GOLF NINTH AFTER OPENING DAY OF CCAA CHAMPIONSHIP October 15, 2009
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Brett Gruber is tied for 2nd after the opening round
The defending champion Thompson Rivers University WolfPack find themselves ninth after the opening round of the 2009 Canadian College Athletic Association Championships at the Ambassador Golf Club in Windsor Ontario. The five man team of Adam and Brett Gruber (Kamloops, BC), Kevin Ricalton (Kamloops, BC), Geoff Fahlman (Prince George, BC) and Rylan Nelson (Vancouver, BC) have a one round combined total of 310.
Champlain St Lawrence of Quebec leads with 289. That is ten strokes ahead of second place Camosun College (BCCAA).
“The scores were high for many players because it was near or below zero,” said WolfPack head coach Bill Bilton Junior. “It took the players six and a half hours to play a round.”
The golfers are on the course right now (10:33 am PDT). After round one, Samaul Rochette of Champlain St Lawrence leads by two shots. He had a 70. Brett Gruber is tied for second at 72. Adam Gruber is in a tie for 16 th after shooting 75. The rest of the WolfPack team: Kevin Ricalton is tied for 57 th at 81. Rylan Nelson shot 82 in the first round to sit tied for 61 st while Geoff Fahlman is tied for 64 th with an 83.
The Tournament wraps up Friday (Oct 16). The 2010 event will be held at the Dunes in Kamloops.
WOLFPACK BEGIN DEFENCE OF CCAA GOLF TITLE ON WEDNESDAY October 13, 2009
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2008 CCAA Champs
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s golf team begins defence of their Canadian College Athletics Association title Wednesday morning (Oct 14) at the Ambassador Golf Club .
The WolfPack have been in Ontario since the weekend gearing up for the event. “ Any extra practice rounds is always a benefit,” says TRU head coach Bill Bilton Junior. “ Plus we will have time to manage our time better and not feel so rushed. “
Bilton and his crew—consisting of Adam and Brett Gruber, Geoff Fahlman, Rylan Nelson and Kevin Ricalton—haven’t played a competitive round since they finished second at the BC College Athletic Association event they hosted on October 3rd and 4 th. “A big key to playing well is to not have any outside influences that can negatively affect performance. Having said that, all the guys were to “put out all fires” before heading out. “
Adam Gruber and Ricalton are the only members of the TRU squad who competed at the CCAA Nationals in 2008. Bilton believes the WolfPack squad of 2009 could raise a few eyebrows. Not unlike last season, where in their first year, TRU won the title by beating Humber of Ontario by six shots. . “
“Confident but “controlled confidence”,” says the coach about his team. “ hey have proven to themselves that they can beat every team in BC (although we lost by 1) and therefore feel that they can take it deeper at Nationals.”
Win or lose this week, Bilton says the program has made some big strides since the first BCCAA tournament of the season. “The biggest improvement has come from course management. Although they were quite weak in this area to start the year the guys have more respect for the value of a par and to play the course and not the other players. I always tell them “it is them against the course on that day under the conditions of the day……play for your personal best and not against the other players” This formula is used by most if not all PGA Tour players.”
The opening round begins at 10 am EDT on Wednesday (Oct 14).
SHORT PUTTS: Bilton on the Ambassador course: “The Ambassador Golf Club is similar to the Dunes but with more water hazards. I think this course will fit our eye well. Earlier this month, at the Dunes was a test against the top 5 to shoot under 300, players 3-5 to play a little better, and to manage the course and their emotions better. All accomplished. Now I want them to carry these thoughts forward to Nationals.
WOLFPACK PROVE ‘GOOD HOSTS’ OF FIRST BCCAA GOLF TOURNAMENT October 5, 2009
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Adam Gruber putting at BCCAA Tourney held at the Dunes
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack golf team can claim to be good hosts of their first ever BC College Athletic Association golf tournament. Although, they almost send all of the visiting schools home from the Dunes disappointed.
