Talk about a dream come true.

First-year Team Canada member Austin Connelly was in his hotel room with his teammates in May, the night before the annual media day in Calgary, when he got a life-changing phone call. But he had a feeling it was going to happen.

“I was actually dreaming about it. I was dreaming about getting that call,” Connelly explains.

The call in question? It was from Derek Ingram, Team Canada’s head coach, who said Connelly needed to call Jon Drago (the AT&T Byron Nelson tournament director) right away.

Connelly had been given an exemption into the tournament.

For Connelly, it was as if his life had come full circle. The Byron Nelson was the tournament he had attended his whole life – his mother, Bridget, says Connelly was in diapers when he first went – and now, he was going to make his PGA TOUR debut in his hometown.

Connelly ended up making the Friday cut, but didn’t finish Sunday after missing the third-round cut. It was an experience he says he is going to relish for the rest of his life, even though he barely made it there in the first place.

“I hopped on the first plane home (from Calgary) and the flight was crazy,” he explains. “There were tornadoes on the ground in the area of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex where I live. We were landing and our plane was twisting and dropping. People were screaming. It was the scariest flight I’d ever been on.”

Not only was there that harrowing experience, but Connelly had injured his wrist so badly the week before, he was actually not supposed to play golf.

“I committed immediately, and I would do whatever it took to play,” he recalls.

The drama continued Friday. He rolled his left ankle going down the stairs in his hotel gym and could barely swing, but he still finished his round.

So goes the life of Austin Connelly. A fighter. Standing no more than 5-foot-5 and 125 pounds, he thinks he can, like the little engine that could.

After the Byron Nelson, the 18-year-old also received an exemption into the Nova Scotia Open on the Web.com Tour and the RBC Canadian Open in July. In between those events, he represented Canada at the Pan American Games, and, both the Canadian Amateur and U.S. Amateur championships.

He finished 5th at the Pan Am Games, just four shots back of a medal. Later in the summer, he didn’t make it past the first round of the U.S. Amateur, but decided the time was right, and he was going to turn professional.

Although he had committed to the University of Arkansas for the fall, he admits he had been thinking about turning professional since the Byron Nelson in May.

“It’s been a goal of mine to get to No.1 in the world. I know it will be a long process but I’m ready to put forth all the effort,” Connelly explains. “I felt the time was right to be a full-time golfer.”

When Connelly says he thinks is game is already good enough to compete on the PGA TOUR, he isn’t boasting.

He gained the attention of the nation Friday at the RBC Canadian Open, having shot a 7-under-par 65 to comfortably make the cut. He struggled Saturday and failed to make the secondary cut, but he and fellow Golf Canada teammate Blair Hamilton earned Low Amateur honours.

And he did it all with his back-up putter, after his gamer broke on a plane. “I actually called Bettinardi and I said, ‘hey, I’m playing a couple of PGA TOUR events this year and I can’t play a putter with Matt Kuchar’s signature on it. I can’t do it,’” he explains, laughing. “They sent me a Tour-style one, but that one broke.”

Making the PGA TOUR full-time is something Connelly has been working towards since he could barely walk.

“I used to hit balls around the house one-handed with a plastic club,” he states. “When I was 18 months old I would go out and hit shots with a cut-down set. When I was two, I finally put two hands on the club and, well, here we are.”

Although Connelly says he played other sports growing up, like tennis and basketball, by the time he was 13, he knew what he wanted to do. Inspired by Tiger Woods, Connelly got more serious about golf. Now, he cites players such as Zach Johnson (“he hits it about my distance”) and Jim Furyk as guys he feels he compares well with.

And then there’s that friendship Connelly has with Jordan Spieth.

Connelly and Spieth have the same coach and fitness trainer so the dual-citizen sees Spieth in the gym more than anywhere else. They met when Spieth was finishing at the University of Texas and they chat at the gym multiple times per week and try to squeeze in a round where possible.

“As good as he is, he’s just 21 and there’s so much to learn,” Connelly explains. “But obviously I learn a lot from him. I pick his brain a lot about certain things. He’s just the golden boy for golf, I don’t know how else to put it.”

Being friends with a two-time major champion results in some cool moments, too.

“I got to see the Green Jacket, which was pretty neat,” Connelly says. “I was walking into the gym and (Jordan) is just standing there holding it. Then he put it on. It was pretty cool.”

