Hurricanes Men's Golf: Hurricanes prepare for Golf Canada national championships

(Back left) Coach Jeff Donovan, Mathieu Arsenault, Brett Wilson, Eric Locke, (Front left) Justin Shanks and Luke Allen accept the 2012 ACAA championship trophy and banner

The event is still a month away, but the members of the Holland Hurricanes men's varsity golf team are busy at work. Preparations have begun for the 2013 Golf Canada University/College Golf Championships being held at the Club de golf Val des Lacs in Ste-Sophie, Quebec. The tournament gets underway with round one on May 28th. The championship is a 72 hole event with a cut being made after round three where the top 10 teams and any individual players within 15 shots of the lead will move on to play the fourth and final round.

The national event annually brings the best Canadian university and college golfers together to duke it out on some of the nicest golf courses in the country. Holland College, who are one of five colleges in the event, will be the most eastern entrant in the competition which will feature teams like University of Victoria and University of British Columbia, both who regularly compete at the NAIA level as well. UBC won the championship in 2012 when it was held in Victoria, BC. This event was even played by Canadian Victor Ciesielski in 2006 and 2007. Ciesielski was the University of Waterloo player that contended near the top of the leaderboard for three rounds at the 2006 Bell Canadian Open that was eventually won by Jim Furyk.

This tournament is a major event in the Canadian golf schedule to say the least.

The Hurricanes are coming off of a sixth place finish at the 2012 PING CCAA national golf championships and the team looks to build off of that event this May.

Eric Locke (Digby, Nova Scotia) the Canes top finisher at the 2012 PING CCAA national championships had this to say heading into the tournament.

"I'm just putting in as much practice time as I can during the next month. I'm focusing a lot on short game and wedge play, looking forward to trying to win a title with my best friends and teammates. We all want this pretty bad."

Justin Shanks (Sussex, New Brunswick) enters his first Golf Canada University/College Championship.

"This tournament will most likely be my first of the year. I'm trying to play as much as I can here at Sussex. I'm excited to get back as a team. Our showing in October wasn't the best, we hope we can do a bit better and play some good golf."

Luke Allen, the loan islander on the team, has done his research on the course and has his game plan in place.

"It seems like a pretty open course with a good amount of bunkers. The key with practice up until the event for me will be keeping the ball on line and getting a little bunker work in as well. The holes don't seem very long in length either so if the driver is working well that week it will be a big bonus."

The course, club de golf Val des Lacs, is a staple in the Quebec tournament scene. Measuring at approximately 6,700 yards the tree-lined course does not play long, but accuracy off of the tee is a must. With large greens and many forced carries, the golf course will certainly test the best university and college players in the country.

The team will depart from Charlottetown on May 25th. Reports from the event will be posted at the official website of Golf Canada, www.golfcanada.ca as well as the Hurricanes official Facebook page, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes.

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For media inquiries please contact:

Daniel Cudmore
Athletics Development and Communications Coordinator
Department of Athletics and Recreation
Holland College
(902) 894-6870
Home of the Hurricanes!

Three Hurricanes selected CCAA All-Canadians (Hurricanes Men's Golf, Women's Golf)

Brett Wilson, Tariqah Walikraam, Eric Locke - CCAA All-Canadians

OSHAWA, Ont. - The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) announced their 2012 golf major award winners on Tuesday night at the PING CCAA Golf National Championship banquet hosted by Durham College at the Oshawa Golf and Curling Club.

Fred Colgan of the Champlain St. Lawrence Lions was named CCAA coach of the year, while 16 student-athletes including Durham College's Tiffany Albath were named CCAA All-Canadians.

Round one action at the national championship will begin on Wednesday morning at 8 a.m.

2012 CCAA Golf Coach of the Year

Fred Colgan of the Champlain St. Lawrence Lions is the 2012 CCAA Golf Coach of the Year.

Colgan coaches the men and women's golf teams in Nérée-Tremblay, QC,

"Fred has done a great job with both teams at Champlain" says Albert Roche, CCAA golf convenor. "Golf is definitely doing well in Quebec."

The Champlain St Lawrence Lions completed the RSEQ golf championships with gold in the men's team and men's individual competitions, as well as a women's individual bronze.

Their current success comes despite the loss of Josée Doyon, two-time PING CCAA Golf National Championships women's individual titleholder. Doyon now represents Quebec's provincial team, while other athletes are members of the junior national team and the LGPA.

Colgan is NCCP level 3 coach who believes in long-term athlete development and focusing on both the golfer and their game.

