CAREDON, Ontario — Matteo Manacero and Ryan Fox each shot a 6-under 64 on Saturday, sharing their third round lead of the RBC Canada Open.
Manacero rebounded from a 3-putt bogey on the par 4 17th, birdie (hitting an 80-yard third shot to 2 feet) in par 5 18th, reaching 14 under 196 on the North Course at TPC Toronto in Osprey Valley.
“I missed 17 short ones, and today I missed a few more short ones,” Manacero said. “I really do have them like shots, like drivers, like six irons, it’s just a shot. So I don’t want it to get inside my head, so I don’t want it to ruin anything towards the next shot or ruin my attitude.”
The 32-year-old Italian has won eight international victories, but it’s not on the PGA Tour.
“I try to talk to myself very well, a good attitude, a good thought process, a lot of trying to talk to myself. It’s very basic,” Manassero said. “I’m mature a lot and have a better perspective on a day like tomorrow, for example.”
Fox also birded on the 18th. The 38-year-old New Zealand native won the Myrtle Beach Classic in the playoffs for his first PGA Tour title last month.
“To be honest, everything’s been pretty right,” Fox said. “I drove it well. If you’re doing it here, you give yourself a lot of chances. You’ve had a lot of good wedge shots and you’ve drilled some putts early.
Lee Hodges, Kevin Yu and Matt McCarty were strokes. Hodges and Yu shot 63, while McCarty scored 64.
Canadian Mackenzie Hughes (64) was under 12 years of age, Jake Knapp (66) and Andrew Putnam (68).
“I play the ball quite a bit, I drive it pretty well,” Hughes said. “It feels like there’s pressure from putters and short games. This is the big key. You can start driving it well and attack and become aggressive.”
Oakville’s 2023 winner, Canadian Nick Taylor, reached 10 under on the 18th at the age of 69. Compatriots Adam Hadwin (65) and Taylor Pendris (67) were also under the age of 10.
