Matt Daniel Takes Lead into Final Round of CanTours Edmonton Open
Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:40:35
The 26-year-old darkhorse fired a 5-under 67 Saturday and finds himself at 16-under 200 through 54 holes, one shot in front of Stuart Anderson (Fort McMurray, AB) and Brazil's Alex Rocha. Defending champion Aaron Barber of Minneapolis, MN is at 14-under 202, while Bryan DeCorso of Guelph, ON and American Mike Grob are four shots back.
But it is the play of Daniel, the 1993 B.C. Junior Champion, that has turned heads hear all week long with rounds of 67-66-67 at the 6918-yard Glendale G&CC. Heading into Saturday, the fifth-year Tour veteran shared the lead with Rocha and admitted before play began that he didn't know what to expect playing in the final pairing of the day for the first time. After a shaky start, Daniel drained a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-3 fourth hole that settled his nerves and got him on his way.
"I don't have any expectations, so I think that worked well for me today," said Daniel, whose best career finish was a tie for 12th at the 2000 QuebecTel Open. "I used to be uptight in junior- actually, I was a bit of a psycho- so I've had to teach myself to settle down and just enjoy the game. This is how I enjoy myself."
To put Daniel's past years in perspective, his 13th place showing in Victoria two weeks ago upped his 2002 winnings to $4,275. In the previous four years combined, Daniel had taken home a total of $4,407. Should he collect the $24,000 winner's cheque Sunday, it would nearly triple what his current lifetime earnings amount to.
With the mercury climbing to the high 90's Fahrenheit Saturday, Daniel stood out for more than just his golf game alone. As players and fans sweated through the scorching temperatures, Daniel played his entire round clad in a long-sleeved sweater more appropriate for November.
"This is one of my-I mean, my brother's- favourite shirts I stole it from him before I left," he added before explaining the approach he will take paired with Anderson Sunday. "I'll go out and do the same thing, enjoy myself and see where I am at the end of the day. I don't care what everyone else is doing. I'm not going to get into match-play with anyone. If I have to do that near the end, well, we'll cross that bridge when we get there."
Anderson has been on a roll of late, highlighted by a ninth-place finish at the Greater Vancouver Classic two weeks ago. On Sunday, he will try to become the first Canadian to win on his home province's soil since Mike Weir won the Canadian Master in Ancaster, ON in 1997. Whether or not he makes it to the tee no worse for wear remains to be seen. In Vancouver, the affable 6 '4, 230-pound Anderson was in third place after 54 holes, but sprained his ankle on the morning of the final round before hobbling his way to a ninth-place finish. This past Thursday, he wore a brand new pair of shoes that fit a little too snug- his feet have blistered up all three days.
"I think I'll be all right tomorrow, I'm not going to do anything dumb before I tee off," laughed Anderson. "But right now my confidence is so high, I feel like I can make anything. I'll try to keep it going Sunday and we'll see how it pans out."
While being involved in such a close race may seem like a pressure-filled, shot-for-shot scenario, Anderson, who has been dubbed the Gentle Giant by some fans this week, won over the large gallery for good late in Saturday's round. As the 24-year-old stood over his putt on the par-3 16th, a young fan choked back a cough for fear of disturbing the Alberta golfer. Smiling, Anderson backed off the putt, telling the youngster it was okay to cough, which drew laughter and applause from the crowd.
"The poor little guy, I though he was going to choke," said Anderson, who had several family members and friends following him. "But it's great to have the support everyone has shown me all week. It's funny, I missed the short (two-foot birdie) putt on 17, and I didn't see my family again until the 18th green. I think they hid in the trees."
Rocha, a former First Team All-American at Mississippi State University, admittedly struggled Saturday, and felt fortunate to be just one shot out.
"I feel comfortable in the last group, that's where I want to be," he conceded. "On the other hand, I played poorly but am still in it. Maybe (Daniel and Anderson) will battle it out behind me, and I'll see what I can get done ahead of them."
Barber, who carded a course-record 9-under 63 Friday, will attempt to be the first player in three years to successfully defend a title. American Brian Kontak won the Henry Singer Alberta Open in 1998 and 1999.
Last season, Barber won two events on his way to the Order of Merit title.
"I think if I can pull this off (Sunday), it will really justify last year," he said. "But I've got to be very aggressive guys can come out of nowhere here. I'm not going to put pressure on myself, but I think having won before is going to help me."
Saturday also featured a hole in one when Mike Capone of Cranston, R.I. aced the 202-yard, par-3 16th.
