RBC Canadian Open 2012: Scott Piercy Takes The Win

The 2012 RBC Canadian Open will almost certainly be won by a journeyman golfer, which much of the PGA Tour taking the week off after the 2012 British Open and before the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. But will it be Robert Garrigus? William McGirt? Scott Piercy? The possibilities seem endless.

Garrigus holds the lead entering Sunday’s action at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club, at 16-under for the tournament, but McGirt (15-under) and Piercy (14-under) are close behind. And behind those three lie Scott Stallings, Chris Kirk, and Bo Van Pelt, all at 12-under.

Scott Piercy and William McGirt entered the weekend tied for the lead at the RBC Canadian Open, and through the turn on Saturday, the two remain neck and neck atop the leaderboard, both having made the turn at three-under for the day and -14 on the tournament, but Robert Garrigus has caught up, birdieing the ninth hole for a four-under front nine.

The three are all in the final pairing, but they’re not without some competition. The conditions at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ontario have been favorable, and Chris Kirk has taken advantage, shooting a scorching seven-under through the first 14 holes, and he now finds himself just two strokes back of the tri-leaders. Behind Kirk is Josh Teaters at -11 on the tournament, three strokes back, and Bud Cauley and Vijay Singh are tied at -10.

Scott Piercy’s surprise 8-under 62 in his opening round at the 2012 RBC Canadian Open has put him out in front as the tournament enters its second day on Friday. But he’s far from alone in red numbers.

Greg Owen follows Piercy at 7-under after a first round that included eight birdies and one eagle, and William McGirt joins him at that score. Robert Garrigus is alone in fourth at 6-under, ahead of a group of seven golfers tied for fifth at 5-under.

Scott Piercy’s an unlikely leader for any PGA Tour event. His 8-under 62 in the first round of the 2012 RBC Canadian Open has given him the lead heading into Friday, though.

Piercy made two eagles, five birdies and just one bogey on Thursday at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club, setting a new course record and establishing a one-shot lead on Greg Owen. Piercy began both his front and back nines with three consecutive pars, then played the final six holes of each stretch in 4-under.

One week after winning the 2012 British Open across the pond, Ernie Els will try to win the PGA Tour’s signature event in the country lovingly referred to as “America’s Hat.” Els headlines the field at the 2012 RBC Canadian Open, which begins Thursday, July 26 and runs through Sunday, July 29 at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ontario.

Els will be joined by Hunter Mahan, Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker, among many other players in the field, and Els is paired with Kuchar and Vijay Singh over the first two rounds. Mahan is paired with defending champion Sean O’Hair, while Jim Furyk, who won the 2005 Canadian Open, the last iteration of the event to be played at HG&CC, will tee off bright and early at 8:20 a.m. ET.