Hurricanes Men's Golf: Awards Handed Out

Mathieu Arseneault Accepts his MVP award from Coach Jeff Hughes

At the 2012 Annual Holland Hurricanes Awards banquet men's golfers were provided recognition for their efforts on the course this past year.

Receiving Most Dedicated golfer was Nik Penashue, Robert Brown recieved the honors for Most Improved while Mathieu Arseneault earned Most Valuable player award.

Durham, Humber Repeat as PING CCAA Golf Champions, Host Hurricanes take Silver - Men's Golf

Holland Hurricanes Men's Golf - CCAA Silver Medallists

Roseneath, PE - The 2011 PING CCAA Golf Championships concluded early Friday evening in Roseneath, Prince Edward Island. Typically a three-day event, the 2011 edition of the national championships became a two-day event after losing the second-round of play due to inclement weather on Thursday. In women's team play it was the Durham Lords repeating as CCAA Champions. The Humber Hawks took home gold in men's team action, also a repeat-feat for the Hawks.

Women's Recap

In team play, it was the duo of Tiffany Albath and Kayleigh Kraemer leading the Lords to another championship banner. It was the same pair that led Durham to the 2010 CCAA title. Durham finished with a team total of 327, 16-strokes of the second-place Georgian Grizzlies.

The pair played steady both days, with Albath shooting consecutive 81's to finish third in women's individual play. Kraemer went 84-81 to come in right behind her teammate in individual play, finishing fourth overall.

Immediately after signing her scorecard, Kraemer was visibly excited and talked about repeating as CCAA Champions.

"I'm really happy right now," said the champion.

"This was my last CCAA Championship so it feels very good to finish with a win. It was windy today and that made it pretty tough. I played pretty solid, just a few mistakes and a tough double- bogey on 15. Winning is what's most important. As I said, I'm very happy," added Kraemer.

In women's individual play, it was Champlain St. Lawrence Lion Josee Doyon also repeating as a CCAA Champion. Doyon ran away with the individual competition shooting rounds of 72-76 to secure another title.

Doyon was impressive to watch all week, hitting fairway after fairway and green after green. In both rounds, her best-nine was the front-nine. In the first-round she was three-under par after nine, while in Friday's final-round she was even-par through the front. She was actually two-under par standing on the ninth-tee in the final round.

"I had a great start today, but made a bad double-bogey on nine," Doyon explained.

"I wasn't as good on the back. The wind picked up and I struggled to keep my concentration a little. I still am very happy with how I played this week.  The mistakes just give me motivation to keep working hard."

Doyon also talked about winning the title again this year, "This was my last CCAA tourney and I'm really happy to have won my last event. I'll be continuing my golf in the United States next year and this is a great way to finish my CCAA career."

She also commented on the event itself.

"We had two great days of weather. The golf course, the resort, the hospitality, everything was absolutely amazing."

Men's Recap

In men's team play the Humber Hawks once again proved to be the team to-beat in CCAA Men's Golf. The Hawks produced a two-day team total of 587. The total was 22-strokes lower than the second-place Holland College Hurricanes. Third-place went to the Fraser Valley Cascades. The Cascades came in at 613.

The Hawks were led by the powerhouse duo of Adrian Cord and Mark Hoffman. Cord went 68-72, while Hoffman shot rounds of 70 and 72. Cord's 68 was the difference in individual play, nipping his teammate and good friend by two-strokes for the individual win. Both Cord and Hoffman with try to qualify for the Canadian Tour in B.C. this spring.

The Hawks also got great play out of team members Connor Hache, Alex Dumais and Ben Bell. Bell, in his first-year as a member of the Hawks, shot rounds of 78 and 73 in his first CCAA Golf Championships to finish eighth.

He talked about winning a CCAA crown in his first attempt.

"This feels great. It's my first year with the team and to win is pretty special. It has been really great to have the leadership of guys like Cord (Adrian) and Hoffman (Mark). "

For Cord, it was a pretty special ending to his CCAA golf career. Cord came to the 18^th tee with a one-stroke lead over teammate Mark Hoffman who had just finished. Cord had just bogeyed the 17^th to bring Hoffman ever so close to drawing even.

Hoffman had come from behind on day-two of the OCAA Championships to defeat Cord and take the title.

Cord promptly put his drive straight down the middle. His next shot was even better. From 120-yards out, Cord came an inch from holing out from the fairway, sending the crowd of players, coaches and fans into uproar, securing the men's individual championship in fine-fashion.

Cord was thrilled with the win.

"It feels good. This is my first CCAA title. It was also my last event in the CCAA, so I'm definitely pretty pleased. I played pretty aggressive all day and just kept myself focused all day."

Adrian talked about his teammates.

"We have such a great group of guys. I'm really glad the young guys got to experience a championship this year. They'll have this experience to draw on next year when they're back at it."

When asked what was next for Cord, he answered saying, "I'll be trying to make the Canadian Tour this spring. In the short-term though, I have to hit the books. I'm way behind."

It was also a great week for the host Hurricanes. The Hurricanes played with tremendous poise for a young team made up of four rookies and one veteran. It was rookie Mathieu Arsenault who showed the most moxie, going out and shooting 73 in his first round Wednesday, earning himself a spot in the final group on Friday. Playing with eventual winner Cord, the Campbellton, New Brunswick native showed tremendous resolve in getting around the course. He made a 12-foot par putt on 18 to finish with a very-solid final-round 75. Good for third as an individual.  

"This is pretty amazing. I don't think it has really sunk in for any of us yet," said Arsenault.

"As a golfer you always feel like you could have done better, but I'm definitely really happy to have finished second as a team. Individually a third-place finish in my first CCAA Championship is awesome," he explained.

The Hurricanes day-two scores were: Arsenault 75, Nike Penashue 75, Jeremy Stevenson 76, Robert Brown 80 and Chris Croken 82. The second-place finish is the best-ever for Hurricanes Men's Golf at the CCAA event.

Jeremy Stevenson, the only Hurricane with collegiate golf experience, was visibly ecstatic with medaling.

"It's been a long time coming. We have really struggled at this event and to finish like we did is pretty incredible. I'm so proud of these guys," said Stevenson.

The third-year Hurricane wanted to be clear in giving credit to Arsenault.

"Mathieu was the steady one. He had two very good rounds and he is the one that kept us focused, kept us believing."

The 2011 PING CCAA Championships were a great success. The players were treated to a great golf course, great hospitality and two (of three) great days of weather.

For all of the scores and photos from the 2011 PING CCAA Golf Championships go to: www.ccaagolf2011.ca.