The Canadian Open qualifying took a retro tinge after veteran American Chad Campbell climbed into a share of the second round lead on Friday with two of golf’s elder statesmen lurking one shot back.
Moves his superb form at the British Open, where he finishedin a tie for the fifth, 37 years, Campbell took advantage of ideal scoring conditions to card a three under 67 on an intriguing day at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club that featured glimpses into golf’s past and future.
Unsung American Michael Thompson, who spent last season playing in golf’s lower leagues on the Hooters Tour, was an unknown name in the standings, has signed a 66 to join Campbell on four-under 136.sam.
But for older crowd there was no need to introduce the two men chasing the leaders as of the 46, Lee Janzen and 47-year-old Paul Goydos turned back the clock with second round charges.
Janzen, twice U.S. Open champion, who has not won a PGA Tour event since 1998, thrilled the gallery carding a tidy two under 68 while Goydos had a 69 to leave both one men one off the pace.
“I’ve hit good shots on tough courses when it mattered before and that’s what I have to remember,” Janzen told reporters. “Golfers beat themselves up. We’re all optimistic about the future and pessimistic about the present.
“You have to have patience but perseverance is even more important.”
The 107th Canadian Open could yet be remembered for a showdown of the generations with golf’s Golden Oldies being hotly pursued by the new generation led by a colorful American 22-year-old Rickie Fowler and 26-year-old South African Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.
Fowler, who was just two, while Janzen turned professional, had a 69 and Schwartzel a 67 to join Australia in the 2006 U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy (68) and a group of four golfers two shots back.
Even the packaging of two less than 138 Canadian David Hearn (68) and 23 years, Adam Hadwin (66), which marked a changing of the guard in golf in the Canadian movement to claim the same day as Mike Weir, 2003 Masters Champion was forced to withdraw from the event in the elbow injury.
No Canadian has claimed the national championship since Pat Fletcher in 1954.
“I wouldn’t say there is any added pressure,” said Hadwin. “I think me and David are trying to win the thing.
“We’re both going to prepare like we’re going to win a championship.”
