Programs
Provincial Golf Champions!
The Shawnigan Lake School competitive golf team, comprised of Ben B., Adam H., Owen Q., Jonny R. and Nolan W., traveled to the majestic Sandpiper Golf Course this past week to compete in the BCSS “AA” Golf Championships. The course is one of the province’s hidden gems, nestled snugly on the banks of the Harrison River in the Fraser Valley. Arriving at the venue as Vancouver Island’s third seed, the team understood that only their finest efforts would see them be competitive in the deep and challenging tournament field.
The team studied the course in detail during the practice round, making copious notes on how to best attack the subtly tricky layout. When the competition itself began the next day, the battle plan was in place and every member of the team (theoretically) knew what to do.
Paired with three of the tournament’s highly touted favourite teams, the boys battled hard on the first day of the competition, emerging at its end leading the field. Ben B.’s team-best 73 set the standard for the day and was closely followed by Adam H.’s 74 and Nolan W.’s 75. Sleeping on the lead can be tough, however, and this proved to be the case.
Day two of the competition saw some new teams at the top of the leaderboard, as fancied, pre-tournament favourites found things more difficult than anticipated and had slipped back. With just a few holes to complete, the team found themselves on the back foot, watching rival schools surge forward ahead of them. To say things looked bleak might be the understatement of the tournament.
Golf being what it is, though – massively unpredictable – the team rallied over the final four holes, playing their best golf of the tournament when it counted most. Every member of the team made sublime shots and holed crucial putts coming down the stretch. Ben followed his first round 73 with another 73, with the rest of the team also delivering under the pressure the circumstances brought to bear.
Tristan Mandur ’17 (Copeman’s), a former three-time medalist at this very tournament, BC Junior Boy’s Champion, BC Men’s Amateur Champion and member of the University of Utah Men’s golf team, sent a message of encouragement to the team before they teed off, telling them to have fun, be themselves and represent the School in the right competitive spirit. Mission accomplished, I’d say!
– David Hyde-Lay, coach
Paired with three of the tournament’s highly touted favourite teams, the boys battled hard on the first day of the competition, emerging at its end leading the field. Ben B.’s team-best 73 set the standard for the day and was closely followed by Adam H.’s 74 and Nolan W.’s 75. Sleeping on the lead can be tough, however, and this proved to be the case.
Day two of the competition saw some new teams at the top of the leaderboard, as fancied, pre-tournament favourites found things more difficult than anticipated and had slipped back. With just a few holes to complete, the team found themselves on the back foot, watching rival schools surge forward ahead of them. To say things looked bleak might be the understatement of the tournament.
Golf being what it is, though – massively unpredictable – the team rallied over the final four holes, playing their best golf of the tournament when it counted most. Every member of the team made sublime shots and holed crucial putts coming down the stretch. Ben followed his first round 73 with another 73, with the rest of the team also delivering under the pressure the circumstances brought to bear.
Tristan Mandur ’17 (Copeman’s), a former three-time medalist at this very tournament, BC Junior Boy’s Champion, BC Men’s Amateur Champion and member of the University of Utah Men’s golf team, sent a message of encouragement to the team before they teed off, telling them to have fun, be themselves and represent the School in the right competitive spirit. Mission accomplished, I’d say!
– David Hyde-Lay, coach
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
