Filipino-American golfer Rico Hoey shrugged off a rough start to card an impressive 4-under-par 66 in Thursday’s opening round of the RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto’s Osprey Valley course.

After opening with a bogey on the par-5 1st hole, Hoey steadied his game and caught fire with a string of birdies, delivering a resilient performance that puts him within striking distance of the early leaders in the PGA Tour event.

The 28-year-old Hoey quickly bounced back with a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-3 3rd, followed by a near-tap-in birdie at the 6th after sticking a wedge to three feet. His back nine featured a strong surge with birdies at the 14th and 15th, though a three-putt on 16 briefly stalled his charge.

But Hoey closed with authority—sinking a 39-foot bomb on the 17th and scrambling for an up-and-down birdie on the par-5 18th—to finish the round at 4-under and just five shots off the lead.

Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen and Chile’s Cristobal Del Solar share the top spot with matching 61s, while Cameron Champ sits one stroke back at 62. Other notable scores include a 63 from Jake Knapp and a 64 from Shane Lowry and Rasmus Hojgaard.

Hoey, who is seeking a breakout performance this season, is part of a packed group at 66 that includes Sam Burns, Canada’s Nick Taylor, and France’s Victor Perez.

With AFP