Football Legends dinner canceled

The Warren Football Legends dinner, which was set for July 11, has been canceled.

The post-golf dinner is still scheduled for July 12. Reservations are $125 per person, which includes an open bar and charcuterie. The post-golf dinner will start at 5 p.m.

For reservations, make check payable to the Warren Gridiron Club and mail to: Ray Yannnucci (2168701036/ryannucci@yahoo.com) at 4014 Red Wing Trail, Stow, OH 44224.

James leads in Canada in pro debut

CALEDON, Ontario — Ben James holed a 25-foot eagle putt to start his round and never let up until he had a 7-under 63 for a one-shot lead in his professional debut at the RBC Canadian Open.

James was an All-American all four years at Virginia and led the PGA Tour University ranking to earn a card through the 2027 season.

James was at 10-under 130, one shot over a group of five players that included Sam Burns, who played in the final group at the Memorial last week and tied for fourth.

Brooks Koepka had a 68 and was two shots behind, along with Tommy Fleetwood.

James played bogey-free on the Osprey Valley course at TPC Toronto and goes into the weekend having not made a bogey in his last 33 holes. This is his 10th PGA Tour event, including two U.S. Opens, but first one as a pro.

“I wasn’t really thinking about results at all this week. Just worried about getting comfortable, making new friends and having fun, and just seeing where everything kind of falls,” James said. “Obviously, I have some stuff to work on, just trying to see where everything goes. Because this is just the baseline, it’s my first professional debut. Had a great two days, but just trying to get better.”

Burns had a 67 and was at 131 along with Jackson Suber (65), Haotong Li (64), Keith Mitchell (64) and Jesper Svensson (65).

Tommy Fleetwood, who lost in a playoff at the Canadian Open three years ago when Nick Taylor holed that memorable 72-foot eagle putt, had a 65 and joined Koepka in the group two back that included defending champion Ryan Fox (66).

Koepka was slowed at the start of his round when he lost his tee shot on the 13th and had to scramble for double bogey, and then bogeyed the par-3 14th. He also had four birdies and an eagle on the back nine — he started on No. 10 — the latter coming off a 379-yard drive on the par-5 18th.

Eric Cole, who was part of the six-way tie for the lead after 18 holes, started with a triple bogey and his day never got much better. He shot 76 to miss the cut, meaning he will have no chance to play in the U.S. Open next week. Cole came into the week at No. 63 in the world, and the top 60 earn an exemption to Shinnecock Hills.

James made it through 36-hole qualifying in New York to earn a spot in his third straight U.S. Open. His focus is on the fifth-oldest championship in golf — the Canadian Open dates to 1904 — and his professional debut.