Cristobal Del Solar is a 31-year-old, Chilean-born rookie who made news at the RBC Canadian Open. He amazed the crowd when he shot a jaw-dropping 9-under 61 in the opening round. The man known on the Korn Ferry Tour as “Mr. 57” showed what makes him so special on Thursday. He came dangerously close to making a historic 59 into a 58. He was tied with Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen atop the leaderboard heading into the final round at TPC Toronto, hosted at Osprey Valley. The soft greens provided ideal conditions for shooting low scores.
Del Solar started his day in the afternoon, playing well and reaping the benefits of tamer afternoon conditions. He rode that momentum with tremendous flow through the heart of his round. Not only did he make seven birdies, but five of them came in a remarkable eight-hole stretch! His amazing putting was the biggest factor in his low score, enabling him to take full advantage of the softer greens.
Del Solar’s quest for a 59 was stopped in its tracks on the par-4 17th hole. He found trouble with his second shot, landing in a front right greenside bunker and needing to hole out. Unfortunately, this time he miscalculated the distance, leading to a par putt that missed wide right. He made the turn to the final hole with fierce resolve. To win, he required an eagle on the par-5 18th, but his drive ended up in the left rough. Then he proceeded to hit his second shot about 80 yards short of the green leaving him an up-and-down for par.
Even with these close calls, Del Solar’s play on Thursday put him squarely in contention at the top of the leaderboard.
“I was just trying to hit good shots. I was just trying to stay in the present and have fun. That’s what I was trying to do.” – Cristobal Del Solar
Thorbjorn Olesen matched Del Solar’s score of 61, demonstrating his own exceptional play throughout the round. Olesen attributed much of his success to an impressive putting display, stating that he felt he hardly missed any putts.
“Obviously, I played great, but my putting was exceptional today,” – Thorbjorn Olesen
Olesen touched on the pleasure of seeing the ball drop on long puts and finishing confident in how he played. It was that steady play that kept him in a share of the lead with Del Solar.
Boy, did our afternoon starters deliver at this year’s event. Fifteen of the top 18 spots were occupied by players who started their rounds in the afternoon! Del Solar’s and Olesen’s impressive performances are a testament to this trend – both players took full advantage of the tough course conditions.
As the tournament unfolds, these two players will play to keep the weight of their momentum on their side and continue to push themselves up the leaderboard. Del Solar’s impressive debut in this event has cemented his status as a player to watch while Olesen continues to showcase his experience and skill on the PGA Tour.
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