This week the Kodiak golf teams hope to be hitting the greens on the East Coast.
Both teams are participating in the 2011 PING Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Golf Championships in Prince Edward Island which started Tuesday and will conclude Friday.
The four-day championship takes place at the Brudenell River Golf course in Roseneath. It is recognized as one of the top 50 golf courses in Canada and has been home to several Canadian Tour events.
Lethbridge College golf coach Trent Matson, who’s been with the college for three years, is really looking forward to the event.
“I don’t believe there’s ever been a year where both teams have gone. This is the first year we’ve ever really had two full teams,” said Matson. “They’ve both been playing well this season, two bronze medals finishes at provincials.”
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference provincial championships held at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort from Oct. 2-3, served as the qualification for the championships.
Although the men’s team has eight players on the roster, only five of them will be making the trip to nationals. The five team members who ranked highest after scores from the open south regionals and the ACAC championships were combined, will be representing the college.
Derrik Goodwin, Tanner Laidlaw, Jordie Weich, Mitch Matichuk and Brady Karlson managed to make the team.
Both Kodiak female players, Tannis Tailfeathers and Anna Danychuk, will be competing on the East Coast and hope to repeat last year’s solid finish. At last year’s nationals the women’s team finished in third place.
There will be 25 teams from across the country participating in the championships. In total, 15 men’s teams and 10 women’s team will be present.
“There are five zones across the country and they are all allocated three men’s teams and two women’s teams,” said Matson.
If a zone chooses not to send a team, another zone can apply for that position.
“Our girls didn’t automatically qualify, someone didn’t go. Only the top two women’s teams from each zone go. There were a few spaces left, we applied and that’s how we got in.”
Matson has high hopes for his teams this week.
“Obviously I’d like to finish in the top three. Our men’s team has some depth. We’ve shot some lower scores than we ever have. I think our team could finish top five, and maybe sneak into top three.”
At last year’s nationals the Kodiak women finished in third place and Matson is hoping for a similar result this season.
“We have some inexperience in the women’s teams. We can’t throw a score out so every day, every score really counts. I’d like to see us finish in the top five though.”
Brady Karlson hits the driving range at Evergreen Golf Centre for an evening team practice on Oct. 11. Karlson is one of five Kodiak team members in P.E.I. participating in the 2011 CCAA Golf Championships this week. Photo by Paige Murray