Chad Campbell carded a bogey-free 9-under-par 63 to grab a two-stroke lead over Brian Harman heading to the third round of the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario.
Campbell, who has won four times on the PGA Tour but not since the 2007 Viking Classic, recorded five birdies on the back nine after starting at No. 10 and add four more coming home.
“Never really felt like it was going to be a crazy round, with nine birdies,” said Campbell, who missed a six-foot birdie putt on the last hole that would have tied the course record. “I’m definitely happy with it. Just solid play.
“It’s kind of weird because it happened with the par 5s, knocking them on (the green) in two and two-putting (for birdies on all four of them). I made a couple long putts, which always helps.”
Harman, whose only victory on the PGA Tour came last year in the John Deere Classic, birdied five of the last seven holes on the front nine and then finished his round of 67 with a three-foot birdie putt at No. 18.
David Hearn, a native of Ontario, had the home fans cheering with a bogey-free 64 that included birdies on his last two holes and was three shots behind in a tie for third with Johnson Wagner, whose four-foot eagle putt closed out a bogey-free 66.
Jason Day of Australia sank a 13-foot eagle putt on No. 18, his ninth hole of the round, and was four strokes behind in solo fifth after a 66, while Bubba Watson made eagles on two of the last three holes with putts of eighth feet and 13 feet, to complete a 67 and was another shot behind in a tie for sixth with Erik Compton, who had a 69, and Eric Axley, who came in at 68.
Michael Putnam of Pepperdine shot 65 and was six shots back in a tie for ninth with Brooks Koepka (68), Chez Reavie (67), Scott Pinckney (68), Vaughn Taylor (71), William McGirt (69) and first-round leader Emiliano Grillo of Argentina, who followed a 64 with a 72.
Charley Hoffman of Poway carded a 68 and was seven shots behind in a tie for 16th that included two-time Canadian Open champion Jim Furyk, who finished at 69.
Defending champion Tim Clark of South Africa, who has battled a left elbow injury this season, wound up at 67 and was in a tie for 33rd, nine shots back.
