Scott, Sloan lead Canadian Tour Championship

Windsor, ON – Richard Scott and Roger Sloan both fired rounds under 63 on Thursday to share the opening-round lead of the Canadian Tour Championship.

Wil Collins posted a seven-under 64 and is alone in third place at Ambassador Golf Club.

This is the flagship event on the Canadian Tour and it's fitting Scott is among the co-leaders. He's from nearby Kingsville, Ontario and big galleries were following him on Thursday.

"You try not to think about a low round," said Scott. "I was just playing well and it was nice to have them out there cheering me on."

He began on the 10th tee Thursday and parred his first three holes. Scott tallied three birdies and two bogeys on his first side, then caught fire on his second nine.

Scott birdied the first, eagled the par-five third and birdied No. 4 to get to five-under par for the championship. He birdied the sixth, then made another eagle, this time at the par-five seventh to reach eight-under, where he stayed after two pars.

Sloan started beautifully on the front nine with two birdies in his first three holes. He rattled off three birdies in a row from the sixth and made the turn at five-under par.

Sloan tripped to a bogey at the 10th, but played his last eight holes in four- under to get in at minus-eight.

The top two players on the Canadian Tour Order of Merit at the completion of this championship get exempted into the second stage of PGA Tour Q School.

Sloan is fifth on the money list.

"I have to stick to the process," said Sloan. "If I happen to win this week, great. There's a lot of factors."

James Love, John Ellis, Garrett Sapp and Jeff Rangel are tied for fourth at six-under 65.

NOTES: Scott and Sloan posted a new course record on Thursday...Leading money winner Jose de Jesus Rodriguez shot a three-under 68 and is tied for 26th place.