UBC sweeps 2022 Canadian University/College Championship
THE UBC WOMEN'S GOLF TEAM CLAIMED THEIR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, WHILE THE MEN'S WON THEIR SEVENTH BANNER IN TOURNAMENT HISTORY THIS WEEK IN BROMONT, QUE.
Golf New Brunswick
Bromont, Que. – The University of British Columbia’s golf team did it again, completing the four-division sweep at the 2022 Canadian University/College Championship, presented by BDO and cementing their status as a dynasty in Canadian collegiate golf.
The T-Birds won the women’s team division for the fifth time in a row, and fifteenth time in the 18-year history of the event, while the men’s earned their seventh banner since the inaugural event in 2003. Aidan Schumer and Sonja Tang were crowned champions of the men’s and women’s individual events, respectively.
“We’ve probably been through as many hard times as good times […] It’s just been an incredible year – I’m very proud of them,” said head coach Chris MacDonald. “Everyone at this tournament works hard; they’re willing to put the extra time in [and] I think there’s a certain level of internal chemistry,” he said of the bond between the men’s and women’s teams.
The Thunderbirds women’s 98 stroke triumph sets the record for the largest margin of victory since 2004 and caps off a perfect season of 12 tournament wins is as many events played. The team of Sonja Tang, Élizabeth Labbé, Shania Remandaban and Grace Bell finished off a wire-to-wire win with a final round 3-over par 219.
“We work really hard, everyone here pushes each other on and off the course and it’s just really nice to have one last win in Canada,” said Tang, the 2022 Canadian University/College Women’s Individual Champion.
On the men’s side, team captain Ethan De Graaf, Aiden Schumer, Mackenzie Bickell, Russell Howlett and Dylan MacDonald combined for a tournament score of 7-under par 1145 for an eight-stroke victory over the Université de Laval Rouge et Or (1-over par 1153). The University of Victoria Vikes rounded out the top three at a total of 8-over par 1160.
Despite trailing by four strokes entering the final round, Tang pulled off the comeback, one even she didn’t think was possible.
“I still can’t believe it; I was back by four, I didn’t really think I had a chance but I just kept my head down and played,” she said. “I think I played pretty decent today.”
Decent is an understatement to Tang’s performance. After a one hour and 50-minute weather delay interrupted her final round, the Vancouver B.C., native headed back onto the course and withstood the howling wind conditions enroute to a final round 1-under par 71, to win by three strokes over her teammate Labbé. Remandaban and Bell rounded out the all-UBC top four.
Schumer held a one stroke lead entering the final round but dropped into a tie for the lead with Jacob Armstrong – one of the three second place finishers, along with Samuel Breton Gagnon and Alexis Leray – midway through his round. The Columbus, Ohio, native stepped on the gas late in his round to escape the pack and earn the title of 2022 Canadian University/College Men’s Individual Champion.
“I did have an idea [of the leaderboard] somewhat. I don’t think it was the worse thing in world. I knew the guys were struggling a little bit on the back nine, so I really felt a push to do something for not just myself, but for the guys,” he said. “I had those two birdies on five and six, that really just got me going and I put myself in a good place to comfortably come down the stretch and take it.”
For the 19-year-old, the win is no drop in the bucket.
“I am very privileged to be in this spot and I really have to enjoy it no matter what,” said Schumer. “I had to keep it in perspective, and I just focused on what I’ve been practicing my whole life.”
Schumer, who last won a tournament three years ago at the Ohio High School State Championship, says this was the biggest win in his young career as a golfer, but was quick to note that it was more than just a personal achievement.
“It’s hard to process right now, it still hasn’t fully sunken in [but] this is for the guys, this is for UBC,” he said.
Schumer’s tournament score of 277 matched the second lowest 72-hole score in tournament history, matching Lee French (2007), Scott Secord (2014) and Daniel Campbell (2018) who previously accomplished the feat.
Click here for more information including the leaderboard, final round pairings and course information.
Canadian University/College Championship returns for first time since 2019
Golf New Brunswick
BROMONT, Que. – Canada’s best student-athlete golfers will descend on Golf Château Bromont in Bromont, Que., for the 2022 Canadian University/College Championship, presented by BDO from June 1-4. The championship includes both a team and individual component featuring Canada’s top university and college talent.
