Australians finish off the pace

Monday, 30 July 2012
Nathan Green
Nathan Green

America's Scott Piercy triumphed at the Canadian Open after carding a final-round three-under 67 on Sunday as the Australian contingent finished off the pace.

Piercy, who started the day in third place, birdied four of his first five holes to prevail by one stroke at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club ahead of countrymen Robert Garrigus and William McGirt.

Garrigus, the leader after 54 holes, missed six putts inside eight feet to finish with an even 70, while McGirt was left to rue three bogeys in his one-under 69.

"I should have won this golf tournament by seven shots. Everybody knows that," Garrigus said.

"If I could have just made a putt today. I don't know. It just wasn't starting on my lines. I hit a couple too firm and then I hit a couple too soft. I just couldn't get the feel for it."

The win was just Piercy's second on the PGA Tour and secured him a berth in the Masters at Augusta National next year amongst other perks.

Piercy's total of 17-under 263 also equalled the oldest 72-hole scoring record on the PGA Tour, set by American Johnny Palmer when he won the event in 1952.

The 33-year-old looked in trouble on the 14th when his tee shot fell into the trees, but he managed to escape with bogey and then chipped in for birdie on the 15th before avoiding trouble on the final few holes.

American trio Josh Teater (66 in the final round), Bud Cauley (66) and Chris Kirk (68) tied for fourth on 14-under 266, followed by compatriots Bo Van Pelt (70) and Scott Stallings (70) and Fiji's Vijay Singh (67), who were two shots further adrift.

Australia's Nathan Green (68), Englishman Gary Christian (66), Retief Goosen (69) of South Africa and Americans Troy Matteson (68) and Kevin Kisner (69) were equal 10th on 10-under 270.

Gavin Coles was the next best placed Australian in equal 19th on eight-under 272, while Stuart Appleby was a further shot behind in equal 28th.