Canadian Tour - DeLaet Grabs Players Cup Title

Submitted by CanTour Communications John Berkovich

WINNIPEG, Man. – Graham DeLaet shot a two under par 69 to capture the Canadian Tour Players Cup by one stroke over Byron Smith, Lucas Lee and Ryan Horn.

DeLaet finished the week at eight under par 276 and with his second title of the season, jumps to the top of the Order of Merit with $78,500 after his $32,000 pay day on Sunday.

John Ellis matched par 71 to grab solo fifth at 278 while Derek Gillespie (71) and Mark Leon (73) share sixth spot at 279.

Finishing T-8 at 280 are Mitchell Gillis (70), Luke Hickmott (72) and Ryan Thornberry with a 71.

DeLaet started with four consecutive pars and then backed up with bogeys at five and six.

Settling down with a birdie at eight, he parred three straight before birdieing three of his next four starting at No. 12, then was handed the victory when Smith bogeyed the final hole.

Smith, a winner in Victoria last month, birdied to start the day but gave it back at five.

He went birdie bogey at eight and nine before a birdie at the par-5 15th moved him one ahead of a charging DeLaet.

However, Smith bogeyed 16 to drop back into a tie with DeLaet before the fateful bogey at 18 left him one back.

With three birdies on his first 16 holes, Ryan Horn was tied for the lead but a bogey at 17 dropped him one behind DeLaet and Smith at the time.

Starting the day with a one stroke lead over Brad Fritsch, Lee was at even but doubled the par-5 seventh and bogeyed 13.

Refusing to quit, he rallied with birdies at 14 and 15 to catch the leaders but his bogey at No. 16 left him one short.

Fritsch held steady until going bogey, double, par, bogey starting at No. 7. The Manotick, Ont., finished T-19.

In the Clubhouse

Competitors earning spots into the RBC Canadian Open:
Graham DeLaet
Mauricio Molina
Mike Grob
Andres Gonzales
Hugo Leon
Rafael Gomez
Stuart Anderson
Wes Heffernan

Byron Smith - #2 on Order of Merit – earned an exemption but turned it down to play the Nationwide Tour event. Jim Rutledge (#6) also turned down his RCGA exemption so his spot is given to the next player on the Order of Merit. The top two Canadians (Stuart Anderson #10 and Wes Heffernan #18) not otherwise exempt were given exemptions.

Graham DeLaet was already exempt before his win.