The other nominees for 2012 CCAA Golf Coach of the Year were Chris Bertram of the Fraser Valley Cascades, Jodi Campbell of the MacEwan Griffins and Matthew Wilson of the Seneca Sting.

Colgan received the award Tuesday, October 16 during the CCAA Championship Awards Banquet at the 2012 PING CCAA Golf National Championships in Oshawa, Ont. CCAA Coach of the Year recipients receive a customized ring provided by Jostens Canada, the Official Ring Supplier of the CCAA Championship Awards Banquet.

2012 CCAA Golf All-Canadians

Tiffany Albath, Durham Lords

Albath has won every tournament she's played in this season, becoming only the third student-athlete to win back-to-back OCAA titles. She is captain of the Durham Lords women's golf team, and a former Durham College Athlete of the Year and Durham College Freshman Athlete of the Year.

Élizabeth Asselin, Faucons de Lévis-Lauzon

Asselin took gold or silver at every RSEQ golf tournament this season, and is ranked first in her conference. She finished ninth at the 2011 Canadian Junior Girls Championship and represented Quebec at the 2012 Canadian Championship.

Adam Bruce, MacEwan Griffins

Bruce has served as the Griffins' captain for the past two years, and has consistently been their best player. His past awards include Griffins Team MVP, two-time ACAC Award of Merit Leader, as well as individual gold and silver finishes at 2012 ACAC tournaments.

Jarred Callbeck, Camosun Chargers

The two-time PACWEST Athlete of the Week won two provincial tournaments and the Gorge Vale Club Championship. He hopes to compete processionally after completing his degree.

Alex Dumais, Humber Hawks

After four years with the Hawks, Dumais' accomplishments include OCAA, CCAA and RCGA team titles, as well as OCAA and CCAA individual bronze medals. Dumais is also a strong student, earning a 2011-2012 SIRC-CCAA Academic All-Canadian Award.

Brett Hawken, MacEwan Griffins

An experienced junior golfer, Hawken earned the men's individual title at the 2012 ACAC Golf Championship in his rookie year. His mature approach and competitive nature make him one to watch in the future.

Sydney Johnson-Parker, MacEwan Griffins

Johnson-Parker's hard work propelled her to a gold-medal finish at the 2012 ACAC Golf Championships after silver finishes at two earlier tournaments. The 2012 ACAC Women's Player of the Year is described as a true competitor with a solid golf game.

Colton Kalkanis, Georgian Grizzlies

Kalkanis made an immediate impact with the Grizzlies this season; he wrapped up his OCAA rookie year with an individual gold and team silver at the OCAA championships.

Mitchel Kennedy, Seneca Sting

Kennedy was a two-time OCAA gold individual medalist this season, as well as earning silver at the OCAA Championships. He's described as an excellent team player and true ambassador of the game.

Eric Locke, Holland Hurricanes

Locke's season highlights include claiming the ACAA men's golf team championship, as well as posting the lower total score at the ACAC's Harvest Moon Tournament. His positive attitude has been a big part of the Hurricanes' success.

Heather MacKenzie, St. Clair Saints

The Saints' team captain triumphed at the 2012 OCAA championship, earning team gold and an individual silver. She started playing competitive golf four years ago.

Jean-Michel Veillette, Champlain St. Lawrence

Veillette earned double gold at the 2012 RSEQ Championships, winning both the men's individual and team competitions. He's is a member of Team Quebec and hopes to qualify for the upcoming Canada Games.

Tariqah Walikraam, Holland Hurricanes

Walikraam hit the ground running with the Hurricanes this fall, completing the 2012 Titleist /Footjoy ACAA Golf Championships with gold medals in the women's individual and team competitions. She was also named a conference All-Star.

Kate Weir, Douglas Royals

There's more than one Weir champion in Canada; Kate won two PACWEST tournaments this season, as well as earning individual gold for the second year in a row, this time by 12 strokes. She's described as a tireless worked with excellent leadership qualities.

Brett Wilson, Holland Hurricanes

Wilson was already a top-ranked New Brunswick Junior when he began competing with the Hurricanes; the freshman is now the ACAA men's individual and team champion. He has great attitude and a passion to succeed.

Aaron Pauls, Fraser Valley Cascades

Pauls is described as one of the steadiest players in the league; he played a key role in the Cascades' victory at the final PACWEST tournament of the year, shotting back-to-back rounds of 69.

Each award recipient was selected by their individual conference based on their performance and contribution to both their sport and their team. This is the first year the CCAA has appointed All-Canadians in golf.

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