College nationals arrives at Blume

By None on October 16, 2018.

srooney@medicinehatnews.com @MHNRooney

The signs are up, the volunteers are everywhere and the golfers are ready for the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s championship at Desert Blume.

Athletes got through a practice round Monday under near-perfect conditions, with the host Medicine Hat College Rattlers a bit stunned considering they’ve had practices snowed out over the past month.

“The nice weather has been a big plus,” said Sierra Zukowski. “You don’t want to think about it too much when you’re playing, but when you have to move practice times or you’re not able to practice at all because courses are closed, it really does become a factor.

“The sun is shining, who cares if the wind is blowing a little bit?”

RELATED: Men’s side has age, not golf experience and Martin takes injury woes in stride

Most players didn’t seem to know too much about the competition Monday, but that’ll change as they head out for the first 18 holes today. Tee times start at 9:30 a.m. with the last group to be sent off at 11:50 a.m.

“I don’t know half the teams here to be honest,” said Concordia’s Dylan Brown. “It’s beautiful. Coming from Edmonton this is pretty fantastic. It’s great, it’s in perfect shape. I get really excited every time we get to come play here.”

As a fifth-year player in his last college tournament, Brown was all smiles, trying to soak in his first time at nationals. He wasn’t worried that the defending champs from B.C.’s University of Fraser Valley are back with four returnees, including last year’s individual winner Daniel Campbell. Not even remotely concerned that no Alberta men’s team or individual has medalled since 2009. He’s played Desert Blume twice in conference play the past few years and is excited to see what he can do the next four days.

“I think just avoiding big numbers and staying in the game,” said Brown of his keys. “Every shot counts.”

But make no mistake, UFV are the favourites on the men’s side. Quebec’s Cegep Andre-Laurendeau are ranked third and saw the links-style course for the first time, and the message was simple.

“It’s a links course, it’s target golf so it’s a nice course,” said first-year Boomerang Laurent Desmarchais. “The greens are beautiful.

“We want to win, and I think we’ve got the team to win.”

Zukowski’s Rattlers women are ranked second behind only the University of British Columbia Okanagan side from Kelowna. The UBC team has one returning player from last year’s nationals in McKenna Lesiuk, while Medicine Hat’s Zukowski, Nicole Schultz and Becky Martin all have nationals experience.

In the end though, all that matters is the ball going into the cup.

Awards

The championships already have a few winners following Monday’s awards banquet.

Fanshawe College’s Colin Robertson was named coach of the year, having seen two of his players win conference crowns. Both Alyssa Stoddart and Braydon White won their respective titles.

All-Canadians were named, two from each conference including Stoddart, White and Medicine Hat’s Becky Martin. Other women’s all-Canadians were: Emily Romancew (John Abbott), Camille Lapierre-Ouellet (Andre-Laurendeau), Hayley McCallum (Humber), Kennedy Turcotte (Concordia), Samantha Copeland (UBC Okanagan) and Rececca Reitsma (UBC Okanagan). Other men’s all-Canadians were: Olivier Menard (Andre-Laurendeau), Jonathan Vermette (Champlain St. Lawrence), Cameron Griffin (Humber), Michael Harrison (Augustana), Chase Broderson (Red Deer), Wyatt Brook (VIU) and Daniel Campbell (UFV).

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