There’s likely a lot to come before Connelly is competing for a major himself, but it’s another thing he can dream about.

And if there are any precedents set about Connelly and his dreams, well, it will likely come true.

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Austin Connelly: A dreamer with a fighting spirit This article was originally published in the September 2015 edition of Golf Canada Magazine. To view the full magazine, click the image to the left.

As the temperatures cooled and fall was ushered in, Golf Canada’s championship season drew to a close with the conclusion of the World Junior Girls Championship. Team Korea completed a wire-to-wire victory and claimed both the team and individual titles at the second playing of the competition for the world’s best 18-and-under female golfers.

Hye-Jin Choi of Paju-si saved her best performance for last, posting 7 birdies in a bogey-free round to finish 7-under 65 for the lowest round of the tournament.

“Through the first three rounds I was focused on improving my putting, but today I sank a birdie on the first hole and with it, gained a boost of confidence for the round,” said the individual champion. “I felt better out there today than during any other round. I knew I could do it and at the same time, I trusted that my teammates would get it done, as well.”

The 16-year-old credited her competitors for challenging her across the course. “On the 14^th hole I made a birdie and followed it up with a difficult par on the 15^th.  At that point, I had a good feeling that I was going to be the individual winner. Up until then, I was still worried because my playing partners from Sweden and Denmark are great players and they could have made a charge and caught up.”

“Team competition is not very common in golf,” added Choi, whose squad was making its debut in the championship. “So when I get a chance to play as a team and represent my country, my focus is always on the team. When I saw their scores, I was so relieved and was then able to turn my attention to winning the individual title. I am so happy and proud of us.”

The remaining two members of the Korean contingent completed the competition tied for fourth at 1-under 287. Eun-Soo Jang of Chang Hyung shot a final-round of even-par 72 to count towards her team’s winning total of 22-under 554. The final member of the squad, Shin Hye Kim of Icheon, carded a 73.

“This is a really big win for us,” said head coach Sang-Won Ko, whose trio was the only team to all finish with under-par rounds. “Coming into the tournament, we never expected that we would win. Our top priority was to learn since the environment and course would be so different to us. I am so happy with the result. It is an added bonus to win because we learned so much during the week. I am really proud of all of my players.”

“Hye-Jin was crazy today!” said Ko, when asked about the World Junior Girls champion. “I have mentioned during the week that she struggled with her putting, but today it was simply amazing.”

Finishing second in the individual competition was Cecilie Bofill of Denmark. The native of Silkeborg began the day tied for third, but tallied five birdies en route to a 3-under 69. The 17-year-old moved to 5-under 286 in the competition to trade places in the standings with Filippa Moork of Sweden. The native of Karlstad was 2-over on the day and finished 2-under overall to claim sole possession of third.

Bofill’s performance coupled with Frederickshavn native Puk Lyng Thomsen’s 1-over 73 propelled Denmark into the runner-up position in the team competition at 4-under 572. Four strokes shy of second was Team Sweden which counted identical rounds of 2-over 74 from Moork and Frida Kinhult of Fiskebackskil to finish even-par 576.

Kathrine Chan led the Canadians in the field with a 3-over 75 performance. The native of Richmond, B.C., finished the championship at 15-over 303.

Tournament Director Mary Beth McKenna echoed the sentiments of all those involved when asked to reflect on the competition. “In speaking with the players and coaches this past week, I think this event was a tremendous success. From the coaching summit and the skills clinic to an entertaining and exciting tournament – I truly believe this was a very positive experience for not only the golfing community in Ottawa, but also the development of junior girls’ golf on the international stage.”

Additional information on the 2015 World Junior Girls Championship can be found on the tournament’s official website at www.worldjuniorgirls.com.

Clear skies and brilliant sunshine provided an ideal backdrop for the second round of the 2015 World Junior Girls Championship at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa. The team representing the Republic of Korea took full advantage of the ideal conditions to expand its lead atop the standings.

“I am very satisfied with both the scores and details of today’s performance,” said Korean coach Sang-Won Ko. “Yesterday the scores were fine, but the details weren’t where we wanted them to be. Today everything went well.”

Ko credited hard work and increased familiarity with the course for his team’s play. “The players are getting used to the course and are getting more comfortable playing it. Their putting was much better. We worked on it after yesterday’s round and it helped a lot today. To continue to lead, we just need to keep putting well.”

