Robert MacIntyre’s eagle on the 17th hole Saturday catapulted the Scottish golfer to 4-under-par 66 and a four-shot lead in the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Hamilton, Ontario.
MacIntyre used a 5-under score across a four-hole stretch on the back nine to break free from a crowded cluster atop the leaderboard.
He’ll go into Sunday’s final round trying to fend off a trio of golfers, including Canadian Mackenzie Hughes (67), sharing second place. Ben Griffin (65) and Ryan Fox (70) of New Zealand are also at 10 under.
MacIntyre, 27, is seeking his first victory on the tour, though he had a strong showing by tying for eighth place in last month’s PGA Championship. Griffin and Fox are also without PGA Tour championships.
MacIntyre was 1 over for the round through 13 holes before a sizzling closing stretch. He had three straight birdies before the eagle at the par-5 17th.
Griffin made a charge with seven birdies, pulling into a share of the lead before a bogey on the final hole.
Hughes, a fan favorite who was adored by spectators throughout the round, sank a 29-foot birdie putt on the par-5 fourth hole despite missing the fairway on his tee shot.
Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, whose bogey-free 64 was the best score of the day, moved up to fifth place at 9 under in a tie with Sam Burns (67), Trace Crowe (67) and Joel Dahmen (69).
Fleetwood was the 2023 tournament’s runner-up, losing to Canadian Nick Taylor on the third playoff hole. Taylor missed the cut at 3 over this week.
Fox held a two-shot lead until bogeys on Nos. 11, 13 and 14 suddenly had him in a three-way tie for second place. He managed pars on the last four holes to come through with a steady finish.
Fox and MacIntyre entered the round tied atop the leaderboard at 10 under.
–Field Level Media