The WolfPack used home course to their advantage as they finished second at the BCCAA event. Their two day, team total of 593 was one shot behind the eventual winners: Camosun College Chargers. UBCO Heat were third with a 594 total. That was four shots better than fourth place Capilano University Blues (598). University of Fraser Valley Cascades were sixth (601).
“I totally take our finish as a positive,” said TRU head coach Bill Bilton Junior. “To lose by one could be disappointed. But when we look back at our goals for this week we did achieve them. We wanted to gain confidence, step it up from our number three to six player and our team to be consistent. I think we did all of that this weekend. Although we didn’t win, we still consider the weekend to be a success.”
Brett Webster of Camosun was the overall winner shooting a second round 71 to go with his opening round 66 (137). That was four shots ahead of Jordan Kalicki of UBCO (71-70-141). Kalicki’s teammate, Ken Osborne wound up in third spot with a 142 total (72-70). David McGlone of Capilano was fourth at 145 (73-72).
But the WolfPack occupied the fifth through seventh spots. Brett Gruber (1st year,Kamloops, BC) shot a second round 73 to follow up on his 72 on Saturday (Oct 3). His 147 total was good enough for a tie for fifth place with teammate Rylan Nelson (1st year,Vancouver, BC). Nelson had a 72 on Sunday which was three better than his total in round one. Adam Gruber (2nd year, Kamloops, BC) fell from third spot to finish in seventh. He had a 72 on Saturday but ballooned to a 76 in round two (148 total), mostly because of problems with his putter.
“Rylan played well. Geoff Fahlman (2nd year, Prince George, BC) played consistent,” said Bilton. “Adam didn’t have his best putting day. It wasn’t that he hit bad putts, he hit them where he thought they would go in but didn’t. Certainly not his best round recently but that is golf. He’s a good player and will put it behind him. What I do like is that his brother Brett has beat him two weeks in a row and that will spark a fire under Adam before the Nationals.”
Fahlman finished 13 th with rounds of 76 and 75 (151). Kevin Ricalton (2nd year, Kamloops, BC) finished 18 th at 152 (77-75). Brennan Arduini (4th year, Kamloops, BC) was 33rd. Arduini shot rounds of 81 and 79 (159). Mark Gruber (1st year, Kamloops, BC) was 38 th with rounds of 80 and 83 (163). Colby Cook (1st year, Chilliwack, BC) was 42nd with a total of 165. He had rounds of 82 and 83. Brett Gruber, Ricalton, Arduini and Cook played as individuals.
The WolfPack and the rest of the BCCAA golfers have a week to prepare before heading to the Canadian College Athletic Association Championships which begin October 14 th in Windsor Ontario.
SANDTRAPS: The 2010 CCAA Nationals will be held at the Dunes in Kamloops. Bilton on what the golfers said about the course: ” On all accounts, players loved the course. The conditions were excellent. The speed of the greens was top notch—tour speed. I have player after player coming up praising the course. With a number of volunteers who will working at next years event here this weekend, we should have leg up. There is no question that these players will go back and tell their friends and coaches that they will be excited about coming back here next year.”
Ashley Rampuri of Douglas won the women’s portion of the tournament. She and Jen Woods of UBCO finished the regulation 36 holes with 164 totals. Rampuri shot 81 and 83. Woods carded 84 and 80. Rampuri won on a playoff. Alana Kent of UBCO was third at 174 (91-83). Michaela Staller of Douglas shot 92 and 83 to finish with a 175 total to wind up fourth. The other golfer in the field was Emma Slater of UBCO who shot 104 and 99 to finish at 203.
After the Nationals, The BCCAA tour concludes with a weekend tournament in Kelowna on October 24 and 25.
WOLFPACK GOLF THIRD AFTER OPENING ROUND OF BCCAA EVENT AT THE DUNES October 3, 2009
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The host Thompson Rivers University WolfPack stand in third place after the opening round of play at the BC College Athletic Association Golf Tournament at the Dunes. The WolfPack, hosting their first ever BCCAA event have a total of 297. That is two shots behind second place Capilano (295) and eight behind the leaders—Camosun (289).
