Double P :: The Official Blog

Play has been suspended due to inclement weather and the RBC Canadian Classic will wrap up Sunday with a 36-hole finale.

Pat Perez opened with a blazing 67 on Friday morning, followed with a partial second round in the afternoon which was finished Saturday morning. Perez opened round one with a bogey on eleven, but came back strong with birdies on five of the next ten holes and a bogey-par-par-par-birdie-birdie-par finish.

A few hours later round two was underway, with Perez netting birdies on five of the first seven holes. Play was suspended with six to play. Upon return, Perez went par-bogey-par-eagle-bogey-birdie for another round of five-under.

Round Three is slated for an 8:13am local tee time. PP is paried with Camilo Villegas and Bob Estes.


From Canada.com: Pat Perez used a run of five birdies in his first seven holes and was at 10-under making the turn.

The last of those birdies came at the par-3 seventh hole, where he drained a 10-foot putt to force a loud roar from the crowd.

Perez nicely scrambled for par after a duck-hook drive into the left rough on the eighth hole, prompting him to slam his club to the turf. But the Arizona native recovered nicely, landing his approach in front of the green and running a chip within three feet to set up a par putt.

Kelly was right behind Perez on the course and on the scoreboard.

The veteran from Wisconsin landed his approach on the ninth hole about three feet from the pin, setting up an easy birdie that took him to 10-under par.

Moments later Perez bogeyed the 10th hole and another on No. 14 dropped him to eight-under par.

If you're out at the RBC Canadian Open and you're following Pat Perez, you're bound to hear "Peeeeeee Peeeeeee" no less than two dozen times per round from Brian Savage. Sounds a little bit like this:

... but Double P is making a run at Glen Abbey.

That sound you just heard was former NHLer Brian Savage screaming "P.P." for the millionth time this week. Stay tuned.

Below, an article from The Sudbury Star regarding Pat Perez Day. Check out out, as well as the attached 'from the vault' pic of Perez and good buddy Brian Savage (in Cabo last winter.) It was Savage who helped organize the event:

"Pat Perez Day at the Idylwylde"

It was a day like any other day for junior golfer Jay Lemon.

He got up early and ate his breakfast. Soon after, Lemon headed to the Idylwylde Golf and Country Club to hit the links and continue polishing up his game.

Little did Lemon know his day was about to take a big twist.

The Idylwylde was playing host to a charity fundraising event for the Ten Rainbows Foundation and PGA Tour pro Pat Perez and former NHL hockey player Brian Savage were on hand to spice things up.

Lemon took part in a closest to the hole contest, coming in second, and earned a chance to play six holes with Perez and Savage during the event.

"When I came, it was a normal day," Lemon, 13, said. "The I found out it was Pat Perez Day. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play with a tour pro. I'm glad I came today. It was a great day."

Lemon savoured every second he got on the course with Perez and Savage. He kept a keen eye on Perez and Savage and learned a few new tricks of the trade.

"It was a great experience to see how far they can hit," Lemon said. "It was a good lesson. I picked up a few tips. I figured out a new putting stroke. They're great guys, really nice and easy going."

Another junior golfer, Mason Savage, was on his game right off the hop and won the closest to the hole contest, punching his ticket for six holes of golf as well.

Mason didn't need much encouragement to do well. Brian Savage is his uncle.

The 14-year-old will remember the experience for a long time and took the opportunity to poke fun at his famous uncle.

"It was one of my best junior golfing experiences," he said. "I've never golfed with a tour pro before. I learned a little bit, but I didn't watch him much because I was always trying to find my uncle's ball. I picked up a few things ... putting tips, chipping tips. The first hole was intimidating. I didn't play it that well, but it was fun afterwards when we got going. It was awesome. It was special."

Rob Coe, regional manager for Pfizer Canada, had a permanent smile plastered on his mug all day. It was for good reason. Through his company, Coe was able to sponsor two junior golfers to share in on the experience.

"When I was a junior, I had the opportunity to caddy for Arnold Palmer when he came here. I was 13. It was 30 years ago. I never forgot it. Absolutely, it means a lot to me to help out the kids. It's good stuff."

Savage and Perez are neighbours in Scottsdale, Arizona. Perez informed Savage last week he was going to play in the Canadian Open and be in Ontario. The two quickly devised a plan to come to Greater Sudbury and get a charity event going for the Ten Rainbows Foundation - Savage's charity cause in northern Ontario.

The Ten Rainbows Foundation was formed in 1993 and is dedicated to helping underprivileged children and families in Sudbury.

"It was a great day ... we made some money for the Ten Rainbows Foundation," Savage said while signing a slew of autographs. "I have a lot of great friends like Pat who come out and help with things like this. It means a lot to me. It means a lot to give back to the community. I try to do as much as I can."

Savage knows his charity makes a difference. He has seen it first hand. He loves the fact every single penny raised stays in Sudbury to help the people here in the town he grew up in.

"Every year we had out food at Christmas time to needy families," he said. "We bought a van for a person in a wheelchair ... lots of things in hospitals, bringing children out to meet celebrities."

Perez was happy to help out.

"We get to hang out and have some fun," Perez said. "It's an easy trip. It's like a pro-am (tournament). Here, it's a little more fun. We had a good time. The course is in good shape."