TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese golf sensation Yu Chun-an (俞俊安) delivered his strongest performance of the season on Sunday (June 8), finishing a razor-thin third place at the prestigious RBC Canadian Open, one of the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA) Tour's longest-running tournaments. Yu fired a final-round 66 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, completing the four-day competition with an impressive 17-under-par total of 263, just one stroke shy of forcing his way into what became a dramatic playoff for the championship title.
The 24-year-old Taiwanese golfer had signaled his championship aspirations a day earlier by carding a blistering tournament-low 63 in Saturday's third round, which vaulted him into a tie for third place, tantalizingly close to the tournament lead. Yu's final-round charge began in spectacular fashion with a confidence-boosting birdie on the opening hole, followed immediately by an electrifying eagle on the par-5 second hole. His momentum continued with another birdie on the sixth hole, temporarily pulling even with the tournament leader and sending ripples of excitement through the Canadian gallery.
Yu's championship bid encountered turbulence midway through the final round as he stumbled with bogeys on the seventh, ninth, and 13th holes, temporarily derailing his challenge. However, the resilient Taiwanese star demonstrated remarkable mental fortitude by responding with back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th holes, then punctuating his round with a clutch birdie on the tournament's final hole. His valiant effort left him just one stroke behind co-leaders Ryan Fox of New Zealand and American Sam Burns, who both finished at 18-under-par 262 before Fox ultimately secured the championship trophy after a tense playoff. ◼