Jhonattan Vegas shoots final round 64 to beat Dustin Johnson to Canadian Open title

  • Jhonattan Vegas finished 12 under par after a superb round of 64 on Sunday
  • He beat Dustin Johnson, Martin Laird and Jon Rahm by a single shot
  • Overnight leader Brandt Snedeker finished tied fifth after a round of 71
  • Vegas earned a spot at the PGA Championship and next year's Masters 

Jhonattan Vegas rallied to win the Canadian Open on Sunday for his second PGA Tour victory, birdieing the final three holes at Glen Abbey for an eight-under 64 and one-stroke victory.

The 29-year-old Venezuelan Olympic player began the day five strokes behind leader Brandt Snedeker and four behind US Open champion Dustin Johnson and Canadian amateur Jared du Toit.

Vegas had five straight birdies on holes two to six, bogeyed the par-four eighth and also birdied the par-five 13th. He then birdied the par-five 16th, par-four 17th and par-five 18th to post a 12-under 276. No one could catch him.

Jhonattan Vegas poses with the Canadian Open trophy after winning by a single stroke on Sunday

Jhonattan Vegas poses with the Canadian Open trophy after winning by a single stroke on Sunday

Vegas, pictured celebrating his win with two mounties, shot a brilliant round of 64 on the final day

Vegas, pictured celebrating his win with two mounties, shot a brilliant round of 64 on the final day

The 29-year-old Venezuelan began the day five strokes behind leader Brandt Snedeker at Glen Abbey

The 29-year-old Venezuelan began the day five strokes behind leader Brandt Snedeker at Glen Abbey

CANADIAN OPEN LEADERBOARD

1. Jhonattan Vegas, -12


T2. Jon Rahm, -11

T2. Martin Laird, -11

T2. Dustin Johnson, -11

T5. Ricky Barnes, -10

T5. Alex Cejka, -10

T5. Steve Wheatcroft, -10

T5. Brandt Snedeker, -10 

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Johnson, Jon Rahm and Martin Laird tied for second. Johnson eagled the 16th and birdied the 18th for a 69. Laird finished with two pars in a 67. Rahm, du Toit's former Arizona State team-mate, birdied 16 and 18 for a 67. The Spaniard was making his fourth start since turning professional.

Vegas earned $1,062,000 and a spot in the PGA Championship next week at Baltusrol in New Jersey. He also received a two-year tour exemption and a spot in the Masters next year.

Vegas also won the 2011 Bob Hope Classic. He tied for fourth last week in Alabama in the event opposite The Open, shooting a course-record 60 in the second round.

Snedeker, the 2013 winner at Glen Abbey, shot a 71 to tie for fifth at 10 under. He birdied the 16th and closed with two pars.

Du Toit tied for ninth at 9 under after a 71. He birdied 16 and 18.

Dustin Johnson plays out of a bunker on the third hole but he could only finish in a tie for second place

Dustin Johnson plays out of a bunker on the third hole but he could only finish in a tie for second place

Brandt Snedeker shot a round of 71 to finish tied fifth after starting the final day in first place

Brandt Snedeker shot a round of 71 to finish tied fifth after starting the final day in first place

Canadian amateur Jared du Toit acknowledges the crowd after shooting a 71 to finish tied for ninth

Canadian amateur Jared du Toit acknowledges the crowd after shooting a 71 to finish tied for ninth

Du Toit, an Arizona State senior from Kimberley, British Columbia, was trying to become the first Canadian winner since Pat Fletcher, born in England, in 1954 at Point Grey in Vancouver, British Columbia. 

Carl Keffer is the only Canadian-born champion, winning in 1909 and 1914. Albert Murray, a Canadian also born in England, won in 1908 and 1913. 

Doug Sanders was the last amateur to win the event in 1956, and Phil Mickelson - then also an Arizona State student - was the last amateur winner on the tour in the 1991 Northern Telecom Open.

Top-ranked defending champion Jason Day carded a 67 to tie for 14th at 7 under.

 

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