Most figured it would be tour veterans Brandt Snedeker and Dustin Johnson duking it out Sunday for the Canadian Open title.
About 30,000 Canadians on hand at Glen Abbey were hoping like heck that it would be a Cinderella story and amateur Jared du Toit would be the first Canadian to win since 1952. Du Toit would thrill them with a one-under par 71 and a top 10 finish.
But would be none of those, instead, it was Jhonattan Vegas who came from five shots back then waited nervously and watched at least five players with a good chance to tie or beat him for the championship.
Vegas had posted an amazing eight-under par 64 to post 12-under early, then told those who wondered: “I think it will take 13-under, that’s the number I had in mind, that’s the number I was trying to get to, I wanted to make that eagle putt on 18,” said the former University of Texas star from Venezuela.
Vegas waited and waited some more.
Steve Wheatcroft had a great chance to win it all, he was 12-under par through 15 holes with sure-fire birdies waiting for him at the 16th and 18th holes. But he failed to birdie 16 then at 17 dumped a short wedge shot into the greenside bunker, into a buried lie. He would make bogey but still had the 18th, a hole that was yielding eagles and birdies galore. He hit his second from 215 yards out into the back bunker then the crowd gasped in horror as he skanked his sand shot over the green into the water in front of the green. A bogey dropped him back to 10-under, tied for fifth.
Super rookie John Rahm had a great chance to get to 12-under and tie but barely missed a 10-footer for eagle at 18. Vegas dodged another one.
Dustin Johnson was stuck in neutral most of the day, still, he had a short chip for eagle at 18 to tie. He hit it on a perfect line and it came up just short. Vegas dodged another one.
Martin Laird had a chance. He had a short pitch into 18 but left it well short and did not make birdie. Vegas dodged another one.
Overnight leader Snedeker had a chance but needed eagle. He hit is second into the back bunker, it buried and he did all he could just to make par. Vegas dodged yet another one and wound up with the second victory of his short career.
“It’s incredible, a ton of emotions running through me. I’m super excited. From where I started the year, I didn’t have full status.”
Indeed, Vegas has struggled with injuries after a fast start to his career that saw him win the second event he played in as a pro back in 2011. He has been inconsistent at times, really good and then very average. He shot 60 in the second round at the Barbasol last week but did not win.
But on Sunday he came through with birdies on the final three holes to earn a spot in this week’s PGA Championship.
