Queens lock up gold at golf national championships

Brent Forster - RDC

Medicine Hat, AB - As the best collegiate golfers from across Canada completed their final rounds at Desert Blume Golf Club, the Red Deer College Queens stood atop the leaderboard and were named the 2018 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women's Golf National Champions, receiving gold medals.

The RDC Queens steadily improved each day over the four rounds, with the lowest two scores counting 149 on Friday. This was six strokes better than the second place Medicine Hat College Rattlers (155). Over four rounds, the RDC Queens (625) sealed top spot by 16 strokes over the Rattlers (641). The UBC Okanagan Heat claimed national bronze (666).

RDC's Shaye Leidenius was on a mission and impressively shot a 74 for a total of 304 over four days, earning individual national silver. Chloe Sies recorded a 75, her best round of the championship, finishing 6th (323). Bradie Ouellette-Pillman was 16th (349). 

Shaye Leidenius Photo - Tony Hansen

RDC Golf Head Coach Scott Bergdahl was ecstatic with the gold medal performance from the Queens on the national stage. "It was amazing. The Queens got progressively better over the four rounds. They achieved gold with their stellar play and didn't leave it to fate," says Bergdahl. "Shaye, Chloe and Bradie each shot a personal best round in competition at some point over the four days. They showed a lot of heart and believed in the process. I believe that this is the first Queens' national golf championship."

The Queens last won a national golf team medal in 2008, when they earned bronze.

Bergdahl was impressed with Shaye's individual silver as well. "Shaye led the way for us," he says. "She was confident and did everything that we expect from a team captain, especially in her final golf competition for RDC. She birdied two of the last three holes to secure silver."

Emily Romancew (John Abbott Islanders) led the women with a collective score of 298, earning gold. The bronze medal was awarded to Alyssa Stoddart (305), of the Fanshawe Falcons, who finished one stroke back of Leidenius.

The top four Kings golfers collectively shot 314 and finished in 9th spot as a group (1259). Darin Bertschi picked up a 78 on Friday and placed 37th (307). Chase Broderson fired an 83 and completed his first national championship with 316 over four rounds. Gaige Weseen scored a total of 321. Logan Hill was close behind with 323 and Landon Kletke finished with 346.

Darin Bertschi Photo - Tony Hansen

Bergdahl saw some up and down play from the Kings but is optimistic for the future with the young group. "The Kings were inconsistent over the four days but they also showed that when dealing with some adversity, having confidence can get them back on track," he says. "Four out of the five Kings that competed in Medicine Hat are rookies in college golf competition. The future looks bright for the Kings, and RDC Golf in general. We will look forward to having many of the men returning and developing next year. It will be an amazing ride."

Boomerang d'Andre-Laurendeau (1138) won men's national gold and finished nine strokes up on the Humber Hawks (1147), who claimed silver. The University of Fraser Valley Cascades earned bronze (1171). Individually, Laurent Desmarchais (Boomerg d'Andre-Laurendeau) captured gold (275). Humber Hawks' Conner Watt was five strokes behind (280) Desmarchais for silver. Olivier Menard (Boomerang d"Andre-Laurendeau) solidified bronze (281).

As the CCAA golf season wraps up for another season, the RDC Queens will enter 2019 as the defending women's golf national champions.