The University of the Fraser Valley men's golf team captured the 2012 PacWest conference championship in thrilling fashion.
The Cascades, hosting the fourth and final tournament of the season at Chilliwack Golf and Country Club on the weekend, erased a seven-stroke deficit during Sunday's final round to wind up in a dead tie with the Camosun Chargers at 2,354 team strokes each. The Cascades owned the tiebreaker, though, giving them the title.
"I am not sure I have the words to describe what happened on the golf course today," UFV coach Chris Bertram said. "It was truly the gutsiest performance by a team I have ever watched.
"To come back from that deficit against a team that good is just incredible. My hat is off to this group of athletes."
Aaron Pauls led the way for the Cascades, shooting 69 both days. He finished second overall in the individual standings with a total of 583 strokes over four tournaments, five back of Jarred Callbeck of Camosun. UFV's Darren Whitehouse was sixth overall at 588, while Mitch Lock (590) was ninth.
The Cascades advance to the CCAA national championship tourney, to be hosted by Durham College Oct. 15-19 in Oshawa, Ont.
Bertram, in his eighth year at the helm of the Cascades, has been named PacWest coach of the year for the third time by his coaching peers. UFV's conference championship is the team's fourth overall and they look to medal at the CCAA national championship for a fourth time.