Leading the Korean side was Eun-Soo Jang who tallied six birdies en route to a 5-under 67. The 17-year-old, who has been battling a cold, is finally feeling more like herself. “Yesterday, I was struggling. Today, I got back to my game and gave myself more chances to make birdies. My wedge play was the strongest part of my game today. My shots from 80-yards-in were really good. I stuck many of them to within a foot or two on many of the holes.”

Cecilie Bofill of Silkeborg, Denmark ascended the leaderboard with five birdies, including three across a bogey-free back nine. The 17-year-old finished the first day of competition tied with 10 other players in fourth-place at even-par; her round of 68 has vaulted her into second.

The 18-hole leader – Hye-Jin Choi – followed her opening round of 2-under 70 with a 71. She carded two birdies on the day and despite sitting third in the competition, the 16-year-old’s tally will not count towards her team’s total on the day.

The Korean trio extended its lead from two to five strokes on the strength of performances from Jang and the team’s final member – Shin Hye Kim.  She collected four birdies on the front nine before a pair of bogeys saw the 18-year-old finish at 2-under 70. The team is now 9-under 279 through two rounds.

Led by Bofill, Team Denmark rose two spots to claim sole possession of second place. Puk Lyng Thomsen’s even-par round also counted towards her squad’s combined total of 4-under 285, while Line Toft Hansen’s 75 on the day completes the trio’s scores.

Team Sweden – comprised of Frida Kinhult of Fiskebackskil, Gothenburg’s Elin Esborn and Karlstad native Filippa Moork – holds third place at 1-under 287. Kinhult, who sits T5, posted a round of 1-under 71 to count alongside Moork’s 72. Esborn was 3-over 75 for the round.

Topping the Canadian contingent is Alisha Lau of Richmond, B.C. The 15-year-old carded one birdie and completed the round at 2-over 74. The national team Development Squad member is T24 at 6-over for the competition.

Head Coach of Team Canada One, Ann Carroll, provided some insight on her squad’s second-round performance. “I think they tried a little too hard today. I think some of them got off to a not-so-great start and after that, they started to force things instead of letting things come to them. I tried my best to get them in the right frame of mind and back to where they could control things.”

Carroll remains positive on the experience as a whole. “I think playing in an international event like this excels their learning and gives them confidence that even though they may not have played their best, they still know they can play against other girls from around the world.”

The third round of the World Junior Girls Championship will begin tomorrow at 8 a.m. Additional information regarding the tournament, including tee times and full results, can be found at www.worldjuniorgirls.com.

The Freedom 55 Financial Championship is the final of 12 events on the 2015 Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada schedule. There have been five events in as many weeks to close out the race to finish in The Five and earn status on the Web.com Tour for 2016.

The top 60 players on the Order of Merit through the Cape Breton Celtic Classic presented by PC Financial make the field and retain exempt status on the Mackenzie Tour for the 2015 season.

The 2015 event begins at a new home, with the Stanley Thompson-designed Highland Country Club in London, Ont., hosting the season finale.

For more on how the Freedom 55 Financial Championship can play out, read the full article here.

The Thames Valley Children’s Centre (TVCC) is the official charitable beneficiary of the Freedom 55 Financial Championship. Fifty-five per cent of ticket proceeds will go towards the wide range of services provided to more than 8000 children, youth and their families through the organization’s London Centre and its 15 regional office locations across Southwestern Ontario. Clients range in age from birth to 19 with services supporting a range of special needs including physical disabilities, communication disorders, developmental delays and autism spectrum disorders.

Children aged 17-and-under get in free all week at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship. Free junior tickets are available for download here. Additional details, including ticket information, can be found at www.freedom55financialchampionship.com.

The 2015 edition of the World Junior Girls Championship will be held at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa from September 20-25. In addition to showcasing a number of the world’s most talented 18-and-under female golfers, the event will focus on the continued development of the sport.

“The World Junior Girls Championship is about more than this year’s participants and their opportunity to learn through international competition,” said Jeff Thompson, Chief Sport Officer of Golf Canada. “It is also about the sustainable development of golf in Canada and strengthening the relationship between the national golf associations around the world.”

