Manassero, Fox take third-round lead at RBC Canadian Open; Hughes low Canadian

CALEDON - Mackenzie Hughes has been here before, but he hopes to do things differently.

Italy's Matteo Manassero and New Zealand's Ryan Fox both shot a 6-under 64 on Saturday to share the third-round lead at the RBC Canadian Open at 14-under overall. Hughes, from Dundas, Ont., also fired a 66 to move 13 spots up the leaderboard and become the low Canadian, two shots behind Manassero and Fox.

Hughes was also the low Canadian after three rounds in last year's Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club. Basically playing in his backyard, Hughes was tied for second and just four shots off third-round leader Robert MacIntyre.

But that Sunday, Hughes shot an even-par 70, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., leapfrogged him for low Canadian, and MacIntyre held on for a one-stroke victory.

"I think the hardest thing is to not want it too much, which is hard to turn off," said Hughes about learning from last year's experience. "It's hard to turn off something that you've thought about for years.

"It's just something that tomorrow I'm going to need to do a good job of is, 'Hey, what can I control tomorrow?' Then when the round is over tomorrow night, I'm just like at peace with whatever happens."

Manassero and Fox were a shot ahead of Taiwan's Kevin Yu as well as Americans Lee Hodges and Matt McCarty. Hughes was in a tie with Americans Jake Knapp and Andrew Putnam for sixth at 12 under.

Second-round leader Cameron Champ of the U.S. struggled, shooting a 1-over 71 to drop back into a seven-way tie for ninth at 11 under.

That put 13 players within three shots of the leaders, making for a wide-open field heading into Sunday's fourth round at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.

"Someone tomorrow near the top can go out there and shoot 61 and blow this thing open. You just never know," said Hughes. "Obviously, hasn't materialized that way where someone's pulled away.

"It's anyone's game at this point. No one's been able to totally light this place on fire yet."

Manaserro said he wasn't going to deviate from his preparation plan and hope that would be enough to fend off the wide-open field.

"I'm going to do some putts now, then I'm going to go rest and basically try to do exactly the same things I've been doing until today," he said. "They've been working.

"That's what I do all the time, and I wouldn't want to change anything."

Fox won for the first time on the PGA Tour last month, beating Hughes and American Harry Higgs in a one-hole playoff at the Oneflight Myrtle Beach Classic on May 11.

Although he's hoping to hold off a familiar foe in Hughes, Fox said it's an entirely different scenario at the Canadian Open.

"I just feel a bit more comfortable in my own shoes," said Fox. "I feel like I belong a bit more out here, and just stuff doesn't seem to matter quite as much after getting that first win.

"There's a bit more freedom there. I'll take that into tomorrow, take that confidence knowing that I've done it and see what happens."

Hughes was one of eight Canadians to make the cut at the men's national golf championship.

Taylor Pendrith (67) of Richmond Hill, Ont., as well as Adam Hadwin (65) and Nick Taylor (69), both from Abbotsford, B.C., were the next nearest Canadians, tied for 16th at 10 under.

Poor air quality from wildfires in Manitoba and Ontario cleared up slightly Saturday, improving from an unhealthy rating to moderate risk.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2025.