After being the bridesmaid in two of the last three years, the UBC Okanagan Heat women’s golf squad has claimed its first national golf title.
Jennifer Woods, Jessica Kozak and Alana Kent captured the 2012 PING CCAA Golf National Championship Friday in Oshawa, Ont., with a one-stroke victory over the Holland College Hurricanes.
“We have come close a couple of times before so it feels great to finally win,” said Woods, whose team finished with a 501 total. “We didn’t know we had won until they posted the numbers on the scoreboard. It was a pretty amazing feeling.”
The Heat had a sizable lead going into the final round and needed every stroke as their Friday score of 174 was their highest in the three days. Holland College shot well on the third day with a 167 to cut the Heat’s lead to one.
Mike Darnbrough, the coach of the UBC Okanagan golf team, was glad to have a lead heading into the final day.
“It was nice to have established a bit of a cushion over the first two days,” explains the coach on the win, but overall, “the girls are thrilled, it was very close today.”
Jen Woods, based on her fourth place finish, made the tournament all-star team again, her third finish in the top five at the national championship during her career with UBC Okanagan.
“She is very excited to go out a national champion,” said Darnbrough on Woods’ final time at the CCAA championship. “Jen was an outstanding leader in this tournament and throughout the season.”
Woods’ three day score was 240 (79-78-83). Kozak and Kent finished 13th and 14th respectively, Kozak was 264 (83-90-91) and Kent 269 (88-87-94).
The two Heat male golfers, Cody Bell and Will Deck, competing as individuals had quality third rounds. After the three day championships Deck finished at 221(74-74-73), just five strokes behind the leader and tied for seventh. Cody Bell over the championship was just one stroke higher than Deck at 222(74-73-75) good enough for a top ten finish.
“I’m happy with my play,” Bell comments from Oshawa. “My goal was to do better than I did in P.E.I. (at the 2011 CCAA Championships) where I was tied for tenth. I had the same result this year, so although it could’ve been better, I’m happy with my result.”
