UBC Women, Laval Men Capture Canadian College Titles

Meantime, Université Laval captured their first ever Men's team title by a 10-stroke margin over Humber College and University of BC.

The 72-hole national championship was reduced to 54 holes because of rain at the Kingswood Park course in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

The UBC women's squad of Jocelyn Alford, Vanessa Leon, Lindsay Manion, Kylie Barros and team Captain, Alyssa Human, finished 25 shots ahead of University of Victoria - the 2008 winners - and 91 strokes better than Université de Montréal.

The team carded three double-eagles, four eagles, and two birdies and finished competition at 37-over par 901.

"They worked really hard all year," said women's Coach, Keri Moffat. "I think they just peaked at the right time."

Freshman T-Bird Kylie Barros was tied for first at 7-over par 223 heading into the final round. With play canceled, it was decided that to determine the women's individual champion, Barros and Victoria's Anne Basler would enter a playoff on the par-3 11th hole, playing the hole repeatedly until there was a victor.

Both players made par in the first two rounds, however, Barros found the bunker in round three putting herself in real jeopardy. She managed to get up and down, thanks to a 20-foot par saving putt, however, on the fourth round of the head-to-head duel, Basler finally edged Barros with a birdie to take the individual crown.

10-year veteran UBC head coach Chris MacDonald had lots of good things to say about his team's first-year standout.

"Kylie was our best player at this event and she's just a phenomenal talent that is coming along really quickly. We are really proud of her accomplishments this week, especially the heart she showed in the playoff."

The other four female T-Birds in action this week finished tied for sixth or better. Jocelyn Alford and Vanessa Leon ended tied for third at 10-over par while Alyssa Human and Lindsay Manion tied for sixth at 13-over par. All five T-Birds, who helped UBC to the NAIA Championship last week, are underclassmen and eligible to return next season.

"All of our women played really well this weekend. They carried over their strong play from the NAIAs and it paid off with a team record performance in round one," added MacDonald.

"I definitely have played four years to get to this point, and it's finally worked out," explained Balser. "Having great teammates has added that much more confidence to play well and it just worked out in the end. You have to step it up because the weather really beats you down, and it comes down to who can last longer, because Kylie is a really good player."

On the men's side, Université Laval dominated first place. In a position that has traditionally been traded over the years by the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria and Humber College, this was more than a win for Laval, it was a defining moment. The team of Mathieu Gingras, Alexis Anghert, Clément Herviou, Julien Proulx and Matthieu Blouin came out on top with a three-day total score of 867 (+3) that included four double-eagles, six eagles, and seven birdies.

"We are very pleased with this achievement. We have been preparing for this for several years. For the last two years, we've been going to a program in Florida, the team trains in Florida all winter. These young people are so passionate about the game which is great for us. As for the weather, we were a bit lucky to be able to count on bad weather but on the other hand, we were in good shape after the third round. That was the game plan and I think it's been a long time coming.

In the men's individual competition, Philippe-André Bannon remained consistent throughout with rounds of 69-69-74--212 (-4) and fought for first in a final playoff with Mitchell Evanecz from the University of Victoria [71-72-69-212 (-4)]. In the end, Bannon won. In third place for the men was Proulx with 73-68-72-213 (-3).

"You don't know what to expect with a playoff and we had to determine a winner. Mitch is a good player but I'm for sure happy with the way it ended," said Bannon.

With his win, Bannon has earned an exemption into the 2010 Canadian Men's Amateur Championship at London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ont., while Balser earned a spot in the 2010 Royale Cup Canadian Women's Amateur Championship, to be held at Kingsville Golf and Country Club in Kingsville, Ont.

2010 Canadian University/College Championship

MEN'S DIVISION

1 Université Laval +3 296 286 285 867
T2 Humber College +13 293 293 291 877
T2 University of British Columbia +13 291 289 297 877
T4 University of the Fraser Valley +20 295 294 295 884
T4 University of Victoria +20 296 301 287 884
6 Université de Montréal +24 289 300 299 888
7 University of Waterloo +26 306 297 287 890
8 University of Ottawa +35 297 308 294 899
9 University of Manitoba +37 297 307 297 901
10 University of Western Ontario +38 292 307 303 902

DID NOT FINISH
CUT University of Alberta +41
CUT University of Toronto +44
CUT University of New Brunswick +45
CUT Holland College +46
CUT Mount Royal University +48
CUT McMaster University +52
CUT Queen's University +55
CUT Durham College +59
CUT Lethbridge College +67
CUT University of Calgary +74

WOMEN'S DIVISION
1 University of British Columbia +37 297 305 299 901
2 University of Victoria +62 313 309 304 926
3 Université de Montréal +128 337 339 316 992
4 University of Calgary +148 340 333 339 1012
5 University of Alberta +149 F +49 339 337 337 1013

DID NOT FINISH
CUT University of Manitoba +162
CUT Queen's University +162
CUT Université Laval +176
CUT University of Toronto +188
CUT Humber College +197

For complete tournaments staztistics visit: www.rcga.org/championships