Mike Kelly, Interim Executive Director of the Golf Association of Ontario, mirrored Thompson’s sentiments. “The chance to gather a number of elite coaching minds from around the world to share their knowledge and experiences is an invaluable opportunity. Through the junior girls skills development clinic and the junior-amateur fundraiser, we hope to leave a lasting imprint on the golfing community in the Ottawa area.”

A coaching summit is set to take place on Sunday, September 20 at The Marshes Golf Club. During the competitors’ practice rounds, PGA of Canada coaches will be paired with international coaches to exchange ideas and share in coaching methodology. Following the practice rounds, the PGA of Canada coaches will gather with Team Canada Women’s Head Coach Tristan Mullally and PGA of Canada Technical Director Glenn Cundari in a round-table discussion.

A junior girls skills development clinic will be conducted with PGA of Canada coaches introducing and developing golf-specific skills with junior golfers invited from the community. The junior-amateur fundraiser will see World Junior Girls Championship competitors play with local golfing enthusiasts to raise funds towards the development of golf in Ontario.

As the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season comes to a close at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, (the final event of the 12-event season, where the top 60 on the money list as of the Cape Breton Classic presented by PC Financial compete for the biggest purse of the year), 13 Canadians, each with a unique story, have a chance to jump into ‘The Five’ and earn status on the Web.com Tour for 2016.

From members of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Program to golfers who are giving the game one more chance, here are 13 Canadian golfers who are worth watching this week at Highland Country Club in London.

TAYLOR PENDRITH

Taylor Pendrith (Gabe Yee/ Golf Canada)

Money List: 4

Earnings: $54,936

How he got there: The only player without a 2015 victory currently in The Five, Pendrith has been oh-so-close to breaking through, falling three times in a playoff at the PC Financial Open, National Capital Open to Support Our Troops and the Cape Breton Celtic Classic presented by PC Financial. With his prodigious length – he leads the Tour in driving distance at nearly 340 yards per drive – the member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro squad has become a fan favourite.

 

ALBIN CHOI

Albin Choi (Michael Burns/ Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada)

Money List: 5

Earnings: $51,017

How he got there: The Young Pro member captured the second event of the year – the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist – and, despite taking the week off in Calgary, has remained a staple in ‘The Five’ for the entire season. He’s looking to return to the Web.com Tour after an up-and-down stint there in 2014. Team Canada Head Coach Derek Ingram says of Choi: “I’ve never doubted his ability to be a superstar in this game.”

 

KEVIN SPOONER

Kevin Spooner (Michael Burns/ Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada)

Money List: 8

Earnings: $42,617

How he got there: Spooner, who quit golf to be a server at a local Vancouver restaurant after a disastrous college career, emerged victorious at The Syncrude Boreal Open Presented by AECON in the third event of the year. Two other top-15 finishes has Spooner on the bubble of ‘The Five’ going into London. The athletic Spooner hits the ball a mile and has no fear in going after the difficult shot.

 

ADAM SVENSSON

Adam Svensson (Chuck Russell/ Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada)

Money List: 9

Earnings: $41,850

How he got there: Svensson has played a mixed schedule of Web.com Tour and Mackenzie Tour events this year, but, when he was in the field on the Mackenzie Tour, his results have been astounding, with a playoff loss and finishes of T2, T3 and T5. At the Wildfire Invitational he co-led after the first round before dropping back over the weekend.

 

CHRISTOPHER ROSS

Christopher Ross (Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada)

Money List: 10

Earnings: $39,603

How he got there: Ross, the son of former Golf Canada Executive Director (and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member) Stephen Ross, won the Wildfire Invitational presented by PC Financial in dominating fashion. His 25-under-par finish was the lowest on the Mackenzie Tour in 2015 and his win was the fourth by a Canadian – the most on the Mackenzie Tour since 2012.

 

BRAD CLAPP

Brad Clapp (Michael Burns/ Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada)

Money List: 11

Earnings: $39,119

How he got there: Clapp, who split his time between playing professionally and teaching in British Columbia, hit, perhaps, the shot of the year on the Mackenzie Tour on the 72nd hole of The Great Waterway Classic: a towering approach to four feet, setting up an eagle and securing his first Mackenzie Tour win.

