HUMBER, KALKANIS STRIKE GOLD AT 2012 GOLF NATIONALS

OSHAWA, Ont. - The Humber Hawks captured their fourth consecutive national men's title, while the UBC-Okanagan Heat earned their first national women's title at the 2012 PING CCAA Golf National Championship hosted by Durham College at the Oshawa Golf and Curling Club.

The UBC-Okanagan team of Jennifer Woods, Jessica Kozak and Alana Kent captured the women's title with an 8-stroke victory over the Holland College Hurricanes, finishing at 501 for the championship.

"We have come close a couple of times before so it feels great to finally win," said Woods. "We didn't know we had won until they posted the numbers on the scoreboard. It was a pretty amazing feeling."

MacEwan University finished in third place earning a bronze medal, 11 strokes ahead of the St. Clair Saints. The defending CCAA champion Durham Lords ended up in fifth place, two strokes behind the Saints.

In the individual competition, the Oshawa Golf and Curling Club course record was shattered by Valerie Tanguay of Champlain-St. Lawrence, who carded a 5-under 67 to win the national championship by five strokes. Tanguay had five birdies and an eagle in her final round enroute to the CCAA national title.

"It's a really good feeling," said Tanguay, who had her personal best score in competition play. "I was hitting the ball really well and my putting was good. I am really excited and am going to enjoy this moment."

Katherine Gravel-Coursol of Lionel-Groulx and Elizabeth Asselin of Levis-Lauzon finished in second and third place respectively. Both players from the RSEQ had shared the previous course record of 1-under 71 after the first two rounds of the championship. Woods of UBC-Okanagan finished in fourth place to round out the CCAA All-Tournament team.

On the men's side, the Humber Hawks posted a three-day total of 15-over 879 to win their tenth overall national title.

Four of the Hawks posted top-10 individual finishes including Alex Dumais, Ben Bell and Nicolas Fortin, who finished tied for third place with a total of 3-over 219. Ben McFaul and Christian McCullough were the other two members of the Hawks.

"I think this one felt good because our team had lost some great golfers, so we were kind of the new crew," said Dumais. "It was a lot of fun to put some good rounds together and all play pretty well to earn the win."

The Camosun Chargers won the silver medal with a three-day total of 897 while the Durham Lords earned the bronze medal with a team total of 901. This marks the first time since 2006 the Durham men's team has won a medal at the national championship. Niagara College finished in fourth place, earning a trip to the RCGA Championship along with the three medal winners.

Georgian's Colton Kalkanis captured the men's individual title, beating Niagara's Robert Ellis by one stroke. Kalkanis shot a 1-under 71 on the final day to card a three-day total of 217.

"I knew it was going to come down to the wire," said Kalkanis, who had finished his round over an hour before the final group reached the clubhouse. "It is by far the biggest tournament I have ever won. I am pretty much speechless."

Durham's Shea Varty earned his second bronze medal at the championship finishing with a final round of 1-under 71 for a total of 219.

Every men's CCAA All-Tournament award recipient was a member of the OCAA.

David Lang of Durham and Katherine Gravel-Coursol of Lionel-Groulx were named the recipients of the CCAA Fair Play award.

Source: Durham College