OAKVILLE, Ontario – Brandt Snedeker was on the seventh tee when he noticed something wasn’t quite right.

He couldn’t find Hunter Mahan’s name at the top of the Canadian Open leaderboard.

“I looked at my caddie, and I go, ‘What’s going on?”‘ Snedeker said. “He goes, ‘I think Hunter had to leave because (his wife) went into labor.”‘

His caddie was right.

Mahan, the second-round leader at 13 under, withdrew Saturday to rush home to Dallas for the birth of his first child.

“Kind of left the tournament wide open,” Snedeker said. “Hunter was going to be hard to catch because he was playing so good. The way he drives the golf ball on this golf course, he was going to play really well on the weekend. For me to catch him, I knew I was going to have to shoot something really low.”

Snedeker took advantage of Mahan’s sudden departure, shooting a 9-under 63 at Glen Abbey to move to 14 under after the rain-delayed third round. There were scattered showers and an 80-minute delay because of lightning.

“I know how to handle it and I know what to expect tomorrow, especially on a golf course like this,” Snedeker said. “I’m not too concerned about my number right now. I know what I have to do tomorrow.”

Mahan withdrew before he was scheduled to tee off.

“I received exciting news a short time ago that my wife Kandi has gone into labor with our first child,” Mahan said in a statement. “Kandi and I are thrilled about the addition to the Mahan family and we look forward to returning to the RBC Canadian Open in the coming years.”

Sweden’s David Lingmerth was a stroke back after a 65, and Matt Kuchar and Jason Bohn were 12 under. Kuchar had a 64, and Bohn shot 66.

“The birth of a child is a truly magical, special thing. You may get it once in your lifetime. It just doesn’t happen that often,” Kuchar said. “Hunter right now is playing some of the best golf in the world. It kind of gives the rest of us a chance with him not in the field.”

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Bernhard Langer seized a three-shot lead after the third round of the British Senior Open, mastering Royal Birkdale with superb links play for a 4-under 66 in Southport, England.

David Frost of South Africa shot his third straight 68 to sit alone in second place at 6 under.

EUROPEAN TOUR: Michael Hoey shot a 7-under 65 to lead by five strokes going into the last round of the Russian Open in Moscow.

The Northern Irishman, chasing his fifth European Tour title, made an eagle on the par-5 eighth hole and had six birdies for an overall 14-under 202.

Overnight leader Rikard Karlberg (72) of Sweden and Matthew Nixon (68) of England were tied for second at 207.

U.S. GIRLS’ JUNIOR AMATEUR: Gabriella Then spoiled Lakareber Abe’s bid to become the first black female individual champion in U.S. Golf Association history.

Then, a 17-year-old Upland, Calif., player who will be a freshman at Southern California, beat Abe 2 and 1 in the 36-hole final at Sycamore Hills in Fort Wayne, Ind.

U.S. BOYS’ JUNIOR AMATEUR: Scottie Scheffler, 17, of Dallas beat 16-year-old Davis Riley of Hattiesburg, Miss., 3 and 2 in the 36-hole final at Martis Camp Club in Truckee, Calif.

Copy the Story Link