With the winds whipping around Bermuda’s Port Royal Golf Club, Brian Hadley had no choice but to grind one out if he wanted to maintain his PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy lead heading into Thursday’s Final Round.
“It was definitely a grind out there today, but it’s always going to be a grind when the winds blow like 40 km/h,” Hadley said. “But at the same time it’s fun because you get to hit some shots you don’t normally get to hit.”
The 35-year-old’s two-day even-par total of 140 (72-70) sees him leading a talented field, however, Craig Hocknull sits just one shot back at 1-over after 2-under-par 69 in the second round. Gordon Burns, who lurks just three shots off the lead, will join Hadley and Hocknull in the final group Thursday.
While he’s never won on the national stage before, Hadley is no stranger to playing well in big events. Earlier this season he won the PGA of Ontario Championship for the third time since 2012. He also played in the 2013 RBC Canadian Open on the PGA Tour (after winning the Ontario qualifier) and shot a 59 (13-under-par) in the first round of the 2013 PGA of Ontario Championship.
The head golf professional at Thames Valley Golf Club in London, Ont., said he’s going to approach Thursday’s final round just like another other.
“I’m just going to go out there tomorrow and hit the ball well, try and make some putts and see what happens,” Hadley said.
Like Hadley, Hocknull admitted he’s just going to treat Thursday’s final round like every other round of golf.
“Golf is funny and sometimes it’s best to not really know where you stand because if you play your 18 holes, focus on what you’re doing there’s a pretty good chance you’ll end up playing better,” Hocknull said. “But if I know exactly where I stand coming down the stretch I may change a few things in my game.”
Lindsay Bernakevitch sits in fourth at 4-over, while Dave Zibrik rounds out the top five at 5-over.
