Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont., making most of local knowledge at RBC Canadian Open

Justin Matthews, right, of Little Britain, Ont.,and caddie Braeden Cryderman of Bracebridge, Ont., talk about a shot from the rough on the eighth fairway during the Canadian Open in Caledon, Ont., on Thursday, June 11, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

CALEDON — Most golfers have a few tricks in their golf bag, but Justin Matthews has one carrying his around TPC Toronto at this week’s RBC Canadian Open.

Braeden Cryderman, the course’s director of instruction, is Matthews’s caddie at the men’s national golf championship. The 22-year-old Matthews has been coached by Cryderman for nearly a decade and considers TPC Toronto his home course.

“The advantage for me would be that, he is my golf coach, so to have him like caddie for me, it’s pretty cool,” said Matthews, who added that he’s actually played the North Course more than Cryderman. “He knows my game so well.

“I’ve worked with him since I was 13, so he knows my game so well, so the caddie/coach combination is pretty good.”

Matthews is a senior at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, playing in his third season for the 49ers after redshirting his freshman year. Charlotte head coach Ryan Cabbage made the trip up to TPC Toronto for the start of the tournament, allowing Cryderman to delineate his duties.

“Once you get inside the ropes, just keep your mouth shut and do what you need to do,” said Cryderman, who is from Bracebridge, Ont. “Then in the prep side, especially now that he’s (playing his third Canadian Open), it’s getting a little bit easier, where we have to do as much prep on the golf course. We know it.

“Just making sure to define the two roles when you get to the golf course is the hardest part, to be honest with you.”

Matthews is the highest-ranked Canadian on the men’s World Amateur Golf Rankings, 136th on the standings. The next nearest Canadian on the list is Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont., who is 183rd. McCulloch officially turned pro when he teed off on Thursday.

“I still just feel like a normal amateur,” said the six-foot-three Matthews.

Matthews is hoping that the long holes at TPC Toronto, coupled with his familiarity with the course, will play to his advantage.

“I’d say definitely the strength of my game is off tee, like I normally drive straight,” said Matthews, who shot a 3-under 67 on Thursday to sit in a group tied for 32nd with Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. “At least the couple of practice my sessions my short game, has gone pretty well.”

Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Ont., made a late charge up the leaderboard to finish in a six-way tie for first with Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo and Americans Sahith Theegala, Brooks Koepka Eric Cole, and Sam Burns.

“I would say I hit my irons pretty well today,” said Anderson, who typically plays on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour. “Haven’t really been hitting them too well lately and just kind of found something with my turn, rotation.

“Just kind of clicked today. Was hitting it really nice.”

Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., was in a 12-way tie for seventh at 5 under and Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., was two shots back of the leaders in a tie for 19th.

Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., and amateur Eric Zhao of Toronto were tied for 55th after 2-under rounds.

Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, Ont., A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C., Joey Savoie of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., and Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford were grouped at 1 under in a tie for 73rd.

McCulloch, Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., Drew Nesbitt of Horseshoe Valley, Ont., and amateur Dawson Lew of Toronto had even par rounds to sit in a tie for 98th.

Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Laurent Desmarchais of Cowansville, Que., and Victoria’s Jeevan Sihota had 1-over days to sit together tied for 120th.

Yohann Benson of Pincourt, Que., was tied for 142nd at 4 over.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2026.

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press