Delahoussaye ties record with opening-round 62

Associated Press

TORONTO

Brent Delahoussaye shot an 8-under 62 on Thursday to match the Canadian Open record, making an eagle, seven birdies and a bogey in perfect scoring conditions at historic St. George’s.

Delahoussaye, the 29-year-old former Clemson player whose lone professional victory came in the 2006 Hooters Tour Classic, started on the ninth hole and played the front nine — his first and last eight holes — in 6-under 28. Because of logistical problems, the players started on Nos. 1 and 9 instead of the usual first and 10th.

Four other players have shot 62s in the Canadian Open, the first three at Glen Abbey. Leonard Thompson set the mark in 1981, Andy Bean matched it in 1983, both at a par of 71, and Greg Norman did it in 1986, when par was 72. Hunter Mahan had a 9-under 62 at Angus Glen in 2007.

Delahoussaye, in the last group of the day off the ninth tee, also broke the course record of 64 set by Canadian George Knudson in 1968, the last time the national championship was played at the Stanley Thompson-designed course.

Vance Veazey and Brock Mackenzie opened with 64s, and Mahan, Dean Wilson, Charley Hoffman, Jimmy Walker, Rich Barcelo, Steve Wheatcroft, Spencer Levin, Daniel Chopra and Brian Stuard had 65s.

Delahoussaye, a Q-school graduate making his 14th career PGA Tour start, was 3 under on his first two holes, hitting a 3-iron to 8 feet from 230 yards on the par-5 ninth to set up his eagle and holing a 14-footer on the par-4 10th.

“I was 3 under after two and thinking, ‘Wow! This could be good,’” he said.

He birdied the 12th, gave the stroke back with a bogey on the par-3 13th and birdied the 17th to get back to 4 under. He then birdied Nos. 2, 5, 6, and 7 and closed with a par on the par-3 eighth.

Delahoussaye hit 13 of 14 fairways in regulation, 14 of 18 greens and had only 24 putts on the undulating, but very receptive greens.

“The key was probably hitting fairways,” he said. “I figured the rough was going to be thick, after my practice round.”

The 45-year-old Veazey had 27 putts.

“The putter. That was the key ingredient,” Veazey said.