Golf roundup: Brandt Snedeker one off pace after record-tying round at Canadian Open

Brandt Snedeker’s early record-tying round didn’t stand up to late charges by Scott Brown and Matt Kuchar at the RBC Canadian Open on Friday in Ancaster, Ontario.

Snedeker fired a 10-under 60 to tie the Canadian Open’s record low score. That was good enough for an early clubhouse lead at 11 under at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

But Kuchar and Brown, playing in the afternoon, went low, too, shooting 7-under 63s and finishing the second round as co-leaders at 12 under.

Snedeker and Sweden’s Carl Pettersson are the only players to shoot 60 at the Canadian Open. Pettersson did it at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto at 2010 en route to a victory. Greg Norman also had a round of 10-under 62 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario, in 1986.

Four Canadians were within four shots of the lead. Nick Taylor was tied with Snedeker for third after a second-round 65.

Webb Simpson was another stroke back at 10-under after a second-round 64.

Rory McIlroy followed an opening-round 67 with a 4-under 66 and was tied with two others at 7 under.

Brooks Koepka, fresh off his PGA Championship win, followed an opening round 70 with a 4-under 66 and was at 4 under heading into the weekend, along with defending tournament champion Dustin Johnson, the No. 2 players in the world, who followed a 1-over 71 with a 65.

No Canadian has won the national championship since Pat Fletcher in 1954 at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf and Country Club.

LPGA

Jeongeun Lee6 got right back to work after winning the U.S. Women’s Open last weekend.

Coming off her first major title, Lee6 shot an 8-under 63 to grab a share of the lead after the opening round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic in Galloway, New Jersey.

“I felt pretty relaxed on the course,” said Lee6, a 23-year-old LPGA Tour rookie from South Korea. “I didn’t feel nervous. I think I did pretty good. I played it just like how I played it last week.”

Lee6 posted an eagle and nine birdies to go along with three bogeys. Her two-putt birdie at her last hole, the par-5 ninth, moved her into a tie for first place with Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand.

The 29-year-old Phatlum posted seven birdies while playing in the morning on smoother greens. She made a 12-foot eagle putt on her final hole.

Lexi Thompson, the top American in the world rankings who tied for second in last week’s Open, shot a 64. She was part of a three-way tie for third with rookies Kristen Gillman and Muni He.

“Last week was tough,” Thompson said. “It’s so intense and such a long week. It’s very draining. Coming here I took two days off and then I just practiced Wednesday and played my 18-hole Pro-Am round (Thursday). It’s working out for me so far.”

Japan’s Ayako Uehara fired a 65. She was the only player to shoot that number.

Defending champion Annie Park fired a 69.

In all, 76 players bettered par, with 45 scores in the 60s.

The tournament offers $1.75 million in prize money, with $262,500 going to the winner.