It was a landmark weekend for the University of the Fraser Valley golf program, as both the men’s and women’s squads clinched PacWest conference championships.
The freshly minted Cascades women’s team, competing in its first varsity season, won the title in decisive fashion, finishing 50 strokes ahead of runner-up Vancouver Island University over the course of three PacWest tournaments.
UFV capped their run by winning their home tourney at Chilliwack Golf and Country Club on the weekend with a combined score of 319, 18 strokes better than VIU.
Dani Shap, named the PacWest female golfer of the year, finished atop the individual standings with rounds of 80 and 76 to win by six strokes. Her teammates Kelley Dalzell and Jen Woods finished third and fourth, respectively.
The Cascades men matched the women by winning their overall title by 50 strokes, easily out-distancing the Camosun Chargers, and by also winning their home tourney.
Connor O’Dell, with rounds of 72 and 63, finished first in the individual competition at the UFV event. In the individual rankings over the course of three regular season tourneys, Aaron Paul was third (428 strokes over six rounds) and Darren Whitehouse was fourth (431).
“I'm incredibly proud of this team," UFV golf coach Chris Bertram said. "I knew we had a talented group but I didn't foresee us going undefeated.
"In team golf, you have to compete against every school every week, so this really is remarkable."
Both UFV squads advance to the CCAA national championships in Quebec City, Oct. 15-18.
SOLID WEEKEND FOR SOCCER WOMEN
In other UFV sports action, the women's soccer team took four of a possible six points on the weekend to move into a Canada West playoff position.
The Cascades tied the Calgary Dinos 1-1 on Friday, with rookie midfielder Carley Radomski scoring the equalizer in the second half.
On Saturday, UFV trounced the Lethbridge Pronghorns 5-0 on goals by Radomski, Tristan Corneil, Carly Neeson and Shelby Beck.
The weekend results evened the Cascades' record at 3-3-2, good for eighth place in Canada West. The top eight teams make the playoffs.
SOCCER MEN SWEPT BY UVIC
The UFV men's soccer team had a rough go of it in a home-and-home series vs. the Victoria Vikes.
UVic won the opener at Chilliwack's Exhibition Park on Friday by a score of 1-0, and they completed the weekend sweep with a 5-2 win in Victoria on Sunday. The Cascades led 1-0 at the half, but the Vikes' offence exploded after the break to overcome a UFV effort which included goals by Daniel Davidson and Connor MacMillan.
The Cascades men still sit in a playoff position with four regular season games remaining – they're third in Canada West's Pacific Division at 4-5-1.