30 Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor “Connected to your Community” [email protected] Sports Thursday, July 30, 2015 | July 30, Thursday,

| Glen Abbey merits its encore in 2016 tournament director already planning how to make event bigger and better Sunday leaderboard and openly engages with fans. It also containing three of the top doesn’t hurt that he’s sponsored by A seven players in the world, a RBC, as are Hearn, perennial Cana- Canadian in contention until the final dian Open contender and world No. hole, near-perfect conditions — both 7 Jim Furyk (fourth this year) and the weather and the course — and several other big-name players. | OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com crowd numbers that may have been Rain has been a nemesis of the Ca- record-setting. nadian Open in An RBC its recent stops Canadian Open in Oakville, but like that de- not this year. serves an encore. The sun shone “I’m so Jon down on a Glen excited we can Kuiperij Abbey course With a huge and supportive crowd behind him, Brantford native David Hearn needed to hole out this shot from a green-side bunker on the build on this Sports Editor that many play- 18th hole to force a playoff Sunday in the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club. Hearn finished third in the tournament, two strokes momentum,” Oakville Beaver ers and media behind champion and one behind PGA Tour star . | photo by Justin Greaves — Oakville Beaver — @Halton_Photog Oakville resident members said and first-year was in the best ans, and you should be flying that fashion — applauded the play of his might choose to skip the Canadian tournament director Brent McLaugh- shape they’d ever seen, a credit to flag,’” McLaughlin said. “It was truly competitors. Open as a result. lin said of Canada’s national open course superintendent Andrew Gyba embraced.” “When would we think we’d be McLaughlin, however, sees it as an championship, which will return to and his team. And the timing for a homegrown rooting against Bubba or Jason Day opportunity. Glen Abbey Golf Club for a record McLaughlin’s new touches on player to contend for the champion- to be the champion?” McLaughlin “I think the field could be stronger. 28th time next July. the tournament were well-received, ship couldn’t have been better. Hearn asked rhetorically. “The stars were It’s an opportunity to reach out to the How couldn’t he be? whether it was giving the players became the first Canadian to hold aligned.” European Tour and get some amaz- The tournament has as market- selfie sticks in hopes they would post a 54-hole lead in the tournament Though McLaughlin’s immediate ing players that we normally don’t able a champion as you could ask photos on social media, shepherding since 2004, the year Mike Weir fell focus shifts to his director responsi- get… guys like Lee Westwood, Ian for in Jason Day, the 27-year-old players closer to the beer gardens, to Vijay Singh in a playoff in one bilities with next month’s Canadian Poulter, Justin Rose,” he said. “Some Aussie who birdied his final three boosting patriotic pride with a ‘Can- of the other memorable finishes at Pacific Women’s Open in Vancouver, guys (coming to North America for holes Sunday to pull the rug out from ada Day’ Friday that promoted the Glen Abbey. As Sunday progressed he’s also already looking ahead to the PGA Championship) like to get under world No. 3 Bubba Watson wearing of red and white, the huge and Hearn (who has never won a next year’s Canadian Open. That used to the time zone and play the and Brantford native David Hearn. Canadian flag behind the 18th green, PGA Tour event) continued to hold tournament will be sandwiched week before. I think it’s a whole new Day, who all but clinched the title or providing the 16 participating the lead on the back nine, fans who directly between two majors (the field we can potentially tap into.” with a 21-foot birdie putt on 18 while Canucks with their own designated might have otherwise been there to British Open and the PGA Cham- McLaughlin hopes to bring back Watson and Hearn looked on from parking spots for the first time. cheer for Watson or Day didn’t even pionship) as the PGA Tour juggles a series of nightly concerts for next the fairway, comes off great in inter- “Players were saying, ‘This is right. seem conflicted. They were fully in its schedule to accommodate golf’s year’s tournament, and chuckled as views, has a million-dollar smile, is This is your national open. You support of the 36-year-old Hearn, inclusion in the 2016 Olympics, and he mentioned thoughts of adding the fourth-ranked player in the world need to be proud of your Canadi- though they still — in true Canadian there have been concerns that players see Expect on p.31 THE GYM Convenient, clean, and friendly. NAUTILUS We’re Oakville’s best kept secret! Est. 1982 ✔ High quality weight training and Nautilus cardio equipment. ✔ Experienced and mature personal trainers. ✔ Carpeted, air conditioned with ample natural light from large windows. ✔ Free indoor parking. Trial Offer: 3 FREE workouts with a trainer! 11 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville, ON 905-844-1610 www.thegymnautilus.com