Wednesday, October 14th saw the completion of the first round of the 2015 CCAA Golf Championship. The three day event sees the best golfers from across Canada flock to the Chilliwack Golf Course to compete for national medals and bragging rights.
The Niagara College Knights men's golf team opened the event strong posting a team total of 284 (-4). The red hot opening round sees the team sitting atop the leaderboard three strokes ahead of the host University of the Fraser Valley Cascades and five strokes ahead of the defending national Champion Holland College Hurricanes.
The three day format for the event sees teams enter five men's and/or three women's golfers. The four best (men's) and two best (women's) scores are totaled to determine placement in the men's and women's team competition while individual scores are used to determine individual medals.
Leading the way for the Knights was Trenton, Ontario native Mark Wikkerink who turned in a team best 69(-3). The first year Culinary student, who also competes as a member of the Knights men's volleyball program, currently sits in a tie for second place in the men's individual division.
Reigning OCAA Champion Evan Littlefield continued his strong play carding a two-under 70. The Thunder Bay native enters day two tied for fourth place just three strokes back on round one leader Connor O'Dell (-5, 67).
Rounding out the scorecard for the Knights was Josiah Dixon T-10 (-1, 71), Zack Bankuti T-28 (+2, 74), and Logan Lammerant (+4, 76).
On the women's side defending CCAA National Champion Lorelle Weavers battled throughout her round posting a +12. The Burlington native sits eight strokes behind round one leader Sonia Nagindas (+4, 76), and five strokes behind a trio of players tied for second at +7 (79).
The Knights will return to action on Thursday, October 15th for round two of the three day event. Live scoring can be found via https://golfcanada.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/rcga15/event/rcga1532/contest/3/leaderboard.htm. For more information please visit the tournament website at http://www.ccaa.ca/national-championship-s15047
