Queens sit in first at golf nationals after day one

Brent Forster - RDC

Medicine Hat, AB - The first round at the 2018 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Golf National Championships wrapped up Tuesday at Desert Blume Golf Club and the RDC Queens sit in top spot with a strong collective effort.

The Queens had a consistent performance on the course to kick off the national event. Shaye Leidenius led the way for the Queens after firing a 79, four strokes back of the leader, Emily Romancew, of the John Abbott Islanders (75). Leidenius, a Kinesiology student, recorded 11 pars and seven bogeys, and shares fifth spot with Samantha Copeland (UBC Okanagan). RDC's Bradie Ouellette-Pillman sits in 10th with an 85 and Chloe Sies is close behind (87).

Bradie Ouellette-Pillman (Photo - Tony Hansen)

The lowest two Queens' scores (164) are one stroke better than the Medicine Hat College Rattlers (165), to lead the women's teams.

The Red Deer College Kings' are in ninth with a collective score of 319, which is comprised of the best four rounds of the day. First-year Darin Bertschi shot a 78, including nine pars, two birdies and six bogeys, sharing 26th spot.

Darin Bertschi (Photo - Tony Hansen)

Logan Hill was one stroke behind (79), followed by Gaige Weseen (81) and Chase Broderson (81), and then Landon Kletke (83).

The Humber Hawks (293) sit in first on the men's side and Olivier Menard, of Boomerang d'Andre-Laurendeau, shot two under par (70) to sit atop the men's leaderboard. 

Day two will continue Wednesday and the championships will be complete on Friday. The individual and team leaderboards can be followed online.