Connor O’Dell led the way for the UFV men’s golf at at the Camosun tournament on the weekend. (File photo courtesy Greystoke Photography)
The University of the Fraser Valley men’s and women’s golf teams posted matching second-place finishes at the Camosun College Invitational at Victoria’s Bear Mountain Resort on the weekend.
The Cascades men’s team combined for a two-day total of 575, leaving them 21 strokes back of the host Camosun Chargers (554). The UBC Okanagan Heat took third (580).
The result enabled the Chargers to expand their overall lead through three of four PacWest conference events – they’re at 1,728, ahead of UFV (1,775) and UBCO (1,796).
Connor O’Dell was the top Cascade on the weekend. The 2014 CCAA All-Canadian from Maple Ridge followed a round of 70 on Saturday with a 69 on Sunday to finish at one-under, good for solo fourth place, three strokes back of winner Jeff Riches of Camosun.
Rookie Nathan Bahnman, in his first tourney as part of the Cascades’ five-man team roster, tied for ninth with a two-day total of 145. Zach Olson (12th place, two-day total of 146), who won last week’s KPU Invitational, Connor McLellan (T14, 148) and Cody Stewart (17th, 150) rounded out the UFV contingent.
“I was pleased to see us take some big strides this weekend in terms of some individual performances and our overall team score,” Cascades head coach Chris Bertram said. “We’re getting stronger as we build towards our ultimate goal, which is to be ready for our national championship.
“In particular, I was happy to see Connor O’Dell post some numbers. He’s been getting better all year, and it’s nice to see him rounding into form as we head down the stretch. And Nathan Bahnman is starting to prove himself to be a strong contributor to the team as we go forward.”
On the women’s side, Hannah Dirksen followed up her individual win at last week’s KPU Invitational with a runner-up result at Bear Mountain. She carded rounds of 78 and 77 to finish three strokes back of Carolyn Lee of UBCO. UFV’s Jennifer Kell (two-day total of 180) was fifth, and Ciara Melhus (190) was sixth.
The UBCO Heat finished atop the women’s team standings at Camosun, firing a combined score of 313 to edge the Cascades (335). They’re 29 strokes up on UFV in the cumulative season standings (984 to 1,013).
“It was nice to see Hannah continue to play well on a very difficult golf course,” Bertram said. “She continues to show the kind of maturity and development we’ve been hoping for.
“The UBCO women showed some of their experience and just outplayed us.”
CASCADES SHIFT INTO HOSTING MODE
The Camosun tournament was the last road trip of the fall season for the Cascades golfers, who host a pair of high-profile events in the coming weeks.
This weekend, Oct. 3-4, UFV hosts the fourth and final PacWest conference tourney at Chilliwack Golf Club. It tees off at 11 a.m. on Saturday, and Sunday’s action will begin with a shotgun start at 9 a.m.
The CCAA PING Golf National Championships run a week and a half later, Oct. 13-16, also at Chilliwack Golf Club. It will be UFV’s first time hosting CCAA golf nationals, and the event will draw teams from coast to coast.
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