Ames misses cut

pattfield

OAKVILLE, Ont. Canadian Press

After enduring two topsy-turvy days at Glen Abbey Golf Course, it's no surprise Stephen Ames had roller coasters on his mind.

"I'm probably going to go to Canada's Wonderland and hang out, if the weather's nice," Ames said Friday after shooting a second-round even-par 71 at the Canadian Open. The Calgary native finished 36 holes at 1 over — leaving Canada's top-ranked golfer two shots shy of the projected cut line.

Ames may or may not be headed to an amusement park this weekend — either way, he probably won't miss Glen Abbey. Ames played only one shot Thursday before torrential rain forced golfers off the course. They returned five hours 42 minutes later — a decision Ames questioned after slogging through nine holes Thursday on a waterlogged course, then returning for a 27-hole marathon Friday.

"I don't know if the call that the PGA Tour made (Thursday) afternoon was the correct one," said Ames, who missed just his second cut of the season. "Every fairway was literally underwater. To get casual water relief, you'd probably have to be about 60 yards from where you were.

"In that sense, I thought that wasn't a great call. But that's not my job. I'm just playing golf."

Despite having to play nearly seven hours of golf under a baking sun Friday, Ames said he felt good on the course.

"I've hit the ball a lot worse and made cuts," said Ames. "I played very well ... (just) didn't make a thing."

Ames's round highlighted an up-and-down day for the 19 Canadians in the field. With the projected cut at 1 under after Friday's play, six Canadians were in position to earn a weekend tee time.

Jon Mills of Oshawa, Ont. (71), Dustin Risdon of Calgary (72) and amateur Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., (70) were in the clubhouse at 2 under, while Ian Leggatt of Cambridge, Ont., (71) and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont. (72) sat at 1 under.

Mike Weir of Bright's Grove, Ont., remained the top Canadian by a landslide — despite struggling to even par through 16 holes, leaving him at 6 under for the tournament when play was called due to darkness. That dropped him seven shots back of clubhouse leader Chez Reavie.

"A little uneventful, really," Weir said of his second round. "Played well, just didn't make any putts."

David Morland IV of Aurora, Ont., Charlie Woo of Markham, Ont., Andrew Parr of London, Ont., Bryan DeCorso of Guelph, Ont., and Jacob Scriven of Uxbridge, Ont., will also be back early Saturday morning to complete their second rounds.

For Hearn and Mills, being on the right side of the cut line was especially satisfying considering both men played 31 holes Friday.

"It was a long day, but I was definitely satisfied with the way I finished up on the back nine," said Mills, who joked that he made a few trips to the buffet during Thursday's rain delay. "The last two rounds I've driven the ball really well."

Not every Canadian was happy with his result Friday.

What had been shaping up as the comeback of the second round ended in frustration for Adam Short of Vineland, Ont. The Canadian Tour player opened the tournament with a 76, but made four birdies on the back nine Friday to move to 1 under for the tournament — giving him a shot at a paycheque.

Short's hopes came to an abrupt halt with bogeys on Nos. 17 and 18.

"I knew I needed to make birdie on the last (hole)," said Short, who still posted one of the low rounds of the day (67). "I still don't know ... I guess I was just juiced on the last (hole), because I went down a club from the shot I was going to hit and still flew the green, and then it buried in the back bunker.

"I didn't really have much to work with there."

The bogey-bogey result did more than eliminate Short from the tournament — it cost him a critical payday.

"I have to get some money together to go to (PGA) Q-school," said Short. "I don't have any money. So if anyone out there is listening, I need some money."

Several other Canadians went home empty-handed.

Calgary amateur Michael Knight closed with a 73 to wind up at 2 over. Wes Heffernan of Calgary (73) and Brad Fritsch of Manotick, Ont., (76) finished at 5 over, with Eric Landreville of Melocheville, Que., (71) at 10 over and Todd Halpen of Calgary (78) at 11 over.

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