{"id":2709,"date":"2026-06-14T16:34:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-14T16:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=2709"},"modified":"2026-06-14T16:34:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T16:34:29","slug":"connecticut-native-ben-james-takes-lead-at-canadian-open-in-his-pro-debut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=2709","title":{"rendered":"Connecticut native Ben James takes lead at Canadian Open in his pro debut"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CALEDON, Ontario \u2014 Ben James holed a 25-foot eagle putt to start his round and never let up until he had a 7-under 63 for a one-shot lead in his professional debut at the RBC Canadian Open.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Nelly Korda and Olivia Cowan two back in LPGA team event. Juli Inkster advances to weekend at record age of 65<\/a><\/p>\n

James was an All-American all four years at Virginia and led the PGA Tour University ranking to earn a card through the 2027 season.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt all kind of came together today. It was just one of those days,\u201d James said. \u201cThe putter was good, hitting fairways, had good numbers, and was able to capitalize on a pretty tricky scoring day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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James, who is from Milford, Conn., was at 10-under 130, one shot over a group of five players that included Sam Burns, who played in the final group at the Memorial last week and tied for fourth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brooks Koepka had a 68 and was two shots behind, along with Tommy Fleetwood.<\/span><\/p>\n

James played bogey-free on the Osprey Valley course at TPC Toronto and goes into the weekend having not made a bogey in his last 33 holes. This is his 10th PGA Tour event, including two US Opens, but first one as a pro.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t really thinking about results at all this week. Just worried about getting comfortable, making new friends and having fun, and just seeing where everything kind of falls,\u201d James said. \u201cObviously, I have some stuff to work on, just trying to see where everything goes. Because this is just the baseline, it\u2019s my first professional debut. Had a great two days, but just trying to get better.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Burns had a 67 and was at 131 along with Jackson Suber (65), Haotong Li (64), Keith Mitchell (64), and Jesper Svensson (65).<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Game 69: Rangers at Red Sox lineups and notes<\/a><\/p>\n

Fleetwood, who lost in a playoff at the Canadian Open three years ago when Nick Taylor holed that memorable 72-foot eagle putt, had a 65 and joined Koepka in the group two back that included defending champion Ryan Fox (66).<\/span><\/p>\n

Koepka was slowed at the start of his round when he lost his tee shot on the 13th and had to scramble for double bogey, and then bogeyed the par-3 14th. He also had four birdies and an eagle on the back nine \u2014 he started on No. 10 \u2014 the latter coming off a 379-yard drive on the par-5 18th.<\/span><\/p>\n

He was thinking more of the drive that went sideways.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI would like to have that tee ball back on 13,\u201d Koepka said. \u201cI just stood there for 10 minutes and tried to hit a low fade and then it turned into a high draw. When you stand there and start thinking too long, that was kind of the issue. I would love to have that one back. But other than that, played solid, it was fine. The ball striking hasn\u2019t been phenomenal, but it\u2019s good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Eric Cole, who was part of the six-way tie for the lead after 18 holes, started with a triple bogey and his day never got much better. He shot 76 to miss the cut, meaning he will have no chance to play in the US Open next week. Cole came into the week at No. 63 in the world, and the top 60 earn an exemption to Shinnecock Hills.<\/span><\/p>\n

James made it through 36-hole qualifying in New York to earn a spot in his third straight US Open. His focus now is on the fifth-oldest championship in golf \u2014 the Canadian Open dates to 1904 \u2014 and his professional debut.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never been in this position, so I\u2019m very excited to find out,\u201d James said about the weekend. \u201cOne thing I wanted to do I was, like, \u2018Let\u2019s try and get in that last group.\u2019 I just want to feel what that feels and just see what happens out there in that situation. Being so young, I\u2019m just excited. I have no expectations. I\u2019m going to play the best I can like I did the last two days.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Jackson Suber takes Canadian Open lead, gunning for first PGA Tour title<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

James played bogey-free on the Osprey Valley course at TPC Toronto and goes into the weekend having not made a bogey in his last 33 holes. This is his 10th PGA Tour event, including two US Opens, but first one as a pro.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport"],"yoast_head":"\nConnecticut native Ben James takes lead at Canadian Open in his pro debut - Boston Relocation Insider<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bostonrelocationinsider.com\/?p=2709\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Connecticut native Ben James takes lead at Canadian Open in his pro debut - Boston Relocation Insider\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"James played bogey-free on the Osprey Valley course at TPC Toronto and goes into the weekend having not made a bogey in his last 33 holes. 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