Hughes picks up first PGA Tour Canada victory

Hughes, the 2011 and 2012 Canadian amateur champion, birdied five of his first six holes and four of his last five holes to card a 6-under 66.(CP/Dave Chidley)

SYDNEY, N.S. — Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., captured his first PGA Tour Canada victory on Sunday, shooting a 66 to win the inaugural Cape Breton Celtic Classic.

Hughes, the 2011 and 2012 Canadian amateur champion, birdied five of his first six holes and four of his last five holes to card a 6-under 66, the best round of the day. That gave him a one-shot victory over Vancouver’s Ryan Williams.

With the win, Hughes vaults to the top of the Order of Merit with one event to go, virtually guaranteeing him Web.com Tour status for 2014.

“To win here on PGA Tour Canada means so much. It’s been a crazy year,” said Hughes. “If you told me at the start of the year after I missed those first few cuts that I’d be number one on the Order of Merit heading to the Tour Championship, I’d say, ‘Stop messing with me.”‘

Hughes started the day six shots behind 54-hole leader David Skinns.

Williams posted a career best finish with his solo second performance.

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