The 2015 OCAA golf season was one for the ages for the Niagara Knights. The men's team captured the OCAA gold medal and CCAA silver medal. Evan Littlefield (Thunder Bay) and Lorelle Weavers (Burlington) won their respective OCAA individual championships, and Josiah Dixon (Bognor) won the OCAA men's bronze medal. With that said, 2015 is now behind them and the Knights have the 2016 season in their sights.
There is plenty of reason to be optimistic about a return to the top in 2016. Three members from the 2015 men's champions are back in the fold this season; Littlefield, Dixon, and Logan Lammerant (Seaforth) will tee off for the men. In addition the team has added Nick Schepens (London), Brett Shewchuk (Thunder Bay), Ben Kenel (Hamilton), and Austin Golding (Dunnville) who all impressed in the tryouts rounds this year. The seven team members will all battle throughout the season to determine who will be the five Knights chosen to represent Niagara the OCAA Championship.
Head Coach Cameron Thin is excited to get the 2016 season underway. "As we head through the invitational season, there will once again be very difficult decisions to be made by the coaching staff," said Thin. "However, we have plenty of depth and the competition will only improve our program both this year and beyond."
On the women's side Lorelle Weavers is back to defend her OCAA gold medal. The two-time CCAA All-Canadian and back-to-back Niagara College Athlete of the Year possesses one of the best resumes of any player in the collegiate field. Not only did she capture last year's provincial gold, Weavers also won the CCAA National Championship in 2014. Speaking about the lone female on the roster Thin believes Weavers has what it takes to add another gold to her already robust collection. "I am fully confident in her ability to contend for both the provincial and national titles once again this season," Thin said of her chances this season.
The Knights officially begin the 2016 OCAA invitational season on Saturday at the Fanshawe College Fall Classic, hosted at Forest City National Golf Club in London. They have a packed schedule with four invitational events spread across nine days before the OCAA Championship on October 3rd to 5th.
Schedule
Sep. 17 - Fanshawe Invitational - Forest City National GC
Sep. 22 - Georgian Invitational - Heritage Hills GC
Sep. 26 - Niagara Knights Classic - Hunters Pointe GC
Oct. 3-5 - OCAA Championship - National Pines GC
Oct. 18-21 - CCAA Championship - Holland College, PEI
