Saturday, October 8, 2011|Ryan Ballengee
SAN MARTIN, Calif. – Let it be said: Adam Hadwin appears to be a capital opportunist.
Hadwin was offered a sponsor exemption into this event and has taken full advantage of the start. With a second round of 7-under 64, the Canadian is 10 under and in position for a breakthrough PGA Tour win.
“I can’t thank [the tournament] enough for having an opportunity. I feel like that’s what I needed, just a couple more starts,” he said.
The back nine at CordeValle was where Hadwin earned his way into position to challenge on Sunday. Hadwin took just 30 strokes to come in, including four birdies and an eagle at the par-5 15th.
Starting the year as a member of the Canadian Tour, Hadwin qualified for the U.S. Open and finished 39th. In his national open, Hadwin finished T-4 at Shaughnessy outside of Vancouver, scintillating his countrymen with the possibility of a home-bred champion for the first time in 47 years. The finish earned him a spot at Greenbrier the following week, where he finished T-32.
Hadwin needs approximately $250,000 to have finished inside the top-125 on this year’s money list, which could land him a 2012 PGA Tour card after beginning the year on the Canadian Tour. Even if he comes up short on Sunday, getting inside the top 150 from the ’11 order of merit can land Hadwin a free ticket into the cauldron that is the final stage of Q-school.
Given how he has responded this year to a chance to shine, Hadwin feels confident he can respond to whatever ends up as his lot.
“The way I played at Shaughnessy, I could have at least moved inside the top 150 and get in final stage if not get a card.”
