By Kyle Balzer (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: September 19, 2012
It has been too long since The Cascade has reported on UFV’s highly-ranked golf team, which competes in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). For those of you who are unaware of how the golf program works, it’s a team consisting of about seven to eight players, selected to compete in tournaments against other colleges in the PACWEST division. If they finish in the top two or three, they have the chance to compete for the CCAA National Championship.
This past year, coach Chris Bertram led the Cascades to the Provincial Championship and a third place finish at the National Tournament on Prince Edward Island. Coach Bertram is entering his eighth season at UFV and is looking at another successful season.
“We’ve been fortunate to sustain a high level for the past six or seven years, but this year I see a real opportunity to make some good things happen with the players we have. Time will tell,” said coach Bertram. “Also, this past summer was great for our veteran players. Many of them had success in big tournaments like Aaron Pauls, who finished 21st in the Canadian Amateur Championship.”
The team does have three returning veterans this year—Aaron Pauls, Mitch Lock and Darren Whitehouse—and coach Bertram is expecting them to lead the charge. “Our ‘big three’ are playing really well heading into the season.,” said Bertram. “I’m looking for good things from them, but we also have some new recruits coming in that I’m really excited about as well.”
And like every good sports team, coach Bertram has made it clear on what his goals are for this season.
“We’ve set two goals. First, win the PACWEST conference championship, and second, win the National Championship. I really believe we have the players this year that can get it done.”
The Cascades have already won the Coquihalla Cup in Kamloops and took first place in the first PACWEST Tournament of the year. They are currently ranked second in the CCAA Top Ten.
