NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) fall gold rush begins this Monday on the links when its top golfers compete at the OCAA Golf Championships.
The scheduled 54-hole tournament runs Monday through Wednesday on the Battlefield course at Legends on the Niagara in Niagara Falls, Ont., and is hosted by Niagara College.
Humber College's Hayley McCallum (Mississauga) will look to make OCAA history over the three days, becoming the first golfer to win three straight individual gold medals in the women's competition. The back-to-back gold medalist won an invitational tournament hosted by St. Clair College earlier in September, shooting an even-par 72 at the Roseland Golf & Curling Club in Windsor.
McCallum's teammates might be the toughest competition on the course, with defending silver medalist Madison Ouellette (Amaranth) and co-bronze winner Elaine Surjoprajogo (Brampton) also expected to compete. Together they won the women's team title for a second straight season for Humber, and are the odds on favourite to three-peat.
Other notables to watch include co-reigning bronze medalist Devyn Fraser (Uxbridge) of Durham College who as a two-sport athlete is simultaneously training for the upcoming volleyball season; Bryden Dilley (Barrie) of Georgian College who, along with Surjoprajogo, won the invitational at Georgian earlier in September; and St. Clair College teammates Sophia Fallea (LaSalle) and Shannon Coffey (Windsor) who finished 1-2 at Monday's invitational on the Battlefield course. Coffey was the 2019 OCAA silver medalist.
There will be a changing of the guard in the men's competition with only reigning bronze medalist Christian Leduc (Innisfil) of Georgian returning from last year's podium. This season's OCAA invitational winners include Humber's Matt Bremer (Toronto) who shot a 67 to win at Roseland earlier in the year; Luke Evans (Georgetown) of Fanshawe College who fired a two-under par 70 to win at Georgian; and Trey Ross (Winnipeg, Man.) of Humber who won the Battlefield warmup tournament with a round of 68.
Over 60 golfers will represent 10 Ontario college campuses, including Confederation College, Durham, Fanshawe, Georgian, Humber, Lakehead University Orillia, Niagara, St. Clair, St. Lawrence College and Sault College.
The tournament consists of three 18-hole rounds, weather permitting. The men's and women's player posting the lowest gross score through 54 holes will earn their respective individual championship.
Men's teams consist of four or five golfers, with the top four individual scores of each round contributing to the total team score. Women's teams consist of two or three golfers, with the top two individual scores of each round contributing to their total score. Schools with the lowest aggregate of gross scores after 54 holes win the respective team titles.
The imposing Battlefield course is located on the north side of the Legends on the Niagara property. Golf Architect Douglas Carrick created a truly unique course that challenges every level of golfer. The Battlefield course features a nice mix of wide, links-style holes with generous undulating fairways and greens that are bound by dense forest and brush.
OCAA golfers will participate in a practice round on Sunday before teeing off for real on Monday. Daily results at the championships will be available online via the championship website and OCAA.com.
The top OCAA golfers and teams will move on to compete at the 2022 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Golf National Championships presented by PING. The event takes place at the Deer Creek Golf Club in Ajax from Oct. 17-21.
OCAA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS WEBSITE: OCAA.com/golf
- OCAA -
ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
For over 50 years, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association has been a dedicated leader in amateur athletics through the provision of quality varsity and recreational athletic opportunities at the collegiate level.
For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com