 

MACKENZIE HUGHES

Mackenzie Hughes (Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada)

Money List: 14

Earnings: $32,017

How he got there: The 2013 Order of Merit champion spent 2014 on the Web.com Tour but after struggling there, the Golf Canada Young Pro came back to the Mackenzie Tour this year and is the only player to make every cut so far this season. His steady play has earned him four top-15 finishes.

 

RILEY WHEELDON

Riley Wheeldon (Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada)

Money List: 20

Earnings: $27,554

How he got there: The bright-eyed native of British Columbia battled injuries in 2014 after finishing inside ‘The Five’ in 2013. He’s had an up-and-down season in 2015 missing four cuts, but has three top-10’s. He lost in a playoff in the first event of the season to American Drew Weaver.

 

BEN SILVERMAN

Ben Silverman (Michael Burns/ Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada)

Money List: 22

Earnings: $25,994

How he got there: You can never miss Silverman on the course, as his sponsorship from Loudmouth Clothing guarantees he has the brightest outfits on tour. His game has been just as bright as his outfits this year, with two top-5 finishes.

 

COREY CONNERS

Corey Conners (Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada)

Money List: 32

Earnings: $20,329

How he got there: Another member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Program, Conners – like Pendrith and Svensson – played a mixed bag of events this season on the PGA TOUR and Web.com Tour. He has two top-10s on the Mackenzie Tour, including a third-place finish in Thunder Bay. Conners is also the only person to play in a Mackenzie Tour event and the Masters in 2015.

 

DANNY SAHL

Danny Sahl (Michael Burns/ Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada)

Money List: 33

Earnings: $19,810

How he got there: Sahl, who has spent the majority of the past three seasons caddying for Mike Weir on the PGA TOUR, made the most of an opportunity to play during Weir’s break from playing, finishing second at the ATB Financial Classic while playing on a sponsor’s exemption.

 

SEANN HARLINGTEN

Seann Harlingten (Michael Burns/ Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada)

Money List: 34

Earnings: $19,245

How he got there: Harlingten, who quit golf for six years and became a stockbroker, is enjoying his best year as a professional. The 28-year-old, who barely hits balls on the range due to an old wrist injury from his younger days, has three top-15 finishes this year.

 

CORY RENFREW

Cory Renfrew (Michael Burns/ Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada)

Money List: 38

Earnings: $15,641

How he got there: Now in his fourth full season on the Mackenzie Tour, Renfrew has been consistent as ever, with eight made cuts in 10 starts and two top-10s, including a T5 finish in his hometown of Victoria.

 

The Thames Valley Children’s Centre (TVCC) is the official charitable beneficiary of the Freedom 55 Financial Championship. Fifty-five per cent of ticket proceeds will go towards the wide range of services provided to more than 8000 children, youth and their families through the organization’s London Centre and its 15 regional office locations across Southwestern Ontario. Clients range in age from birth to 19 with services supporting a range of special needs including physical disabilities, communication disorders, developmental delays and autism spectrum disorders.

Children aged 17-and-under get in free all week at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship. Free junior tickets are available for download here. Additional details, including ticket information, can be found at www.freedom55financialchampionship.com.

BEN EION, Nova Scotia – C.T. Pan sank a 5-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to defeat Canadian Taylor Pendrith and win the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada’s Cape Breton Celtic Classic. The native of Taiwan and University of Washington product finished with a 72-hole total of 19-under-par 269 and the victory was his first on the Mackenzie Tour.

After each player made birdie on the first extra hole, both hit their second shots into a greenside bunker. Pan chipped out first to 5 feet and Pendrith followed, hitting his chip to 4 feet. Moments later, Pan sank his birdie putt and then watched as Pendrith’s birdie attempt slid by the right side, handing Pan the victory.

“I can’t find words to describe how I feel right now,” Pan said following his win. “It was amazing how I played my last five holes and then the two extra playoff holes. It’s been amazing.”

As the day unfolded, it appeared Pan would be in line for a nice finish, but would need something to happen for him to win the event. He was only 14 under after 13 holes and trailed by as much as four strokes. However, things changed at No. 14 when he hit a 3-iron to 3 feet and made the first of five birdies in a row.

“I told myself I really needed to start making some birdies when I got to No. 14. I knew I was about four shots back and told myself I needed some magic now,” Pan added. “After that birdie on 14, I felt really good about where my game was and I liked the pin position at No. 15 when I saw it. I made another birdie there.”