Adam Gruber (Kamloops, BC) is the top TRU golfer. He is in a three way tie for third after shooting a par 72. Brett Webster of Camosun is the top golfer with a seven under par 66. That is five shots better than Jordan Kralicki of UBCO.
Among the other TRU Golfers: Brett Gruber (Kamloops, BC) shot a 74. Rylan Nelson (Vancouver, BC) carded a 75. Geoff Fahlman (Prince George, BC) is in at 76. Kevin Ricalton (Kamloops, BC), who is playing as an individual, carded a 77. Mark Gruber (Kamloops, BC) is also playing as an individual. He shot an 80. That is one better than Brennan Arduini. The other member of the WolfPack golf team playing this weekend is Colby Cook (Chilliwack, BC). He is playing as an individual and shot an 82.
Douglas’ Ashley Rampur is the top female golfer in at 81. That’s three better than Jen Woods of UBCO. UBCO’s Alana Kent is third at 91.
The golfers will finish the tournament on Sunday (Oct 4). It’ll be a shot gun start at 9 am.
WOLFPACK GOLF HOSTING FIRST EVER BCCAA TOURNAMENT THIS WEEKEND October 1, 2009
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Kevin Ricalton and the rest of the WolfPack host the BCCAA this weekend at the Dunes.
It couldn’t have come at a better time. With the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack golf team still struggling to find a groove, they are hosting their first ever BC College Athletic Association tournament this weekend (Oct 2-4) at the Dunes.
“We are excited about hosting this,” said TRU head coach Bill Bilton Junior. “The Dunes is in great shape and we are going to be proud to show it off to the rest of the BCCAA”.
The defending National Champions have struggled in the first two tournaments of the season. A fourth and a fifth place finish in the team events has the team on its heels. Hosting a tournament on their home course might be what the doctor ordered heading into the CCAA Nationals later this monthin Ontario.
“Yes, it is coming at a good time,” Bilton explains “We are still motivated and a good showing will be a springboard to the Nationals. With our team not having to travel, we should be well rested for tommorrow’s (Fri Oct 2) practice round.”
Bilton admits that coaching the team has been more of a challenge. “We took a lot of things for granted,” he states. “We did a Golf 101 session with the team earlier this week. I told the team that they have up their commitment. It’s not just good enough to show up and play golf for free and get swag: you have to earn it. There’s a level of respect that has somehow lost its way from last year to this season.”
Adam Gruber (Kamloops, BC) continues to lead the TRU contingent. “I think he is feeling the pressure,” states Bilton “Golf is an individual game, but in this scenario he also has to remember he has to play for more than himself.” Gruber is sixth in the overall standings after two tournaments. Brett Webster of Camosun (Abbotsford, BC) lead with a two tournament total of 290. That is one ahead of Jordan Krulicki of UBCO (Red Deer, Alberta) and three beter than UBCO’s Ken Osborne (Comox, BC).
Bilton says the Dunes course will offer up something different than the first two BCCAA courses in Castlegar and Nanaimo. “Those were more old school layouts,” he explains. “The Dunes is a newer Championship course with less hills and trees.” Bilton says the course will be lush with the groundskeepers told to let the rough grow since Tuesday.
All eight of the WolfPack team will golf in this event. The 36 hole tournament starts at 9:30 am Saturday (Oct 3). Sunday’s final round begins with a shot gun start at 9 am. After this weekends tournament, the WolfPack will head to the Nationals (Oct 13-16 in Windsor Ontario) before closing out the BCCAA season Oct 24-25 in Kelowna.
DOUBLE BOGIES: Brett Gruber is 16 th on the BCCAA individual list with 311 strokes followed by Kevin Ricalton (Kamloops, BC). Kevin stands 21 st at 317. Geoff Fahlman (Prince George, BC) has 321 total strokes qwhich is good enough for 27 th spot. Mark Gruber (Kamloops, BC) is 39 th overall with a two tournament total of 346.