Ryan Thornberry
American Ryan Thornberry will take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the Canadian Tour's ClubLink Jane Rogers Championship.
The native of Ceres, Calif. backed up his opening-day 67 with a 3-under 68 Friday to take the pole position at the halfway mark with a 7-under 135 total. Fellow American Tom Glissmeyer (68) is hot on his heels, one shot back, while Michael Jensen (71) is in at 5-under 137.
Overnight leader Andrew Parr of London, Ont. (73) and freshman standout Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, BC (69) are tied for fourth, three shots back.
Rod Spittle of Niagara Falls, Ont., playing on a sponsor's exemption, is at minus-3 while 2009 NCAA champion Matt Hill of Forest, Ont. sits at 1-over par.
Four-time PGA Tour winner Notah Begay III won't be one of the 64 players around for the weekend after struggling to a 10-over total.
On the par-5 10th, his opening hole of the morning, Thornberry knocked a wedge to three feet before cashing in the birdie putt. The 26-year-old made the turn at 3-under before giving one back on the par-4 first hole. On the par-3 sixth, Thornberry hit a 7-iron to eight feet to set up another birdie and get to the top perch on the leaderboard.
As always, the tricky greens at Greystone Golf Club were giving players fits all day.
"There's a lot of undulation and speed on these greens, and any time you put those two together you better be paying attention," said Thornberry. "I played pretty steady all around and didn't put myself in a lot of trouble. You're not going to hit all 18 greens out here. You just have to deal with what the course gives you."
Thornberry enjoyed an outstanding amateur career, highlighted by four All-American nods while at Cal State, but hasn't been able to find the winner's circle in his four years on the Canadian Tour.
He hopes to change that this weekend.
"I did have a lot of success at the amateur level but it's been a bit of a slower start as a pro," he admitted. "It's really a whole different ballgame in the pros.
"I feel I'm ready to win, but I'm not thinking about that right now. There's a lot of golf left and too much can happen between now and then."
The fourth annual event honours Jane Rogers, a courageous woman who continued to raise funds for her cancer clinic, the Trillium Health Centre Oncology Unit, right up until her final days battling the disease.
Since the event's inception, the Canadian Tour has been a prominent financial contributor to the JRC but Canadian Tour officials stress another significant sponsor is needed both to make an significant impact in the GTA market and significantly increase the current $125,000 purse. Right now, the purse average for tour events in Canada is closing in on $250,000, with two events at $300,000 or more.