Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
LAC LA BICHE, AB – Wind, rain and a downright damp cold greeted golfers at the opening event of the 2018 golf season in Lac La Biche over the weekend.
Not unlike the final round of the 2017 ACAC Championship at Red Tail Landing, which was played in toques (and nearly in snowsuits), golfers had to contend with some of the most inclement weather imaginable.
So, it's no surprise there were very few rounds in the 70s, while some scores even ballooned beyond 100 at the North Regional.
"We always talk about most golf courses being a par 72," said MacEwan Griffins golf coach Jodi Campbell. "This weekend, it was more like a par-80. Tough golf course, tough conditions – constant rain and wind – and when you throw that together with low single-digit temperatures, it just made for a real battle all weekend."
Somehow, despite not posting great scores individually, the Griffins men's squad came away with the team title, winning it by a single shot over Concordia University (663 to 664).
"Obviously the guys should be really happy," said Campbell. "It's always nice when you grind out a long weekend like this and you come out on top.
"We talk all the time about how important every shot is and there's another example of coming out on top by one shot. Whether it's 20 shots or one shot, it doesn't matter. Although the guys might feel disappointed with their individual effort because the scores are elevated, they're happy to come out with a win."
Individually, fifth-year Christian Solkowski topped the Griffins' ranks by tying for fifth (77-86), 14 shots back of winner Michael Harrison of UAlberta-Augustana – the defending ACAC champ.
Rookie Reid Woodman (85-81), in his first tournament as a Griffin, and second-year Justin Berget (83-83) both tied for 10th, while fifth-year Josh Gorieu (83-86) was 13th, first-year Jarrett Bossert (89-85) tied for 16th, third-year Noah Lubberding (84-95) tied for 22nd, and first-year Jack Nessel (100-87) was 32nd.
"There wasn't one player that would sit there and say, 'oh yeah, I had a great weekend personally,' " said Campbell. "It's really less about the result and more about the process and sticking with who can put as many good shots together as possible. Then you just sort of persevere through the day, add up the score and that's what it is."
On the women's side, second-year Hailey Turcotte finished sixth (91-91), while newcomers Jordan Hoyda (10th, 100-98) and Skyler Thompson (16th, 125-116) rounded out the results. Counting the top two scores, the Griffins finished fourth as a team with 380 – 44 shots behind the champs from Medicine Hat College.
"The women's side is really competitive," said Campbell. "There's a lot of teams that are going to be battling it out this year.
"What I really liked about our ladies this weekend is they were able to get a tournament under their belt," he added. "We've got a lot of new players on the team, so for them to get tough experience, it's going to be very beneficial for them. We're going to continue to work on some things and develop and see if we can get into the top three."
MacEwan finished third in the first mixed team competition in ACAC golf history with 525 points, 28 back of first-place Concordia, with the top men's scores of Gorieu, Bossert and Nessel counting together with the top score out of Turcotte's and Hoyda's rounds.
Next up for the Griffins will be the ACAC South Regional, set for Millwood Golf Course this Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee the weather will be much better as current forecasts are calling for highs of 5C and 7C, respectively, with showers both days.
That is just par for the course, though, with ACAC golf.
"It just seems like over the last couple of years this is the trend where we get into this fall golf," said Campbell. "Rarely am I ever sitting out there in shorts in 20-degree weather. The players are having to grind through this."
