Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Jodi Campbell has long been preaching to his team about controlling what they can control.
It's been an oft-repeated mantra by the Griffins golf coach in one of the worst weather seasons the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference has ever experienced.
Last weekend's ACAC South Regional tournament was flat-out cancelled after winter decided to arrive early to the party like an unwanted dinner guest and close Millwoods Golf Course.
"We're going into our 10th season and that's the first time it's ever happened," said Campbell. "Have we played in poor weather before? Definitely. But not to the point where a golf course has been closed and has two or three inches of snow on it.
"It's hard not to think of it as a hit to our season," he continued. "We wanted that extra opportunity to see everybody play heading into the ACAC Championship. When you lose that opportunity, you feel like you're a little bit behind."
The Griffins were able to get some indoor golf in last weekend and have continued their preparations outside this week ahead of the 2018 ACAC Championship at Red Deer's Alberta Springs Golf Resort this weekend.
Considering they've only had one tournament – the ACAC North Regional, played in inclement weather earlier this month in Lac La Biche – under their belts going in, any extra time with the sticks is welcome.
After all, the Griffins have some redemption to unleash on the rest of the ACAC; a year ago the MacEwan men's team went into the conference championship as favourites, but stumbled under some tough weather conditions and settled for third, missing nationals.
"No question, the vets have been looking forward to this tournament a year ago, the minute after the 2017 tournament was done and we fell a little bit short," said Campbell. "We've been eagerly looking forward to it in the positive sense of wanting to get back in there and compete, show that they're one of the top teams in the ACAC."
MacEwan's five-man team will be the same as the North Regional – vets Josh Gorieu, Christian Solkowski, Justin Berget and Noah Lubberding, with rookie Reid Woodman also factoring in. The top four scores count each round.
Medicine Hat College automatically qualifies for the CCAA nationals as the tournament host, so that means two other spots are up for grabs from ACAC teams. The Griffins who won the ACAC North Regional again enter as favourites. Can they come through this season?
"If anything, it makes those vets a little bit hungrier," said Campbell of the 2017 disappointment. "They're going to be the ones that set the tone. I look forward to seeing everybody going out and having some fun and getting back to business right where we left off last year."
First-years Connor Ackroyd, Jarrett Bossert and Jack Nessel will compete individually.
"For them, it's really about finding a comfort level playing in these events and getting some rounds under their belt," said Campbell. "There's a progression that some of our new players are making and not all of them are going to be able to jump into the top five right away, but next year this whole season is really going to pay off for them."
On the women's side, all three members of the team – Hailey Turcotte, Jordan Hoyda and Skyler Thompson – will play in the team competition, with the top two scores counting. Considering Medicine Hat is the tournament favourites, it's almost a certainty that two other berths to nationals will be up for grabs. That means the Griffins need to catch at least third place.
"The goals through a season like this, especially when you're only talking about a month worth of golf, is to see some progression and you want to peak at the right time," said Campbell. "Our new girls are starting to come along and their comfort level of playing on the team is growing. We're looking for Hailey Turcotte to provide some leadership there as well, as she's the one returning player on the team.
"In many ways, it's just about being able to go out there and throw a couple good rounds together. The girls are really hoping to get into the top three. We're really close," he continued.
"The girls have definitely seen a lot of progress over the last month. Now it's about putting it out on the golf course and getting the job done."
The team will hit Alberta Springs for a practice round on Friday before Rounds 1 and 2 go Saturday and Sunday (10 a.m. tee times both days).
