Mackenzie Hughes ‘avoided’ after falling short at the RBC Canadian Open

HAMILTON — Mackenzie Hughes had the dream scenario of winning the RBC Canadian Open in her hometown at hand, but then it all slipped away.

Hughes started the final round of the National Men’s Golf Championship tied for second, four shots back of Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre. Hughes had three birdies in the first four holes and MacIntyre birdied No. 1 to lift the Canadian to the top of the leaderboard.

The final 10 holes were tough for Hughes, with three bogeys putting him back as MacIntyre found his rhythm and cruised to his first PGA Tour win.

“Pretty gutted,” Hughes said, pausing to collect himself. “Yes, I really wanted that.

“I don’t know. This one’s going to sting for a while. Obviously I got to the beginning where I should have left, but I just didn’t.”

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, BC, ended a 69-year drought for Canadians at last year’s national championship after a thrilling four-hole playoff at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto. It has been 110 years since Canadians won it in back-to-back years, with Albert Murray (1913) and Karl Keffer (1914) the last to accomplish the feat.

Hughes talked all week about trying to stay mentally present and shrug off any pressure he might feel. Not just because he was aware of the importance of keeping the championship in Canada, but also because this year’s event at Hamilton Golf and Country Club was essentially in his hometown.

Billed from Dundas, Ont., just eight kilometers away from the course in Ancaster, Ont. — both cities were amalgamated into the city of Hamilton in 2000 and 2001, respectively — Hughes allowed the pressure of the final round to weigh on him.

“Today I kind of felt the enormity of some of the shots we had and some of the shots,” he said. “I felt like I ran out of holes at times and I had to make something happen.

“In this game you can’t force things or feel like you have to start pressing, it’s kind of hard to press.”

Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., edged out Hughes in the final standings to win the Rivermead Cup, the trophy for the lowest scoring Canadian at the men’s national championship. Conners shot a 5-under 65 on the day to finish 12 under in sole possession of sixth.

“I guess it’s a nice consolation prize,” said Conners, who also won it in 2022. “Definitely something to be proud of, but obviously disappointing not to win the big trophy. It’s a great honor.”

There was a small silver lining for Hughes. His performance earned him a spot in the upcoming British Open at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland.

“It’s a great bonus, I guess, after you don’t get what you want, but kind of hard to think about right now,” Hughes said. “It’s always great to get a big start under your belt and play at Troon.

“I’ve played there before so it’s a really fun golf course and I’m looking forward to getting there in July.”

Taylor Pendrith (69) of Richmond Hill, Ont., tied for 21st at 7 under. He is projected to move up three spots to No. 30 in the FedEx Cup standings, making him the highest-ranked Canadian on the PGA Tour.

“A good step in the right direction,” said Pendrith, who went to Kent State University with Hughes and Conners. “I felt like I did a lot of good things, I putted great today, I saved a lot.”

Ben Silverman (68) of Thornhill, Ont., tied for 35th Adam Svensson (70) of Surrey, BC tied for 51st Myles Creighton (70) of Digby, NS tied for 57th Will Edmonton’s Bateman (74) tied for 62nd and David Hearn (76) of Brantford, Ont., finished 69th in his 20th Canadian Open appearance.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 2, 2024.

John Chidley-Hill, Canadian Press