Cascades Hosts Nation

Story courtesy of Dan Kinvig - UFV Cascades

The University of the Fraser Valley men’s and women’s golf teams are proud to partner with Golf Canada to host the 16th annual Canadian University/College Championship, May 29-June 1 at Chilliwack Golf Club.

The event is Canada’s most prestigious post-secondary golf championship, as it brings together the top teams from a variety of university and collegiate leagues from coast to coast. Next week’s event marks the Cascades’ first time hosting, and they will be among 20 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams battling for the right to call themselves national champions.

“We’re really excited to co-host this event,” Cascades head coach Chris Bertram said. “Our teams have been working very hard to prepare, and I feel like we’re in a really good position to contend for this championship on both the men’s and women’s sides.”

In addition to enjoying home course advantage, the Cascades have plenty of momentum coming off arguably their most successful fall season ever. They swept the PACWEST conference’s team titles, while claiming five of the six PACWEST individual medals, six of the eight conference all-stars, and all four of the conference’s All-Canadian nods (Daniel Campbell, Ben Whiton, Emery Bardock and Hannah Dirksen). They repeated the feat at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) national championships, winning the men’s and women’s team titles in decisive fashion while putting a pair of golfers on the CCAA individual podium: Campbell (men’s gold) and Maddie Kapchinsky (women’s silver).

Tournament history

The Canadian University/College Championship was established in 2003 with the intention of giving the finest Canadian university and college golfers the opportunity to compete for a national championship. The men’s and women’s individual winners receive an exemption into their respective Canadian Amateur Championships.

On the men’s side, the UBC Thunderbirds are the most decorated program in tournament history, having won five team titles, the most recent coming in 2016. The reigning champion Laval Rouge et Or, Victoria Vikes and Humber Hawks each own three men’s team banners.

On the women’s side, UBC has been the dominant force, winning 12 of the 15 previous editions of the team event. The Thunderbirds women enter this year’s tourney as two-time defending champs.

The Cascades, meanwhile, are looking for a breakthrough next week. While they’ve hung numerous CCAA and PACWEST championship banners, they’re still looking for their first team medal at the Canadian University/College Championship. The men’s team’s top finish is fourth (2010 and 2015), while the women’s team’s best result is fifth (2017).

The Cascades have put three individuals on the podium at the Golf Canada event: Aaron Pauls (men’s bronze, 2015), Connor McLellan (men’s bronze, 2016) and Sharon Park (women’s bronze, 2017).

Venue

While this is the Cascades’ first time hosting the Canadian University/College Championship, it’s the second time they’ve hosted a major national tournament at Chilliwack Golf Club, following the PING CCAA Golf National Championships in 2015.

Established in 1958, Chilliwack Golf Club is regarded as one of the finest facilities in the province. The par-72 layout has played host to every major provincial championship – and always to rave reviews. In 2013, it was recognized as the PGA of BC’s Facility of the Year.

“Chilliwack is a great venue for this event,” Bertram said. “It’s a fun, traditional layout that will test everyone’s game. We’re fortunate to get to play here every day, and obviously that’s an edge for us leading up to the championship.”

Format/Schedule

The Canadian University/College Championship is a four-round event, with a cut down to the low 10 male teams and the low six female teams after the third round. Teams and individuals within 15 shots of the lead also make the cut.

The tournament schedule is as follows, and spectators are welcome.

Tuesday, May 29

Round 1 tee times: 7:30 a.m. - 9:42 a.m. / 12:30 p.m. - 2:42 p.m. (156 players) - #1 & #10 tees

Wednesday, May 30

Round 2 tee times: 7:30 a.m. - 9:42 a.m. / 12:30 p.m. - 2:42 p.m. (156 players) - #1 & #10 tees

Thursday, May 31

Round 3 tee times: 7:30 a.m. - 9:42 a.m. / 12:30 p.m. - 2:42 p.m. (156 players) - #1 & #10 tees

Friday, June 1

Final Round tee times: 7:30 a.m. - 9:42 a.m. – (approximately 75 players) - #1 & #10 tees

Awards Ceremony and Reception: 3:30 p.m. (approx.)

Participating teams

Men’s teams

University of Alberta Golden Bears
Bishop’s University Gaiters
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
Brock University Badgers
University of Calgary Dinos
Concordia University Stingers
Durham College Lords
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
University of Guelph Gryphons
Humber College Hawks
Université Laval Rouge et Or
University of Lethbridge Pronghorns
University of Manitoba Bisons
Université de Montréal Carabins
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
Queen’s University Gaels
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Waterloo Warriors
Western University Mustangs
Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks

Women’s teams

University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
Humber College Hawks
Université Laval Rouge et Or
University of Manitoba Bisons
Université de Montréal Carabins
Queen’s University Gaels
University of Toronto Varsity Blues
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Waterloo Warriors
Western University Mustangs
University of Windsor Lancers