UBC, UVic -- NAIA season Over, Canadian Final Is Next

The Vikes are three-time champions of the Canadian event. Last year the Thunderbirds won the title at Victoria's Cordova Bay Golf Course, while the UBC women lost for the first time in six years, bowing to the University of Victoria.

2009 NAIA National Finals -- Men

UBC

In Silvis, Illinois, the Thunderbirds weren't able to defend their NAIA Men's Championship but they did secure third spot at TPC Deere Run thanks to a solid final round of 298.

It was UBC's third straight team round under 300 and gave them a four day team total of 55 over par 1191 as they finished 10 strokes behind champions Oklahoma Christian and six back of second-placed Texas Wesleyan.

Senior captain Cory Renfrew, who was named an NAIA PING All-America First Team member at the conclusion of the tournament, fired a one over par round of 73 to finish fifth in the individual race with a five over par (289). Renfrew was one under par over his final three rounds after opening the Championship with a six over par 77.

After an up and down start to his fourth round that saw him card two double bogeys, two bogeys, and two birdies on the front nine, Renfrew settled down on the back nine and was two under par with a pair of birdies and seven pars.

Brandon Markiw had his best round of the tournament in equaling Renfrew's two over par 73. The junior was also two under par on the back nine with two birdies and seven pars after four bogeys on the front nine. Markiw finished tied for 53rd overall at 25 over par.

Dave Sheman finished off his first NAIA Championship with a five over par round of 76 to finish in a tie for eighth place, while Andrew Robb also carded a 76 and ended the Championship in a tie for 44th.

UVic

An arduous final round at the NAIA Golf Championships saw the UVic Vikes drop out of the top ten and finish 14th overall.

The Vikes entered the final round in ninth place, thanks to a third round team total of 297, but would finish in 14th after struggling through the final 18. The Vikes, who placed 12th in San Diego last season, collectively shot 309 on day four and finished the tournament with a total score of 1228, 47 strokes behind champion Oklahoma Christian.

Mitchell Evanecz was the Vikes top individual finisher, placing 29th in the field of 150 golfers from across the U.S. Evanecz concluded tournament play 19 over for a total score of 303. The Red Deer native shot a 74 on the final day of play.

Rookie Jordan Ediger, who had entered day four tied with Evanecz for the team lead, shot a 83 on his final round to drop to 69th place overall. Parker Lilly netted the team's low round, outside of Evanecz, on the final day with a 76. Lilly improved his scores on all four rounds to finish the tournament 29 over for 73rd place.

2009 NAIA National Finals -- Women

UBC

In Rapid City, South Dakota, The UBC Thunderbirds women's golf team finished fifth at the NAIA Championship with a four round team score of 1287.

"This year was one of the best teams I can remember," said UBC head coach Chris MacDonald. "They set the UBC team 18 hole scoring record with a 298 and have improved significantly throughout the year. I was also impressed by the development Lindsay Manion has been making, she had a breakthrough this week finishing as our top player (T19); and Jocelyn Alford's contributions are impressive considering she is a true freshman."

Manion was the only T-Bird to crack the top 20 after her opening two rounds of 73 and 79 were the best and third best rounds carded by a UBC golfer for a four round total of 318. Captain Kyla Inaba finished in a tie for 21st, just one back of Manion at 319. Alford was the third best T-Bird finished tied for 36th at 326. Senior Marianne Banton carded a four round total of 330 while Alyssa Human scored a 337.

"Obviously it is tough to finish fifth - we had a goal to win this championship and getting off to such a terrific start gave us an opportunity but the weather and golf course proved to be too much," said McDonald as the T-Birds were in second after both rounds one and two. "We plan to refocus and have a great event at the Canadian Championships in Hamilton two weeks from now. We will need to play our best and have all five players ready to compete if we plan to recapture the Canadian Championship ".

Oklahoma City University won their fifth straight NAIA title with a team total of 1228 behind a 1-2 individual finish from Sydney Cox (297) and Ashley Sholer (300). Bethel (Ind.) finished second overall with a team score of 1261 while Embry Riddle and California Baptist tied for third at 1266.

UVic

Last year the UVic Vikes women's golf team won their first-ever RCGA Championship, and this year the team continued its ascent with ninth place finish at the NAIA Championships.

The Vikes finished the 72-hole tournament with a team score of 1307 to place ninth overall. UVic's previous best finish was 12th, which was realized each of the past two years. The team, consisting of Anne Balser, Kristy Chew, Ashley Roulston, Kylie Frederick and Alyssa Herkel shot 323 in the final round to jump two spots from the previous day's standings.

Balser, of Digby, N.S., finished the tournament in 16th place and was the top Canadian finisher. Her round scores were 76, 84, 77 and 80, and good enough to finish the tournament 29-over. Frederick provided the Vikes low round on the final day, carding a 79. The Port Alberni native finished in 42nd place and was tailed by Chew in 51st. Herkel was 70th and Roulston 79th.

Oklahoma City placed golfers first and second on the leaderboard and won the team title with a score of 1228. Sydney Cox finished the tournament 9-over to claim the individual title.