OCAA GOLFERS TAKE NATIONAL STAGE ON WEST COAST

VICTORIA - Fourteen student-athletes from a trio of Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) programs will be competing against the top golfers from several Canadian post-secondary institutions at this week's 2012 Canadian University/College Championship.

Cordova Bay Golf Course in Victoria, B.C., will play host to the 72-hole tournament beginning Tuesday and ending Friday.

The Humber Hawks are the defending men's champions, having won the tournament three times since its inception in 2003. Humber is no stranger to men's titles, earning six straight OCAA banners and three consecutive Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) crowns. Humber was recently ranked No. 1 among Canadian post-secondary institutions by the Golf Coaches Association of Canada.

The Hawks will be without a pair of key contributers to their 2011 championships, however, as defending CCAA men's individual champion Adrian Cord and two-time defending OCAA champion Mark Hoffman are now competing professionally. Hoffman won the individual title at last year's Canadian University/College Championship. Humber will turn to its latest crop of golfers, including Alex Dumais, an OCAA bronze medalist last October, along with Ben Bell and Connor Hache, who both finished in the Top 15 at the 2011 CCAA championship.

Also representing the Hawks are Ben McFaul, who finished tied for 13th at last year's provincials, and Christopher Bevan.

Several Durham Lords will also be carrying the OCAA banner at Cordova Bay this week. Tiffany Albath, the defending OCAA women's individual champion and CCAA bronze medalist, and Kayleigh Kraemer, the 2010 OCAA champion, are members of the two-time defending OCAA and CCAA women's team champions. Albath finished in a tie for fifth place at last year's Canadian University/College Championship. Alexandra Down is the third member of Durham's female contingent at this year's tournament.

Durham's men's team is led by David Lang who finished fifth at the 2011 CCAA championship. Lang will be joined on the fairways by Adam Miller, who finished in a tie for seventh at last year's provincials, along with Sean Perkins, with all three bringing experience gained at nationals last October. Joining this trio are fellow Lords Kyle Duke and Justin Knaggs.

Rounding out those representing the OCAA in Victoria is Brennan Smith of St. Lawrence-Kingston. Smith earned an individual bronze medal at the 2011 OCAA tournament.

The first tee off at the Canadian University/College Championship is set for 7:30 a.m. PT on Tuesday. Starting times, post-round results and a full field list for the Canadian University/College Championship are available on the Golf Canada website.

Photo Credit: Cordova Bay Golf Course

- OCAA -

ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is a recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 30 members sponsoring 16 league and tournament championships.

For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
Fax: 416-426-7308
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com