Ryan Fox finishes strongly to share Canadian Open lead

New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Ryan Fox has a share of the lead at the Canadian Open after a strong finish to the second round.

The New Zealander nailed a 14-foot (4.3m) birdie on his final hole to rejoin Robert MacIntyre of Scotland as joint leader.

They are 10-under heading into the final two rounds, with Fox shooting a 6-under 64 and MacIntyre 66.

Fox started on the back nine and birdied four holes going out. Consecutive birdies at the fourth and fifth got him to 10 under, and after a bogey at the next hole, He rolled in a 14-foot birdie, his seventh of the round, on the par-4 ninth to match MacIntyre again.

"This is my first time playing in Canada in about 12 years," Fox said.

"I've enjoyed my time so far here. Golf course kind of suits my eye. Similar grass to what we play at home. Similar kind of old style, tree-lined golf course, which is what I grew up on. Hopefully I can keep it rolling over the weekend like that."

It was the first time either Fox or MacIntyre has the lead after 36 holes on the PGA Tour.

They are two shots ahead of Joel Dahmen, while Canadian Mackenzie Hughes matched Fox's 64 for the round of the day and moved into a tie at 7 under with Andrew Novak (67) and first-round leader David Skinns of England (71).

Rory McIlroy, the highest-ranked player in the field and a two-time Canadian Open champion, struggled to a 2-over 72, and the Northern Irishman dropped to 2 under for the tournament.

Meanwhile, at the US Women's Open, Lydia Ko missed the cut after shooting a second-round 73 to go with her first round 80. But fellow New Zealander Amelia Garvey made it through to the weekend rounds with a 76 to go with her first round 71.

- Reuters/RNZ Sport