Rattlers fighting the snow, men think they lead after first round

By Medicine Hat News on September 28, 2019.

Dillon Batsel thinks his Medicine Hat College Rattlers men’s team is leading after the first round of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference championships, but he can’t be sure.

That’s because the ACAC’s official scoring system isn’t working, at least for the team events.

With a trip to nationals in the balance, the Rattlers men began with a literal flurry Friday at Coal Creek Golf Course near Camrose. In the individual standings – which Batsel said were correct online – there are three Hat men in the top 10, led by Chase Broderson with a 1-over 73 to sit tied for second.

“It was really tough for them today, I commended our players just for getting out there and finishing the round,” said Batsel, noting blizzard conditions made looking up virtually impossible and could threaten the rest of the 54-hole tournament this weekend. “The first two groups that had to tee off probably couldn’t even see their golf balls. It was like if you’re on a ski hill without ski goggles.”

MacEwan University’s Justin Berget led with a 1-under 71. Augustana’s Michael Harrison, the defending ACAC champion, is tied with Broderson at 1-over. Other Rattlers Caleb Kinch and Mathieu Chapdelaine (tied sixth at 77), Derek Whitson (ninth with a 78) and Brady Resch (tied 10 with a 79) are all in great position. Logan Crawford (tied 15th, 83) and Kent Lesko (tied 23rd, 85) are further back.

The top four individual scores per day count towards each school’s team score. The online scoring, however, shows Medicine Hat with a 9-under 63: par for a four-person team would be a 288.

The women’s Rattlers didn’t have such a good start. Nicole Schultz shot a 91 and is 11 shots back of the individual lead held by SAIT’s Carey McLean, while Sierra Zukowski shot a 94 in the outrageously poor conditions. Ciara Bonogofski shot 108.

Batsel thinks the women’s team is currently in third position. They need to be top-two come Sunday to automatically get to nationals.

“You get a day like today, a bit of an off day, but in three days we’re probably going to make it up,” said Batsel, noting this is the first year the ACAC finals have been a three-round event. “The longer the tournament goes the more it favours the better teams, the better individuals.”

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