Scores Saturday after the third round of the Canadian Tour's $150,000 TELUS Edmonton Open played at the 6918-yard, par-72 Glendale G&CC
(A-denotes amateur):
1 Daniel, Matt Richmond, BC 67-66-67_200 -16
2 Anderson, Stuart Ft. McMurray, AB 66-68-67_201 -15
2 Rocha, Alex Brazil 66-67-68_201 -15
4 Barber, Aaron Minneapolis, MN 71-63-68_202 -14
5 DeCorso, Bryan Guelph, ON 70-68-66_204 -12
5 Grob, Mike Billings, MT 66-72-66_204 -12
7 Griff, Darren Salt Spring Island, BC 66-70-69_205 -11
7 Quiroz, Alex Mexico 70-68-67_205 -11
9 Bingham, Brett Red Deer, AB 69-66-71_206 -10
9 Bohn, Jason Atlanta, GA 69-68-69_206 -10
9 Enloe, Jason Dallas, TX 71-67-68_206 -10
9 Gemoets, Rafael El Paso, TX 68-70-68_206 -10
9 Hend, Scott Australia 68-66-72_206 -10
14 Capone, Mike Cranston, RI 69-67-71_207 -9
14 Doohan, Todd Sarnia, ON 65-71-71_207 -9
14 Kalinowski, Bobby Scottsdale, AZ 68-66-73_207 -9
14 McMillan, Rob Winnipeg, MB 65-71-71_207 -9
14 Webb, Brennan Bracebridge, ON 66-72-69_207 -9
19 Johnson, Andy Orlando, FL 69-66-73_208 -8
19 Mathis, David Raleigh, NC 66-73-69_208 -8
21 Devenport, Paul New Zealand 68-69-72_209 -7
21 Massey, Rich Harrington Park, NJ 74-68-67_209 -7
21 Turpen, Tim West Palm Beach, FL 71-68-70_209 -7
24 Gillespie, Derek Oshawa, ON 67-70-73_210 -6
24 Greenwood, Chris Valdese, NC 70-72-68_210 -6
24 Kral, Scotty Victoria, BC 68-69-73_210 -6
24 Mitchell, Michael Chevy Chase, MD 68-71-71_210 -6
24 Sutterfield, Brad St. George, UT 68-73-69_210 -6
29 Flugstad, Brian Seattle, WA 69-71-71_211 -5
29 Martin, Wes Calgary, AB 74-69-68_211 -5
29 Pleis, Steve Parrish, FL 66-74-71_211 -5
29 Reese, Mikkel Chandler, AZ 71-71-69_211 -5
33 Fisher, Jason Bakersfield, CA 75-66-71_212 -4
33 Goti, Ramiro Argentina 73-68-71_212 -4
33 Heffernan, Wes Calgary, AB 67-71-74_212 -4
33 Matthew, Craig Ile Bizard, QC 70-68-74_212 -4
33 Schultz, Jason Columbia, MO 74-65-73_212 -4
38 Fukushima, Kent Grande Prairie, AB 70-68-75_213 -3
38 Parry, Bryn North Vancouver, BC 69-72-72_213 -3
38 Veress, Zoltan Kitchener, ON 69-72-72_213 -3
41 Hearn, David Brantford, ON 65-76-73_214 -2
41 McCann, Brian Mississauga, ON 70-72-72_214 -2
41 Scutt, Gordy Victoria, BC 69-71-74_214 -2
44 Conrad, Bob Seattle, WA 67-76-72_215 -1
44 Jonas, Philip Vancouver, BC 75-68-72_215 -1
44 McKenzie, David Australia 71-69-75_215 -1
44 Miskolczi, Terry Toronto, ON 71-71-73_215 -1
48 Corral, Jorge Mexico 75-68-73_216 Even
48 Ford, Scott Lake Worth, FL 70-70-76_216 Even
48 Matyczuk, Davidson Thunder Bay, ON 72-68-76_216 Even
48 Wood, Jeff Fortuna, CA 72-71-73_216 Even
52 Karr, Jim Jupiter, FL 72-70-75_217 1
52 Mezei, Mike (A) Lethbridge, AB 74-69-74_217 1
54 Buttar, Blair Leduc, AB 69-71-78_218 2
54 Welder, Jamie Calgary, AB 72-70-76_218 2
56 Curtain, Michael Australia 73-68-78_219 3
56 Kovacs, Kyle Sherman Oaks, CA 69-74-76_219 3
56 Smith, Tony Clovis, CA 72-70-77_219 3
59 Saltus, Bryan Costa Mesa, CA 71-71-78_220 4
60 Parker, Perry Dana Point, CA 72-71-78_221 5
"
