San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Finau, McIlroy share Canadian Open lead
TORONTO — Tony Finau birdied the final hole Saturday for an 8-under 62 and a share of the RBC Canadian Open lead with defending champion Rory McIlroy.
“I didn’t finish the way I wanted to yesterday and I think all it did was kind of light a fire in my belly to get after it today,” Finau said. “That’s pretty much what I did. I made some birdies and I just played really clean golf. ”
McIlroy had a 65 to match Finau at 11-under 199 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club.
“I’m just happy to give myself a chance, be in the final group,” McIlroy said. “Once I saw, I think Tony had got to 10 or maybe 11, I think I was on like 8 or 9 at the time. I just said to myself, ‘Let’s just try to get yourself in the final group.’ ”
McIlroy had to wait three years to defend his 2019 title because of the COVID-19 pandemic that canceled golf’s fourtholdest championship the last two years.
PGA champion Justin Thomas (63), Colonial winner Sam Burns (65), Wyndham Clark (68) and Alex Smalley (67) were 9 under.
Rookie in first after 65 at LPGA Classic
Australian rookie Stephanie Kyriacou shot a bogey-free, 6under 65 on Friday to take the first-round lead in the ShopRite
LPGA Classic at Seaview Hotel and Golf Club in Galloway Township, N.J.
“The greens are quite challenging,” Kyriacou said. “They’re pretty firm and they’re fast, so it’s kind of hard to stick (shots). But it wasn’t as windy as the practice rounds, so that was a positive.”
Sweden’s Frida Kinhult was a stroke back. Top-ranked Jin Young Ko was at 67 with Brooke Henderson, Dottie Ardina and New Jersey player Marina Alex. Alex won the Palos Verdes Championship in early May in California for her second tour title.
Twenty-time LPGA Tour winner Cristie Kerr and former local teaching pro Meaghan Francella were in the group at 68.
Thongchai, Jimenez tied at Wisconsin
Thongchai Jaidee shot a 7-under 65 on Saturday for a share of the second-round lead with Miguel Angel Jimenez in the PGA Tour Champions’ American Family Insurance Championship at Madison, Wisc.
Thongchai birdied Nos. 14-16 and closed the bogey-free round at University Ridge with two pars. The 52-year-old Thai player is winless on the 50-and-over tour. He has 19 international victories.
“I think the green is soft, that way you can attack,” Thongchai said. “You hit a wedge, you’re going to be able to attack the pin.”
Jimenez shot a 68 to match Thongchai at 10-under 134, rebounding from a bogey on 15 with birdies on 16 and 17.
“I know Jaidee for a long, long time.” Jimenez said. “We both played DP Tour, the European tour, and I played with him.”
First-round leader Steve Flesch (70) was a stroke back with Paul Broadhurst (66) and Paul Goydos (67). Colin Montgomerie (70) was 8 under with David Branshaw (66) and Kirk Triplett (68).
Sweden’s Grant leads Scandinavian Mixed
Swedish golfer Linn Grant was flying the flag for the women at the Scandinavian Mixed event after producing a bogeyfree 6-under 66 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead into the final round at Tylosand, Sweden.
After three rounds of a tournament that sees men and women play on the same course for one prize fund and one trophy, Grant is the only female player in the top 16 at Halmstad Golf Club.
And among her closest challengers is Henrik Stenson, one of Sweden’s greatest ever golfers who is three shots back.