Queens increase lead as many RDC golfers improve on day three at nationals
Brent Forster - RDC
Medicine Hat, AB - The RDC Queens Golf team has been more than comfortable at Desert Blume Golf Club. On day three at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Golf National Championships, the Queens honed their game and grew their lead over the host Medicine Hat College Rattlers by another seven strokes, holding top spot.
On Thursday, Shaye Leidenius shot a 72, the second best round among all female participants. Over 18 holes, the Kinesiology student remarkably recorded one eagle along with three birdies, nine pars and five bogeys. Chloe Sies and Bradie Ouellette-Pillman also played their best golf over three days at the championships. Sies (T-7th) and Ouellette-Pillman (T-9th) both finished with 80. The top two Queens counted 152 strokes collectively towards their team score. Over three days, the RDC Queens (476) expanded their lead to ten strokes over the second place Medicine Hat College Rattlers (486).
Braidie Ouellette-Pillman
Leidenius gained three strokes on the women's leader, Emily Romancew (75), of the John Abbott Islanders. Over three rounds, Leidenius (230) sits in third, only three strokes back of second place Alyssa Stoddart (227) of the Fanshawe Falcons, and five back of first place Romancew (225).
The RDC Kings also improved as a group. The four lowest King's scores counted 305 on Thursday, improving by 16 strokes from Wednesday to remain in 9th. RDC's Darin Bertschi shaved three strokes off (74) from Wednesday, tying for 28th (229). Chase Broderson shot a 77 (233), Gaige Weseen had his best round with a 78 (241), Logan Hill recorded a 76, his lowest, (250) and Landon Kletke capped off the Kings' performances with a 91 (261).
Boomerang d'Andre-Laurendeau (854) lead the men's teams with the Humber Hawks (867) following, 13 strokes behind. Laurent Desmarchais (Boomerang d'Andre-Laurendeau) lit up the course, going six under par (66) to move into top spot (207). Connor Watt (Humber Hawks) went two under on the day (70) to place second (209).
The final day of competition will occur on Friday with several close matchups coming down to the wire.
The individual and team leaderboards can be viewed online.