2022 marks the 18th playing of the event, which was established in 2003 by Golf Canada to give the country’s best university and college golfers a chance to compete at a national championship.
The 18 teams competing for the Men’s division come from the following conferences (number of teams in brackets):
Ontario University Athletics (6)
Canada West (5)
Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (2)
Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (5)
The Women’s division is composed of 12 teams from across the country:
Canada West (4)
OUA (5)
RSEQ (2)
CCAA (1)
After the third round, the field will be cut to the low ten (10) Male teams and the low six (6) Female teams, including any team within 15 shots of the lead. Individuals within 10 shots of third place, including any player within the top 10, will also make the cut.
Golf Canada prides itself on providing an opportunity for university and college players to compete at the highest level of national competition at the end of their seasons.
“The Canadian University/College Championships, presented by BDO provides an opportunity for the best student-athletes from across the country to showcase their talents and compete for a national championship,” said tournament director, Akash Patel. “After a two-year hiatus, Golf Canada recognizes the significance of the return of this event, and we are excited to get the competition underway.”
The 72-hole stroke play event – which was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic – was last played in 2019 and hosted by the Fanshawe College Falcons at FireRock Golf Club in Komoka, Ont. In contrast to recent years, there will be no official host school for this year’s event held in Quebec’s Eastern Townships.
The University of British Columbia enters this year’s tournament as the defending champions of both the Men’s and Women’s divisions. In 2019, the women’s team captured their fourth consecutive national championship with a one-stroke victory over the Laval Rouge et Or, while the men’s team erased a nine-stroke deficit to knock off the Western Mustangs in the final round via a playoff.
The UBC women have won 14 of the last 17 team event titles – easily the most in the competition’s history. The T-Birds also have the most men’s team championships with six.
Sarah Dunning of the University of Guelph was crowned champion of the Women’s individual competition and Charles Fitzsimmons of Western University took home the honours on the Men’s side in 2019. Neither Dunning, nor Fitzsimmons will be returning to defend their titles this year.
Last time the event was held in Quebec (2013), the UBC Thunderbirds won the Men’s division, and the Université de Montréal Carabins were named the Women’s champions.
Multiple winners of the event include Christina Spence (2007 & 2008), Kat Kennedy (2016 & 2017) and Evan Holmes (2015 & 2017).
For more information about the 2022 Canadian University/College Championship, including the player list, pairings and leaderboards, click here.
MENS TEAMS Bishop’s University Gaiters Brock University Badgers Champlain St Lawrence Lions Humber College Hawks McMaster University Marauders Queen’s University Gaels Université Laval Rouge et Or Université du Montréal Carabins Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières Université de Sherbrooke Vert et Or University of British Columbia Thunderbirds University of Calgary Dinos University of the Fraser Valley Cascades University of Guelph Gryphons University of Manitoba Bisons University of Victoria Vikes University of Windsor Lancers Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks
WOMENS TEAMS Brock University Badgers Humber College Hawks Université Laval Rouge et Or Université du Montréal Carabins University of British Columbia Thunderbirds University of British Columbia – Okanagan Heat University of the Fraser Valley Cascades University of Ottawa Gee-Gees University of Victoria Vikes University of Windsor Lancers Western University Mustangs Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks
Western and Laval hold lead heading into final day at Canadian University/College Championship
KOMOKA, Ont. – The skies remained overcast, and Western and Laval stayed on top of the leaderboard for the third consecutive day in the men’s and women’s divisions, respectively, at the Canadian University/College Championship at FireRock Golf Club Thursday.
The Western University Mustangs maintained their lead atop the standings after round three, thanks to Charles Fitzsimmons, who shot an even-par 72 and Jackson Bowery, who signed a 1-over-par 73 scorecard. The Mustangs now sit at 8-under for the tournament, six shots ahead of the University of Victoria Vikes. At one point in the day, the Mustangs’ lead over the Vikes was 12 shots.
“I’m thrilled with the way we’ve played this week,” said Western men’s golf head coach Jim Waite. “We played superbly the first two days. We hit a bit of a hiccup today, which brings us back to the field. It will be on us tomorrow to do it again with people behind us.”
In the women’s team division, Laval’s Catherine Gariépy and Anais Galas both shot four-over on day three, helping to maintain the Rouge et Or’s cushion over the field. The three-time defending champion University of British Columbia Thunderbirds are six shots behind Laval, at 40-over.
