Hurricanes Golf on the road to open varsity season

Friday, September 17, 2010

Jeff Donovan, Hurricanes Golf Head Coach

The Holland Hurricanes Men's and Women's Golf teams will be in Truro, NS Saturday to compete in the first event of the ACAA Golf season. The men's team is the four-time defending ACAA Champions, winning every year since Golf became an official ACAA sport in 2006. The women were knocked-off for the first time since 2006 last season, when STU took home the ACAA title.

Both the men and the women go into ACAA play expecting no less than another ACAA crown. During the ACAA competitive season, the Hurricanes compete with two men's teams of five and two women's teams of three. On the men's side each team counts their best four scores, while the women's teams will count their best two. All four teams will compete right up to and including the Titleist/Footjoy ACAA Championships being hosted at Fox Meadow, October 2nd and 3rd.  At that time one men's team of five and one women's team of three will be selected to head to Kamloops, BC to compete in the CCAA Championships October 12-16, hosted by Thompson Rivers University.

This weekend the teams will compete at the Truro Golf Club. Truro is a tight golf course that is sometimes compared to Belvedere in respect to layout.

Hurricanes Head Coach Jeff Donovan has been busy helping to prepare his team for the ACAA season. Donovan is very excited about the team heading into competition. He also knows what they need to do well to win this weekend.

"Truro is pretty tight. We need to drive the ball well. That's been one of the main focuses all week at practice at the academy (Canadian Golf Academy). We've got a bunch of players driving the ball very well right now. If that continues Saturday, I like our chances," said Donovan.

The men will be relying on the veteran play of third-year golfer Alex Egan and second-year player Cody MacKay. Both golfers have significant tournament experience and will be expected to lead the way for the 'Canes.

Coach Donovan commented, "I'm looking for Alex and Cody to lead us on the course with their play, but also lead us as our younger players get ready to compete. This is team golf and we need them to help everyone get ready to play well."

The women's team has experienced tremendous growth in numbers and in talent this season. Over the last couple of years the women have had very little depth to work with. This year with six quality players, making the final three who will head to nationals is no easy task. Back from last year's team is Dawn Kneebone.

"Dawn worked hard on her game over the summer and has had a great fall thus far. She won our qualifying event and has been putting up some great scores," said Coach Donovan.

Kneebone is joined by five rookies including Ashley Vankroonenburg and Kaitlyn Dawson, both from Nova Scotia.

"I'm really excited about our women's team this year. It's so great to have two full teams competing and we've got so much potential," the coach added.

After this weekend's event, the Hurricanes will be in Fredericton next Saturday for the second event of the ACAA schedule at the Mactaquac golf course for an event hosted by STU.

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For more information contact: 

Jeff Walker
Student Services & Athletics Officer
Holland College, Charlottetown Centre
140 Weymouth Street
Charlottetown, PE C1A 4Z1
902-894-6870
jgwalker@hollandcollege.com
www.hollandcollege.com
Home of the Holland Hurricanes
and proud member of the ACAA