West Vancouver, B.C. (Golf Canada) – Vancouver’s Doug Roxburgh edged closer to winning his first Canadian Men’s Senior Championship title Thursday, firing a 1-under-par 70 at Capilano Golf and Country Club to take a 4-shot lead heading into tomorrow’s final round.
The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured member once again got off to an unsteady start with a bogey on the 1st hole, but it proved to be the only blemish on his scorecard for the day.
The four-time Canadian Amateur and 13-time British Columbia Amateur champion carded birdies on holes 9 and 10 to fire his third consecutive sub-par round (69-69-70) at Capilano to sit at 5-under 208.
“I had a bit of a shaky start, but settled into a nice rhythm,” said Roxburgh. “I always enjoy playing with Sandy Harper and it was a fun day. I’m looking forward to tomorrow with Sandy again and Brady (Exber).”
Brady Exber of Las Vegas carded a 4-under 67 Thursday – the low round of the tournament – and now sits alone in second at 1-under 212 (74-71-67), four-shots back of Roxburgh.
“My approach today was to not make the silly mistakes I made the first two days,” he explained. “I’ve been driving the ball really well, and having some 4 or 5 irons into the par-5s, but was missing the greens in very bad spots. Today I did a better job of that, birdieing all four of the par-5s.”
Exber is the reigning (British) Seniors Amateur Champion, winning the R&A’s championship earlier this month in North Yorkshire, England to gain entry into the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship.
“My goal this week was to just not embarrass myself because people know I’ve won a big tournament and I didn’t want them to think it was a fluke,” he joked. “I think I’ve accomplished that at this point, so the pressure if off there. I’m still riding that high though, trying to play good and hopefully tomorrow will be a good day.”
Nanaimo, B.C.’s Sandy Harper is third, five shots off the lead at even-par 213 (71-73-69).
This week’s champion receives an exemption into the 2014 USGA Senior Amateur Championship taking place September 13-18 at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach, Calif.
The Canadian Senior Men’s Championship continues Friday with the final round beginning at 7:30 a.m. (PDT). Scoring, pairings and start times can be found online here.