Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Rookies were already going to have an impact on the fortunes of MacEwan's men's golf team with only four returning players from last season's ACAC Championship squad.

But with an injury to key returner Reid Woodman that will keep him out of this weekend's ACAC North Regional and likely longer than that, the Griffins will be relying on their first-years in a bigger way.

MacEwan will host the first event of the season on Saturday and Sunday at Red Tail Landing GC (tee times start at 8 a.m. both days).

"That was a big loss for us," said head coach Jodi Campbell of his top first-year player from a year ago. "He was definitely going to be a guy who was going to be looked upon as a great team player and his skill set will be missed.

"There's a big hole where he used to be, so that's where some of the new guys are going to need to step in and fill one of those leadership roles as a first-year player."

Campbell has been impressed with his four newcomers, though, and believes they have the talent to succeed on the ACAC golf stage.

Rookies Stephen Christenson (Derrick G&WC) and Blake Caron (Edmonton Petroleum Club) will get the first crack at filling those shoes when they join Griffins veterans Justin Berget (Stony Plain GC), Noah Lubberding (Windermere GCC) and Jarrett Bossert (Belvedere GCC) for team play this weekend. The top four scores from each round will count to MacEwan's team total.

First-years Nate Gerhardt (Devon GC) and Jose Lopez Peterson (Jagare Ridge GC) will play individually in the ACAC North Regional.

"What I like is these guys have fit in so quickly," said Campbell. "For us, being such a short season, it's crucial. We want to have the team come together.
"Even though we have some new building blocks on the team, we're going to be looking for them to step into some key roles. That's where we get to rely on some veteran players. Justin Berget and Noah Lubberding are going to be providing lots of leadership on the team."

On the women's side, returners Jordan Hoyda and Skyler Thompson are bolstered by rookies Terynn Jensen (Canmore GCC) and Taylor Eskdale.

"A big task continually is finding women that want to come out and play tournament golf and be in a team environment," said Campbell. "We were really happy to connect with a couple of young ladies who are going to be a good fit on the team."

Hoyda, Thompson and Jensen will form MacEwan's women's team entry, where the top two scores from each round count to the team's total. Eskdale will compete individually.

"We're just thrilled to get a full squad again on the women's side," said Campbell. "We just know they're going to do some really cool things this year."

And back after a successful first year, is the mixed team event where three men and two women combine to compete. The top two men and top woman's scores count to the team total. MacEwan will put Berget, Lubberding, Bossert, Hoyda and Thompson into the mix for that event.

"We're really proud of that mixed division," said Campbell. "We're trying to grow our sport and we're trying to grow opportunities for student-athletes to be able to compete at golf in the CCAA."

Besides MacEwan, five other ACAC institutions will be in attendance – Portage College, Concordia University of Edmonton, UAlberta-Augustana, SAIT (new to golf competition this season) and Medicine Hat College. Red Deer College, which boasted the reigning CCAA champion women's team, folded its golf programs after last season.

"We're just really excited to bring everybody to Edmonton and be a good host, display Red Tail Landing at the same time," said Campbell. "They're an important partner of ours."

As the teams build toward the ACAC Championship Sept. 28-29 at Coal Creek in Ryley, AB, this weekend's results are important to see where they stack up against each other.

"The first event of the season is always an opportunity to get everybody's feet wet and check out the competition," said Campbell. "It definitely sets the tone for the rest of the season. The players and anxious and ready to get going, so it should be exciting."

ACAC North Regional 

Round 1 draw - Red Tail Landing Golf Club