Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – For eight-straight years – and nine times in the last 10 – the MacEwan golf program has returned from an ACAC Championship with at least one banner.
That incredible streak will be on the line this week as the Griffins head to Ryley, Alta. and Coal Creek Golf Resort for the 2019 championship, expanded to a three-round tournament this year – Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
"We're really proud of what we've built at MacEwan and the success that the team has experienced over the last decade has been quite phenomenal," said head coach Jodi Campbell. "It doesn't come without a lot of hard work, but I think this season what we're facing – maybe more so than we ever have – is a level of adversity where we're looking up the leaderboard, not down.
"The team is definitely trending in the right direction and we're so close."
Based on regional results, the Griffins aren't the favourites in any of the divisions for the first time in forever, even though they're the defending ACAC men's champions. Both MacEwan's men's and women's teams were fourth in the North Regional before improving to third in last weekend's South Regional.
"We've had a target on our backs a long time," said Campbell. "In some ways, we're having to mentally strategize for a different way of competing. Now we must climb up the leaderboard.
"SAIT has definitely set the standard this year (in the men's competition). They're definitely the ones to beat."
That said, the Griffins aren't that far behind. They were 19 shots back of SAIT last weekend and 12 back the weekend before – a gap that was just four after the opening round at the ACAC North Regional at Red Tail Landing GC.
"Are we a third and fourth-place team in this league? Absolutely not," said Campbell. "We're still a leader out there. Our players are as good as any team out there.
"I believe the team has a very strong belief that although the regionals have not provided us with the team results we were hoping for, individually, players are doing the right things, they're playing the right way. I have no doubt in my mind we'll be back up at the top after this weekend as well."
Justin Berget, Noah Lubberding, Stephen Christenson, Blake Caron and Jarrett Bossert will make up the men's team for the Griffins this weekend with the top four scores counting each day. Nate Gerhardt and Jose Lopez Peterson will play in the men's individual competition. Bossert returns to the starting five after ceding a chance to rookie Gerhardt at the South Regional.
"We pulled Boss out to allow Nate a chance," said Campbell. "Of course, it's always the coach's decision. Sometimes you follow your gut to make sure you have your top five in there. Jarrett's had an amazing summer of tournament golf. We're going to be relying on his experience this weekend. I know he'll have another great weekend for us."
On the women's side, Jordan Hoyda is coming off her best round as a Griffin last weekend (81), while Sky Thompson has established a career low (88) in two of her last four rounds. If they can come up with that level consistently this weekend, the Griffins will be competitive for a women's team title that the program last won in 2017.
"I think what they've done is proven they can compete with those top teams," said Campbell. "This is golf. Anything can happen. You've just got to stick with the process and play one shot at a time. I think that if they do that, they've got as good a chance as anybody."
Rookie Terynn Jensen will join them on the team where the top two scores count each day. Taylor Eskdale will compete individually this weekend.
MacEwan's best chance at a championship this weekend might come in the mixed division – being contested for the second time in ACAC golf history. The Griffins were only one shot off first at the ACAC South Regional.
Berget, Lubberding, Christenson, Hoyda and Thompson will form MacEwan's squad for that competition with the top two men's and top woman's scores counting each day.
"What the mixed division has done is really highlighted the teams that can balance out both of their teams," said Campbell. "Having both the men and women contributing, it just goes to show the depth of our program.
"This weekend, we're going to have our vets representing the mixed division. If everybody does their job and looks after what they need to look after, there's an opportunity there, too."