Pan added three more birdies to close out his round, including a chip-in on No. 18 from 30 feet to post the first 19-under-par score for the day.

Playing two groups behind, Pendrith’s downfall on Sunday would be his play in the par 5s. After making birdie or eagle on all the par 5s in the first three rounds, he started his day with bogeys on three of first five par 5s, including Nos. 1 and 3 early in his round. He was able to battle his way back into the mix with seven birdies later in his round, but missed a golden opportunity to close things out when he made par on the par-5 16th hole and then missed a short birdie putt at No. 17.

“I thought I hit a really good putt at No. 17 and it just went about a foot left and caught the edge and missed. I made a good putt on it. That’s the way it goes,” said Pendrith. “But I played the par 5s really bad today. If I played the par 5s like I had been, I probably would have won. I made three bogeys on them and you can’t make bogeys. I’m obviously disappointed losing in a playoff for the third time this year, but I was four-over-par through five holes early this week, and to shoot 19 under for the week is pretty good.”

This was the last week players could qualify for the Freedom 55 Financial Championship next week in London, Ontario. Among the players earning their spots in the 60-player field by their play this week were Max Gilbert, Dan McCarthy and Kyle Wilshire, while Jay Myers, Steve Carney and Daniel Bowden slipped out of the top 60. In the race for The Five, Pendrith moved into the top five, while Drew Weaver slipped from fifth to seventh.

NUMBERS YOU NEED TO KNOW:

28: The total number of birdies by Taylor Pendrith during the week which led all players.

1: Number of bogeys for Adam Svensson over his final 39 holes.

4: The number of eagles in the event for Justin Bardgett.

15: The most difficult hole on the course for the week.

1,627: The number of birdies for the week on The Lakes GC.

QUOTABLES

“I set a couple of goals at the start of the year and I’m on the way there. I always have really high standards for myself and I’m still working hard and trying to have a really good year.” T.C. Pan on his 2015 season so far.

NOTES

• With a total score of 19-under, Taylor Pendrith claimed Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Week honours on Sunday along with a $2,500 prize. Each week, the top Canadian on the leaderboard will earn the award, with the top Canadian on the Order of Merit at season’s end earning the Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year and a $25,000 prize.
• Weather: 17 degrees Celsius. A mix of sun and clouds. Winds 10 km/NE.
• Preferred lies were utilized in the final round.
• C.T. Pan now has 13 consecutive sub-par rounds heading into next week’s event.

BEN EION, Nova Scotia – Canadian Taylor Pendrith saved the best for last. After a 3-putt bogey at No. 17 to fall out of a share of the lead, Pendrith hit an 8-iron from 175 yards to six inches for eagle to take sole possession of the lead at the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada’s Cape Breton Celtic Classic. The former Kent State star finished with a third straight 5-under-par 67 and his 54-hole total of 15-under-par 201 leads four players by one, including Justin Bardgett, Kyle Wilshire, Canadian Max Gilbert and Dan McCarthy.

Just as he has done in his two previous rounds, Pendrith took full advantage of the par-5s, making four birdies and an eagle during his round. The eagle at 18 was the his third in the event. He also had eagles in the opening round on Nos. 16 and 18.

“It was a grind today but I managed to make some birdies late and then made that eagle on the last hole which was nice,” Pendrith said. “I had some three putts coming, but that eagle on No. 18 was big. I hit the driver well again today like I’ve been doing all week and I made some putts which was nice.”

Sunday could be important day for Pendrith, who is currently 10th on the Order of Merit. Should he win on Sunday he would receive $31,500 which would move him into The Five with one week remaining on the 2015 schedule. The Tour finishes its season next week at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship in London, Ontario.

“I just have to keep doing what I’ve been doing tomorrow,” Pendrith added. “If I can get it in play on the par-5s and make some birdies and some eagles then tomorrow should be fun.”

While Sunday will be important for Pendrith, it also looms large for the four players currently chasing him in second place. All four players are outside the top 60 with Bardgett, at 132nd on the Order of Merit, having the largest hill to climb. Gilbert (69th), Wilshire (67th) and McCarthy (88th) will also need a strong finish to move into the coveted top 60.

