Despite fashioning a pair of impressive rounds en route to winning the Alberta high school boys’ golf championship, Evan Cowan couldn’t recall a single shot that stood out above the rest.
“I just kept it down the middle and when I got myself into trouble I was able to get (the ball) back on the fairway,” the Grade 12 student at Lethbridge Catholic Central said on Tuesday, after shooting a 71 at Alberta Springs.
Cowan fired a 75 in exceptionally windy conditions on Monday at Lacombe and finished with a 246 total, three shots better than defending champion Cole Chelle of Edmonton Harry Ainlay.
“I just kept my head in the game and played well both days,” said Cowan. “I’ve been in the top four in the past, but this is my first medal. The win feels good.”
Chelle rebounded from an opening-round 83 to fire the low round of the day — a 66 — at Alberta Springs. Chelle finished at 249, while Nolan West of Rocky Mountain House St. Dominic (79-72) and Dillon Batsel of Medicine Hat High (78-73) each won a bronze medal with a 251 total.
“I think I played solid both days,” said West, the low Central Albertan. “I didn’t have any expectations at all coming into the championship. I know it’s a cliché, but I just wanted to take it one shot at a time, be consistent and put together some good scores.”
West experienced success on both the McLennan Ross Sun and Maple Leaf junior tours this summer and carried his hot hand over into the high school zone playdowns and then the provincials.
“I’ve never placed in the provincials in the past and last year I didn’t break 90 in zones. But I won zones this year and to be able to come here and place third was the icing on the cake for the year,” said West. “I’ve been playing with more consistency this year, I’ve been working on a lot of things with my coach. It’s been a good season.”
Zak Griffiths of provincial championship host Notre Dame turned in a 73 on Tuesday and coupled with his first-round score of 80, tied for fifth — along with James Ursulak of Ponoka (78-75) and Jeremy Vold of Okotoks Holy Trinity (80-73) — with a 153 total.
Holy Trinity captured the 3A/4A team title with a 438 total, 16 strokes better than runner-up Catholic Central. Ponoka was third at 460 and Notre Dame finished fifth with a 467 total.
West Island College of Calgary finished first in the 1A/2A team standings with a 36-hole count of 465. Didsbury and Spirit River were second and third with respective 474 and 475 totals, and Trochu Valley was 10th at 530.
Other Central Alberta individual results:
Carson Kallis, Notre Dame (80-82—162); Austin Jacobsen, Ponoka (87-76—163); Joel Johnson, Hobbema Ermineskin (82-82—164); Junho Kim, Hunting Hills (85-79—164); Mikeal Skaley, Ponoka (80-84—164); Jesse Teron, Hunting Hills (86-81—167); Tucker Dougherty, Ponoka (86-86—172); Dylan Goranson, Notre Dame (91-86—177); Cameron Ehnes, Notre Dame (98-86—184); Nathan Mah, Hunting Hills (98-86—184); Paul Numrich, Hunting Hills (94-91—185); Mike Winther, Trochu Valley (101-84—185).
gmeachem@www.reddeeradvocate.com