Camosun’s Chargers golf team recently won gold, winning the 2011 PACWEST Golf title and earning themselves a trip to the CCAA Championships on Prince Edward Island.
Top-place finishes throughout the season indicate that this year’s Camosun team has a strong ability to capture a title at this year’s CCAA Championships.
Head coach John Randle acknowledges the success of this season, but stresses that the real measuring stick will be how his team performs during the championships.
“They won tournaments, we’re happy with that,” says Randle. “As far as their abilities, there have been flashes. We’ve played well enough, but not firing on all cylinders. If we do, we’ll be in good shape.”
The Chargers’ second-to-last tournament saw them finish one stroke behind Vancouver Island University for first-place during the first annual University-College of Fraser Valley invitational at Chilliwack Golf and Country Club. Camosun’s Blake Millrush and Brad Clapp finished with the best scores for Camosun, placing fourth and fifth after posting identical tournament scores of 148.
The first-place finish will add to a Chargers’ season that has seen several impressive finishes. The Chargers edged out Thompson Rivers University by one stroke to finish in first place during the Camosun Invitational, held at Bear Mountain. Jordan Kruleicki was the top Charger in the two-day tournament, finishing with a score of 147 on the weekend.
This year’s Chargers roster features three golfers in the PACWEST top 10 individual list. Jared Hundza finished in fifth place, Jordan Krulicki finished in sixth place, and Kevin Walz finished in ninth place. The three will join third-year student Justin Doel and fifth-year student Phil Kondrak to compete in the CCAA championships
“It’s hard to tell,” says Randle, on gauging his team’s potential at this year’s championships. “We finished fourth last year; we’re better, on paper, this year.”
The Charger’s last top-three finish at the CCAA Championships came in 2007, when the men’s team captured a silver medal.
With several players finishing strong this season, a championship victory is a legitimate possibility this year.
Randle believes his Chargers have a shot to win, as long as his players continue to post solid scores.
“We’ll be able to compete with anyone in the nation if we’re playing well,” he says.
The PING Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Championships will take place 50 miles from downtown Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island from October 17-21.
Go to ccaagolf2011.ca for live results.