Zach Bauchou (USGA photo)
DUNCAN, British Columbia (Aug. 7, 2018) – Backing up a course-record round isn’t always easy, but
Zachary Bauchou did it effectively Tuesday at the Canadian Amateur. Bauchou, also the defending champion, followed an opening 6-under 65 with a 3-under 68.
Bauchou’s opening round at Duncan Meadows Golf Club included two eagles. There were none of those on Tuesday, but Bauchou balanced out three bogeys with six birdies.
The round got Bauchou to 9 under, which gives him a three-shot cushion on the next-closest player, Canadian Julien Sale.
Bauchou, and Oklahoma State junior, looks to stay aggressive in Wednesday’s third round.
“The goal is just to play as good as I can and make as many birdies as I can,” he said. “I’ve had some short game errors where I didn’t get up-and-down, so I’ll be looking to sharpen up my short game over the next two days and keep playing aggressively—pedal to the medal.”
Behind Sale, fellow Canadians Tristan Mandur and Brendan MacDougall are tied with American Philip Knowles, a senior at North Florida, for third. All three players are 4 under.
Garrett Rank was the biggest mover, and biggest story, of the day after becoming the second player this week to tie the course record. Rank’s 6-under 65 is especially impressive considering it included a double-bogey at No. 5. Rank had nine birdies, six of which came on the back nine.
The round came on the heels of an opening 3-over 74. Rank's turnaround got him to 3 under for the tournament, and into a tie for sixth on the leaderboard.
Rank, a mid-amateur who works as an NHL referee, already won the Ontario Amateur and Mid-Amateur this summer. Most recently, he was T-117 at the Western Amateur. Rank finished T-11 at this event a year ago, but was T-2 at the Canadian Mid-Amateur.
ABOUT THE Canadian Amateur
This competition is open to male amateur golfers.
Canadian players must be a
member of a golf club in good
standing with Golf Canada or who are Gold level
members of Golf Canada’s
membership program. Foreign
players must be members in good standing with their
respective association.
72-hole stroke play championship with a cut after 36
holes to the low 70
players and ties. The winner earns a spot in the PGA
Tour's Canadian Open.
View Complete Tournament Information