Kwalikum Secondary School’s golf team opens play at the BC High School Provincial Championships today, bolstered by their recent first place finish at the Island finals.
The team, led by seniors Brayden Eriksen, Kyler Bourgeault, Monica Huang and Brett Saremba also includes Gr. 9 Santiago Bouyra and Gr. 12 alternate Sean Austin, finished top of the heap for the second straight year in a round of 18 at Arbutus Ridge in Mill Bay May 18.
“We knew we could win the Islands,” Kondor coach Butch Gayton said. “We didn’t have our best tournament, but we know we’re capable of contending for the BCs.”
All the players are members of the Brent Morrison Golf Academy out of Pheasant Glen Golf Resort.
The Kondors finished first on the Island in AAA last year and came in second at the BCs by one stroke. This year is the first time in KSS history a golf team has won the Double-A Island title (the school was dropped down to AA for the first time this year due to a dip in enrolment numbers).
“We won by nine (strokes) ... we did enough to win,” Gayton said of the Island finals. “We didn’t have any personal bests, and that’s how we have to look at it — we haven’t peeked yet, and the boys are looking for a little redemption after coming so close last year.”
The 16-team BCs are being held in Radium Hot Springs Monday and Tuesday (stay tuned).