Graham DeLaet
HAMILTON, Ont. - Graham DeLaet's final round at the RBC Canadian Open was over before the leaders even teed off, but he didn't go home empty-handed from his national championship.
The golfer from Weyburn, Sask., closed with an even-par 70 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club on Sunday to claim the Rivermead Cup as low Canadian at the event.
"I guess it's a nice consolation prize," said DeLaet. "You know, we come in here with higher expectations than just trying to beat the Canadians. We want to beat everyone in the field, but there's a lot of great Canadians in the field, and I guess I am honoured to be the low Canadian."
DeLaet finished in a tie for 56th and edged David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., by two strokes. They were tied entering the final round and Hearn shot a 72.
Neither of Canada's top two players had their best game around the tree-lined layout at Hamilton, but both were pleased with the warm reception they received along the way.
"It was a great week, a lot of support," said DeLaet, who stood out Sunday with red pants and a red shirt. "I got a lot of comments on my outfit today, and it was just cool playing in front of the home fans.
"It's a little disappointing that I wasn't able to really get anything going this week, but at the same time it's nice to be back home."
For Hearn, it ended a run of four straight tournaments. He's made the cut in 10 of his last 11 events overall and feels as though he's taken some positive strides with his game.
"I've gotten better since last year," said Hearn. "I think a week like this last year I probably would have missed the cut. I didn't have my best stuff this week and I was still able to squeak it out."
Amateur Albin Choi (72) of Toronto finished tied for 73rd while Matt McQuillan (69) of Kingston, Ont., and Matt Hill (73) of Bright's Grove, Ont., tied for 75th.
For Choi, it was an encouraging result in just his second ever PGA Tour event. He's scheduled to compete in the Canadian Amateur and U.S. Amateur before returning to North Carolina State for his junior year.
"This week obviously gave me a lot of confidence going into those events," said Choi. "I just wish I played a bit better here on the weekend, but I still enjoyed my time here and I'll take a lot away from it."
After DeLaet posed for some quick photos with the Rivermead Cup, he started looking ahead to some time off. He's off to Alaska for a fishing trip before returning to action at the Wyndham Championship next month.
"That'll be a nice little week off to regenerate and be ready to go for the last little stretch of the year," said DeLaet.