There’s no hotter golfer on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada than J.J. Spaun.
The Newport Beach, Calif. native fired a five-under 67 in windy conditions Sunday to capture a one-shot victory over Nicholas Reach at the Staal Foundation Open in Thunder Bay.
He finished at 270 for the tournament, 18-under par, earning himself $31,500.
The win, his first on tour, followed a playoff loss in Saskatoon and a third-place finish last week in Winnipeg. It was his fifth straight top 10 finish.
“I’ve just been playing well and trying to take advantage of the run I’m on,” said Spaun, one of just two golfers this week to shoot all four rounds in the 60s, a run that included just four bogeys.
Spaun, who clinched a spot in next week’s RBC Canadian Open as the leader of the Mackenzie Tour’s Order of Merit with $70,263, said a hot start really keyed his round, though he didn’t grab the lead until after the turn.
“I think (it was) the first two birdies I made on one and two,” Spaun said.
“I dropped like a 30-footer on No. 2 and that gave me a spark, a little pep in my step I guess. There was no looking back.”
The 24-year-old tore through the back nine, birdying four of his first five holes, the lone blemish a bogey on the par 3 15th.
Despite knowing he had a great round going, Spaun said he avoided looking at the leaderboard dotting the fairways around Whitewater Golf Club.
“I think that was what kept me calm under all that pressure.”
The win is a great momentum boost heading into the Canadian Open for Spaun, who tied for eighth at qualifying school earlier this year to regain his playing privileges after finishing 159th on last year’s money list.
“The sky’s the limit. Let’s Spieth it. We’ll see,” Spaun said of his first career PGA Tour start.
Reach, who hails from Moscow, Penn., thrilled the growing gallery on the lengthy par 5 18th, sticking his second shot to about 10 feet, then calmly sinking the eagle putt to take the clubhouse lead at 17-under.
Conners, who took top Canadian of the week honours, had a two shot lead early as he made the turn, but an unlucky tee shot on the tough 11th led to a bogey. The Listowel, Ont. native birdied 17 to pull within two, but needing eagle to force a playoff, his tee shot on the par 5 18th found trouble, he was forced to pitch out and settled for birdie and a solo third finish that earned him full playing privileges for the rest of the Mackenzie Tour season.
“That feels great. It’ll be nice not having to worry about having a place to play,” said Conners, the 2014 U.S. Amateur runner-up who got a sponsor’s exemption to play this week.
“I’m really excited. The Mackenzie Tour has been great this year and this event has been fantastic with all the people around the 18th green it felt like the real deal.”
Playing partner Clayton Rask, one of four golfers tied for the lead after 54 holes, shot 71 to finish in a three-way tie for third with Logan McCracken and Australian David McKenzie at 273.
Chip shots: Drew Weaver, who missed the cut, and Canadian Albin Choi grabbed the other two Canadian Open spots up for grabs. The top three on the Order of Merit after the Staal Foundation Open got the automatic entries. Conners also has an exemption ... The second-year tournament raised $190,500 for the Staal Family Foundation, about $58,000 more than last year.
