Cascades sign stateside golf standout Davis

Halen Davis transfers from Washington’s Skagit Valley College to join UFV

Halen Davis is set to join the Cascades golf team this season.

Halen Davis is set to join the Cascades golf team this season.

Halen Davis, a star from the U.S. junior college ranks, has signed with the University of the Fraser Valley men’s golf team.

The 20-year-old from Stanwood, Wash. is transferring from Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Wash., and will embark on his third season of eligibility this fall with the Cascades.

In 10 tournaments with the Skagit Valley Cardinals in 2015-16, Davis posted seven top-10 individual finishes, highlighted by two victories and a pair of runner-up results.

For his efforts, he was recently named the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) men’s player of the year.

“It’s a good fit for us, and for him, I think,” UFV golf coach Chris Bertram said of Davis. “Even though he’s from across the border, he’s a local. He’s used to the kind of weather and kind of golf courses we have, and from that perspective, I think it’ll be a natural transition for him.

“We’re coming into a really nice part of our cycle as a team – our current number one player, Connor O’Dell, is going into his senior year. It’s tough to replace a guy like that, but you look at Halen’s scores, and it’s not hard to envision him moving into our lineup early. He’s got the potential to go really low, but he very seldom seems to lose control of a round. His scores rarely go much over par, and in the context of university golf in a team format, that type of consistency is really valuable.”

Davis plans to major in math at UFV.

“I’m really excited to join the Cascades and be a part of a team with a great tradition of success,” he said. “I have gotten to play against UFV this past year on a few occasions and see firsthand how many good players are in the program. Hopefully, I can help the team win more championships in the near future.”

The Cascades men’s golf team has climbed the podium at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association golf national championships seven times in the past nine seasons, including a gold medal in 2013 and bronze as tournament hosts in 2015.

They’ve won all four of their events thus far in 2016, and wrap up their spring season at the Canadian University/College Championship at Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville, B.C., which runs from May 31 to June 3.

For more details on the team, visit ufvcascades.ca.

Abbotsford News