach 5 under — leaving him seven strokes behind second-round leader Martin Flores at Glen Abbey.
On Thursday, Kuchar had a couple of dizzy spell and sought medical attention during the round.
“I’m still tired,” the RBC endorser said. “The last two weeks I’ve played some good golf. Certainly last week, being in contention, is draining and another busy week this week.”
After making a double bogey on the No. 10 to drop to 1 over for the tournament, Kuchar made a 20-foot eagle putt on the par-5 13th and closed with three straight birdies.
“I really needed some good golf coming in to make the cut,” Kuchar said. “I was really pleased to come through.”
Flores shot his second straight 6-under 66 on the rain-softened course.
“The course is perfect,” said Flores, winless on the PGA Tour. “But it is a little soft right now, especially coming into the greens as compared to previous years. So the birdies are going to be out there for sure. Unless the wind picks up, but I think it’s very gettable.”
He eagled the par-5 second the second day in a row.
“I hit a great drive,” Flores said. “I had about 185 yards. Hit a nice 7-iron to 15, 20 feet and made the putt. That was a bonus.”
Gary Woodland (63), Matt Every (68) and Brandon Hagy (68) were a stroke back at 11 under. Woodland was a stroke off the course record of 62 set by Leonard Thompson in 1981
“I just had everything clicking today,” Woodland said. “I’ve been playing well for a long time and just haven’t put all the aspects together. Today I drove it well. Obviously, the ball-striking was good and I saw some putts go in, and that adds up for to a pretty good number.”
Vijay Singh, at 54 the oldest player in the field, had a 68 to join Kevin Chappell (69), Ryan Ruffels (67), Charley Hoffman (66) and Harold Varner III (65) at 10 under.
Langer shares lead at rainy, windy Senior British Open
BRIDGEND, WALES » Bernhard Langer shot a 3-under 74 in rain and wind Friday at Royal Porthcawl to hold onto a share of the Senior British Open lead.
The 59-year-old German star was tied at 1 over with Americans Tom Lehman (72), Steve Flesch (71) and Billy Mayfair (72) and Argentina’s Mauricio Molina (73). American Clark Dennis (72) was 2 over.
Periods of steady rain and wind gusting over 35 mph sent the scores soaring, with the average score of 78.515 second only in tournament history to the 80.118 in 2005 in the first round at Royal Aberdeen. The 36-hole cut came at 13 over, second since the tournament became a PGA Tour Champions event to the 15 over in 2005.
“Really worn out,” Langer said. “I probably shouldn’t even be here to tell you the truth. I probably should be in bed, but I hate to miss a major. And come this far to Wales on a great golf course, I’m just going to grind it through. But I won’t be able to do a lot of practicing, just because I don’t feel good, but that doesn’t mean I can’t play good this weekend, and I’ll give it my best shot.”
Kerr shoots 73 to take Ladies Scottish Open lead
IRVINE, SCOTLAND » Cristie Kerr birdied three of the last six holes in strong wind at Dundonald Links for a 1-over 73 and a one-stroke lead over Hall of Famer Karrie Webb in the Ladies Scottish Open.
Kerr played the first 11 holes in 4 over, with a double bogey on the par-5 third and bogeys on Nos. 6 and 11. The 39-year-old American had a 5-under 139 total.
Chesters takes lead as European play suspended
HAMBURG, GERMANY » Ashley Chesters carded a 5-under 67 to take the lead at 9-under in the second round of the European Open, which was suspended due to failing light on Friday.