Billy Kennerly takes commanding lead at Canadian Amateur

TORONTO, Canada — Billy Kennerly already has a spot in next week's U.S. Amateur Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club. The Canadian Amateur winner receives an automatic exemption into the event, but Kennerly, with a four-shot lead, will be looking simply for the prestige of winning — and a chance to play in a PGA Tour event. Kennerly, the graduated Clemson University golfer, fired 69 on day three, after consecutive rounds of 68 to open the event, to take a commanding four-shot lead into Thursday's final round at Weston Golf & Country Club. The winning player will join PGA Tour professionals at next year's RBC Canadian Open. Patrick Murphy of Canada is four shots behind, while first and second-round co-leader Ben Eccles of Australia is in third place five back. Both Murphy and Eccles do not yet have a spot at Olympia Fields. Tragically, Eccles made a quadruple-bogey on his final hole of the day. Otherwise, he would be within just one of Kennerly heading to tomorrow's final round. More to come in a full story from Golf Canada later this evening.