“Tomorrow is important for everybody,“ said Bardgett, who shot an 8-under-par 64 on Saturday. “You know I really don’t have any expectations. I came here knowing I had to play phenomenally to get into next week’s Tour championship and I still don’t have any expectations of playing. To be honest, I’m just going to go out tomorrow and walk around and hit some golf shots and try to be as loose as possible. If I play well, great; if I play horrible, life is still going to go on.”

NUMBERS YOU NEED TO KNOW:

29: The back-nine score for Justin Bardgett, matching the low 9-hole score on the Mackenzie Tour this year.

18: Number of strokes under par by Taylor Pendrith on the 15 par 5s this week.

10: Number of players with three rounds in the 60s this week.

64: The day’s low round posted by Justin Bardgett.

QUOTABLES:

“I knew I had to play well this week. I finished 10th last week and that really bumped me up (Order of Merit), but I knew I had to play well to get into next week. It’s like, ‘this is my year’. All it takes out here is one week. I’ve seen that from a lot of guys who have missed more cuts than I have and gone out and won events. It’s out there. You have to be smart and stay patient.” – Kyle Wilshire on the importance of this week.

“It would be awesome to get a win late in the season. I’ve had a pretty solid season and a win would kind of cap it off. It would be pretty nice.” – Taylor Pendrith on what a win on Sunday would mean.

TOURNAMENT NOTES:

• Preferred lies were utilized in the third round.
• Justin Bardgett’s B-B-B-B-E finish matched the best birdie-eagle streak on Tour this year. Olin Browne was also 6-under-par at the ATB Financial Classic.
• David Pastore made the day’s biggest move, climbing 33 spots on the leaderboard to T21.

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France – Mi Hyang Lee retained the lead in difficult weather in the third round of the Evian Championship on Saturday, as teenager Lydia Ko remained in contention to become the youngest player to win a major.

Lee shot 1-under 70 for a 10-under total of 203 and a one-shot lead over Lexi Thompson, who charged back with fine putting and a 5-under 66 card.

Chasing her first major, Lee was paired with Morgan Pressel (71), and they went toe to toe until the par-4 18th hole, when the American double-bogeyed after landing her second shot in water.

They played their final six holes in rain, wind, and gloom.

Pressel shares third place with Ko, two shots off the pace. The 18-year-old Ko shot a 67 and is pursuing her last chance to become the youngest woman to clinch a major. If she wins on Sunday, Ko will surpass Pressel, who won the Kraft Nabisco Championship at 18 years, 10 months, 9 days back in 2007.

“Obviously, this is my last chance,” said Ko, about five months younger. “I’m just going to give myself a good chance tomorrow.”

Many still have a good chance on the foothills of the Alps, with only five shots separating the 11 best players heading into the final round.

Meanwhile, top-ranked Inbee Park, seeking a career Grand Slam, made four birdies but struggled on the back nine with three bogeys for a 70. She was on 2-under 211, eight shots off the pace, with Michelle Wie (70).

Wie sank a 25-foot putt on the par-5 9th for her first eagle of the tournament.

With more bad weather expected on Sunday, players will tee off on the first and 10th tees in groups of three for the final round, with Lee of South Korea, Thompson of the U.S., and Ko of New Zealand together in the final group.

Ko, who started four strokes off the lead, produced five birdies but bogeyed the 18th for the third consecutive day.

“It was not the easiest of up-and-downs on 18, but I have not played the 18th hole well this week,” she said.

Many players were caught off guard by the bad weather, with Pressel getting some help from a TV channel employee who ran to her locker to bring her a rain jacket.

“Very thankful to the guy,” Pressel said.

Thompson, who mixed six birdies with a sole bogey on the par-3 16th, relied on her dad to bring her an umbrella with four holes to play.

The round began under blue skies, and Pressel immediately applied pressure on Lee with a birdie on the par-4 first hole. Lee could not match her, conceding two consecutive bogeys on the course looking over Lake Geneva.

Lee had another bogey on the par-3 14th but emerged from the round with four birdies and a superb par-putt on her final hole.

Pressel put herself in trouble on the par-5 9th, driving her ball onto a rough patch of grass below the fairway. She missed her putt from the edge of the green to drop her first shot. She said her double bogey on the final hole was probably due to a bad choice of club, a 4 hybrid, for her second shot that found the water.

“It’s just the grass was so wet that it did not get up in the air,” she said. “I thought I could hit the shot.”

