by Al Campbell
TORONTO, June 9 (Xinhua) — China’s Yuan Yechun roared to the highest of the leaderboard on the RBC Canadian Open on Friday because the Dalian native held a one-stroke lead by two rounds of the nationwide championship at Oakdale Golf and Country Club.
Teeing off within the early morning one shot behind the leaders, Yuan performed by cool and damp circumstances to card a five-under 67. Through 36 holes on the PGA Tour occasion he was nine-under 135.
Canadian Corey Conners (69) was equal second with Chinese Taipei’s Pan Cheng-tsung (66), Englishmen Aaron Rai (69) and Tyrrell Hatton who carded a match low eight-under 64.
World No. 3 Rory McIlroy, the two-time defending champion, was three pictures off the tempo after a five-under 67, tied for equal twelfth in a gaggle of 5 gamers that included Englishman Justin Rose (69).
Henan native Dou Zecheng improved to a two-over 74 however missed the one-under minimize by six strokes.
Yuan got here out firing to begin his spherical in carding consecutive birdies over the primary two holes. He would make bogey on the par-four subsequent, adopted by a birdie 4 on the seventh gap to make the flip at two-under 34. On the again 9, he would add 4 extra birdies, together with two straight to complete, hitting the grandstand on the final gap, no much less, and a bogey 5 on the thirteenth.
“Definitely played some great golf out there. It was a little rainy in the morning. But I kind of adapted pretty good. I had the exact same mindset as yesterday. Just go out, play freely. Yeah, let the result take care of itself.”
The 26-year-old, who received the Louisiana Open final yr on the Korn Ferry Tour, stated he would hold the identical sport plan going for the weekend. Overcast skies are within the forecast for Saturday’s third spherical with showers on Sunday.
“I’ve definitely been in a similar situation before on the (development) Korn Ferry Tour. But being out here I think it’s the same mindset I had the last two days. Just go out and have fun and it works out good so far. I think I’m going to keep that rolling.”
Pan, a bronze-medal winner on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, put himself within the combine on the par-five 18th gap (his ninth gap) the place he made an eagle three after having began his spherical from the Oakdale again 9.
“The eagle on 18 was special. I hit it to five feet and drained that putt. That kind of kept the momentum going on the front nine, which was my back nine. The course is playing a little bit harder, but I was able to save a lot of good pars out there. Overall, it was a great day.”
Conners, who was amongst certainly one of eight Canadians to advance to the weekend play, stated he was “embracing” the fan assist. Along with Adam Hadwin (68), Nick Taylor (67) and evergreen former Masters champion Mike Weir (70), amongst others, he will probably be trying to finish a winless streak that has not produced a homegrown champion since 1954.
“Yeah, really happy with the start. It’s been a lot of fun out here this week. Fun playing in front of the Canadian fans. Just enjoying the walk out there,” stated Conners, the world No. 29. “I have felt really good about my game. Ball striking’s been very, very solid. Yeah, hopefully can keep hitting it well and get some more putts to fall in over the weekend.”
McIlroy, who will probably be among the many favorites at subsequent week’s US Open in Los Angeles, moved into competition on the energy of a bogey-free spherical that featured 4 birdies, together with two over the ultimate two holes.
“Yeah, three back going into the weekend. I’m pretty pleased with that. Finished strongly out there this afternoon. Yeah, I feel pretty good with where I’m at. Would have been nice to be one or two closer to the lead, but I thought today went well,” stated the four-time Major winner.