“I feel they’re doing great,” Laval women’s head coach Kevin Bergeron said of his players. “They’re driving really well. It’s a course where you need a good drive and they’re hitting a lot of greens in regulation.”
Fitzsimmons continues to lead the men’s individual competition at 7-under, but two of his opponents rocketed up the leaderboard. Mackenzie Dasti (Ontario Tech University) now sits one shot back after shooting 4-under 68, and Baptiste Mory (Laval) is at 5-under.
In the individual women’s division, Gariépy of Laval leads by two strokes after carding a 4-over 77 in round three, and the leaderboard is tight behind her. Sukriti Harjai (University of Victoria) and Shania Remandaban (University of British Columbia) sit at 11-over on the tournament, two shots back of Gariépy heading into the final round.
The Women’s and Men’s Individual winners receive an exemption into their respective Canadian Amateur Championship.
Click here for more information on the event, including tomorrow’s tee times and full leaderboard.
Western and Laval lead tight leaderboard after round one of Canadian University/College Championship
KOMOKA, Ont. – Under overcast skies, the Canadian University/College Championship got underway Tuesday at FireRock Golf Club, resulting in a three-way tie for the lead in the men’s division. Kate Johnston of the University of British Columbia (UBC) paced the women’s division, ending the day with a one-stroke advantage.
Charles Fitzsimmons of the Western University Mustangs shot 3-under par 69 to share first place, helping the Mustangs take control of the men’s team championship, while Catherine Gariépy paced the Université de Laval Rouge et Or women to first place, with a 1-over 74.
Playing a mere 15 minutes from their London, Ont. campus, the Mustangs are four strokes ahead of the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks and the Université de Laval Rouge & Or. Western is 2 under par after round one.
Three players are nose-to-nose in the men’s individual championship. Fitzsimmons, Michael Harrison (Augustana University) and Jaron Brown (Wilfrid Laurier University) all signed off on 3-under scorecards, establishing a one-stroke lead over the field.
UBC’s Kate Johnston of Ayr, Ont., fired an even-par 73, finishing one shot ahead of Gariépy in the women’s individual competition. A UBC Thunderbird has won the individual women’s title in each of the last three years.
Shania Remandaban (UBC), Laura Upenieks (University of Toronto) and Sukriti Harjai (University of Victoria) each carded 4-over 77, and are T3 behind Johnston and Gariépy.
Laval hold a one shot advantage over the Thunderbirds in the women’s team competition. The Rouge & Or collectively registered 15-over-par 234 in round one.
The individual champions in the women’s and men’s competitions receive exemptions into their respective Canadian Amateur Championship.
Click here for more information on the event, including tomorrow’s tee times and full leaderboard.
Top-5 Men’s – Team
Western Mustangs, *143-143-286 -2
Laurier Golden Hawks, *148-142-290 +2
Laval Rouge et Or, *143-147-290 +2
UBC Thunderbirds, *145-147-292 +4
Waterloo Warriors, *144-149-293 +5
Top-5 Men’s – Individual
Jaron Brown, Laurier Golden Hawks, *35-34-69 -3
Charles Fitzsimmons, Western Mustangs, *35-34-69 -3
Michael Harrison, Augustana Vikings, *34-35-69 -3
Jackson Bowery, Western Mustangs, *36-34-70 -2
Gordon Gibson, Toronto Varsity Blues, *35-35-70 -2
Cameron Griffin, Humber Hawks, *34-36-70 -2
Nicholas Workun, Ottawa Gee Gees, *37-33-70 -2
Top-5 Women’s – Team
Laval Rouge et Or, *115-119-234 +15
UBC Thunderbirds, *116-119-235 +16
Victoria Vikes, *119-118-237 +18
Waterloo Warriors, *123-125-248 +29
Montréal Carabins, *121-129-250 +31
Top-5 Women’s – Individual
Kate Johnston, UBC Thunderbirds, *35-38-73 E
Catherine Gariépy, Laval Rouge et Or, *34-40-74 +1
Sukriti Harjai, Victoria Vikes, *38-39-77 +4
Shania Remandaban, UBC Thunderbirds, *37-40-77 +4
Laura Upenieks, Toronto Varsity Blues, *39-38-77 +4