Amy Yang was tied for fifth place, three shots behind Lee, after a flying start with an eagle on the first hole, which she bogeyed in the second round.

A broad smile illuminated the South Korean’s face when she realized her shot landed straight in the hole. The U.S. Open runner-up high-fived her caddie and continued her surge back among the top five. She sank a birdie-putt on No. 3, and picked up one more shot with a 15-footer on the par-4 4th. But Yang also bogeyed three holes and finished with a 68.

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., finished the day at 1-over 72 to move into a tie for 41st place. Hamilton, Ont., product Alena Sharp posted a 75 and is tied for 51st.

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France – What she lacks in experience, the 22-year-old Mi Hyang Lee makes up for with advice from her 69-year-old caddie.

The South Korean took the sole lead at the Evian Championship after a 4-under 67 Friday in the second round. With a 9-under total of 133, Lee heads into the weekend of the final major of the season with a one-shot lead over American Morgan Pressel.

While Pressel has already won a major, Lee is chasing her first one. She has showed that she can hold her nerve when it really matters – claiming her only victory on the U.S. LPGA Tour last year at the Mizuno Classic after coming out on top of a three-way playoff with a birdie on the fifth extra hole.

To add an extra dose of knowledge to her game, she recently hired veteran caddie Mike Harig. They started working together in July.

“I’m a young player and he’s pretty old, 69 years old, the oldest caddie on the tour,” Lee said. “He has a lot of experience, so that’s a lot of help for me.”

Pressel gave herself a chance of a second major win after making eight birdies.

Meanwhile, top-ranked Inbee Park, seeking a career Grand Slam, made six birdies but struggled on the back nine with two bogeys and a double bogey on the par-4 No. 11. She is tied for 20th, eight shots off the pace, with two Americans – Michelle Wie and Beth Allen. Wie hit a second-round 66 after an opening 75.

Pressel carded a 6-under 65, the lowest score so far at the tournament. She was tied for 12th when starting the day in cold and rainy conditions and bogeyed twice in her five first holes, before thriving once the sun broke through.

“I didn’t let that (start) bother me, and just kept trying to plug along and make more birdies, and was able to do so,” said Pressel, after her best round in 10 Evian appearances.

On a course she knows inside out, the 27-year-old Pressel is oozing with confidence.

“This is my 10th year but only the third year on this new golf course, but it’s still similar,” she said.

Pressel’s U.S. Solheim Cup teammate, Lexi Thompson, who shared the lead with Lee at 5 under after the opening round, is now trailing the South Korean by five shots after shooting a 1-over 72.

Holding a share of the first-round lead for the first time, Lee picked up where she left off on Thursday night. Back on the course Friday at 8:18 am, she birdied the par-4 1st hole and added three more before the turn.

She birdied the par-5 13th but fluffed an easy birdie putt on the par-3 16th after landing a very long iron three feet from the hole, and stumbled with a bogey on the par-4 18th.

Nicole Broch Larsen, fresh from winning the Helsingborg Open on the European Tour, had no problem with the early showers on the shores of Lake Geneva, starting her second round with two birdies in her four first holes.

Playing in the Evian Championship for the first time, she hit three more birdies on her back nine to make up for a bogey on the par-3 5th. She carded a 67 that lifted her to third place on the leaderboard, two shots behind Lee.

“I struggled a little bit with my driver on the back nine but I kept it together, kept fighting. I had an eagle chance on 13, 5-meter putt, but it just lipped out. I finished with a birdie so it was nice,” the Dane said.

Meanwhile, Karrie Webb carded 74 after opening with 71 to share 45th place on 3 over. Webb, who is attempting to win her sixth different major, did not hide her frustration, biting her fingers and slamming the grass with her clubs at least twice on the undulating Evian course.

China’s Shanshan Feng had another 68 and moved fourth at 6-under, with Lydia Ko two shots adrift of her and tied for fifth. The 18-year-old Ko shot a 69 and is pursuing her last chance to become the youngest woman to clinch a major. If she wins this week she will surpass Pressel, who won the Kraft Nabisco Championship at 18 years, 10 months, 9 days.

Hamilton, Ont., native Alena Sharp posted a second round of 3-under 68 to move into a tie for 32nd place. A day following her 18th birthday, fellow Ontarian Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls carded a 74 and sits T37.