MESA, AZ – For the second time in program history, and for the first time since 2008, the UBC Thunderbirds are bringing an NAIA Men's Golf national championship banner North of the border. Friday afternoon at Las Sendas Golf Club in Mesa, AZ the UBC Thunderbirds fired a combined score of -2 (286) to secure a three-stroke victory over the second-place finishers from The Masters University. The 'Birds began the day five off the lead at +7 and tied for second place before churning out a final round that consisted of 13 birdies and two eagles.
Prior to the start of the tournament, coach Chris MacDonald preached the importance of "playing for par" and avoiding the huge mistake. That message was well received by the fivesome that included: Hudson LaFayette, Aidan Schumer, Mackenzie Bickell, Dylan MacDonald and John Paul Kahlert.
Kahlert led the charge for UBC on Friday with a team-leading score of -2 (70). Following close behind was Mackenzie Bickell (-1, 71) who chose the perfect time to factor in to the top four daily scoring for UBC. Hudson LaFayette, the team's most consistent performer throughout the tournament, carded an even par 72 on Friday while Aidan Schumer was next at +1. Dylan MacDonald may have fallen out of the top-four Friday, but his round still included an eagle and three birdies en route to a +5 77.
"We've been resilient all year and they just kept pushing and made some key putts down the stretch," reflected Chris MacDonald in the early aftermath of his team capturing the national crown. "It's a special moment and a really tough tournament to win, and I'm so proud of our team."
The UBC victory comes on the heels of a tough start to Day 4. Aidan Schumer had an early double bogey on hole one, while Dylan MacDonald carted a quadruple bogey on his second hole of the day. "Today we had a tough start," added MacDonald. "Hudson made some important pars late in his round, and Aidan [after his double] played a really solid round of golf. Luckily JP was four under through his first six holes and our whole team didn't quit."
Mackenzie Bickell was the first UBC player to take to the course. He started the day with a three-round score of +16, but after two birdies on the front and another two on the back, his round ended with a -1 score of 71. He finished the tournament at +15 and tied for 63
rd.
Up next for the 'Birds was Kahlert who sat tied for 31
st with a score of +5 after three rounds. He exploded out of the gates with two birdies and an eagle through his first six holes and ultimately finished with a -2 score of 70 and a four-round total of +3 (Tied for 13
th).
Dylan MacDonald's Friday scorecard had two early holes that he'd especially like to forget. But he atoned with an eagle and two birdies which helped him to a +77 finish, and a four-round total of +6 (Tied for 24
th).
Aidan Schumer's Friday round consisted of two birdies, two bogeys and one double. His four-round score of +2 left him tied for 14
th place.
The top UBC score of the tournament belonged to Hudson LaFayette who wrapped up his tournament with a Friday score of 72 (even par). He finished even par through the entire four-round tournament and landed alone on 12
th place.
Coming into the final round, Keiser University held a five-stroke lead on both UBC and Victoria. They led the tournament for each of the first three rounds, but fired a final round combined score of +12 which put them alone in third place at +14.
UBC's rivals from the Victoria also fell off down the stretch. They started the day tied with UBC at +7 before firing a combined score of +9 which put them tied for fourth at +16.
Second place honours went to The Master's University who fired a combined -4 on Friday to finish their tournament at +8.
Next up for the UBC Thunderbirds – A trek East to the FireRock Golf Club in Komoka, ON for the 2023 Golf Canada Canadian University/College Championship that runs May 30
th – June 2
nd.