Scoring difficulty was at an all-time high this weekend at the Links at Crowbush Cove thanks to high winds and cold temperatures as the ACAA Golf Championships were being contested on the par-72 championship course.
Hurricanes player Daria Leidenius of Ponoka, AB won the women’s individual ACAA Championship by 14-strokes over Darcy Fuller of the UNB Varsity Reds. Leidenius battled extremely difficult scoring conditions with rounds of 88 and 89 to pick up her third win of the season and first conference championship of her career.
“It was a pleasure to compete in the ACAA Championships again,” shared Leidenius. “Crowbush was in great condition and a pleasure to play despite the tough conditions. This weekend was yet another great learning experience and I'm looking forward to competing at Nationals in Oshawa.”
The men’s Hurricanes trailed by four strokes after day one to UNB as they attempted to mount a charge on day two. In the end the Varsity Reds would finish strong, winning their first ACAA Championship in team history by 25 strokes. The STU Tommies would finish the championship in third position.
Jacob Ward (Burton, NB) was the Hurricanes top individual performer over the two days finishing in a tie for second with a total of 153.
“I had a great start on day one,” Ward said. “I really concentrated on keeping the ball in play and accepted pars in the tough conditions. On day two the wind was up and I made a few more mistakes but overall I am pleased with how I finished.”
With UNB winning the men’s team championship this snaps the streak of eleven straight ACAA Championships for the Hurricanes which included a national bronze in 2006, silver in 2011 and gold in 2014.
The ‘Canes will now turn their attention towards the 2017 PING CCAA National Golf Championships hosted by the Durham College Lords in Oshawa, Ontario. The event takes place October 15-20 at the Royal Ashburn Golf Club.
The Hurricanes are rebuilding their program with an emphasis on youth as their lineup for nationals includes three first-year players for the ‘Canes. The ‘Canes lineup will feature Leidenius, Ward, Spencer Compton (Morell, PEI), Guillaume Côté-Généreux (Drummondville, QC), Jason Poley (Stratford, PEI) and Alex Taylor (Nine Mile Creek, PEI).
