Canada’s Hadwin had win in mind

By: Dhiren Mahiban Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Monday, Jul. 25, 2011

VANCOUVER -- It appeared the pressure and nerves had finally got the best of Adam Hadwin.

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VANCOUVER -- It appeared the pressure and nerves had finally got the best of Adam Hadwin.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/07/2011 (5469 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VANCOUVER — It appeared the pressure and nerves had finally got the best of Adam Hadwin.

Coming into the final round of the RBC Canadian Open, Hadwin was in contention to become the first Canadian to win the national championship in 57 years. But he bogeyed the first hole Sunday, and a 4 over on the front nine saw him slip down the leaderboard.

However, the self-assured 23-year-old from Abbotsford, B.C., bounced back on the back nine at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club for a final round of 2 over, and a tie for fourth at 2-under 278.

CP
Adam Hadwin won the River Mead Cup as the best Canadian at the Open. — CP Adam Hadwin won the River Mead Cup as the best Canadian at the Open.

“I think the day might have been a lot different had I rolled that first put in,” Hadwin said. “I think I would’ve just continued doing what I was doing, but I recovered.”

Hadwin came into Sunday’s final round fresh off a 2 under 68 that left him just a shot back of leader Bo Van Pelt and with designs of being the first Canadian to win the event since Pat Fletcher in 1954, when the tournament was held at Point Grey in Vancouver.

While his rough front nine kept him from the top of the leaderboard — he finished two strokes back of eventual winner Sean O’Hair, who won in a playoff — he easily captured the River Mead Cup for the second consecutive year as the lowest-scoring Canadian.

He finished tied with Australian veteran Geoff Ogilvy and collected US$228,800.

“I might have a few beers,” Hadwin joked. “I’ve got a flight to book, I’ve got some hotels to book now — I don’t know, just pad the bank account and keep it high, who knows.”

Hadwin also bogeyed No. 6, No. 8 and No. 11 before rebounding for three straight birdies on the back nine.

“I hit a bad tee shot on No. 11, recovered and made my bogey and really stepped it up and put my game in to over drive from there,” he said.

On No. 12, Hadwin’s eight-iron tee-shot landed just over two feet from the hole, and he birdied to drop to 4 over for the day. Then on No. 13 after his 317-yard tee shot, the lone Canadian on the leaderboard sunk a 10-foot putt with his third shot to drop him 3 over.

The highlight of his fourth round came on No. 14. After his 196-yard tee shot, Hadwin found himself in a position for a third straight birdie and drained a long 25-foot putt much to the delight of the large following he had throughout the day.

“I called on my caddy (Brett Saunders) today, he was very good, he keeps me level,” Hadwin said. “He keeps me focused on the right things, he’s always saying the right things.

“It’s always a process for us and it paid off in the end.”

As he approached the green on No. 18, many of the spectators in the assembled gallery, which included his mother and younger brother Kyle, were on their feet.

“It’s pretty special… it sends chills down your spine and it’s a pretty neat feeling,” he said.

— The Canadian Press