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Kelliher eyes ACAC medal

Caitlin Kelliher should go into the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference golf championships with a lot of confidence.
ACAC Golf 100927jer
Caitlin Kelliher of the RDC Golf Team tees off during the ACAC women’s/men’s Northern Regional championship at River Bend golf course Monday afternoon.

Caitlin Kelliher should go into the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference golf championships with a lot of confidence.

The second-year RDC veteran from Lacombe heads back to the Wintergreen Golf and Country Club in Bragg Creek Thursday as the defending women’s champion.

“We held the provincials there last year and I was there in high school, so I know the course and I really like the greens,” said Kelliher, who placed second in the 36-hole Northern Regional championships Monday at River Bend Golf Course.

Kelliher had rounds of 90-88 for a 178 total, eight strokes back of Megan Vermillion of Grant MacEwan University, who shot a second straight 85 Monday

“I putted really well, in fact I one-putted most of the holes, but I didn’t hit many fairways, which hurt, so I guess an 88 was OK,” said Kelliher, who does feel she’s playing better than last year at this time.

“Way better,” she said. “I just need to get my long irons going and I have a good shot at medalling (at the provincials).”

Kelliher feels she can shoot in the low 80s and high 70s.

“One of my strong points has always been putting, so it’s a matter of consistently getting on the green in regulation,” she said.

The 19-year-old Kelliher started playing golf at an early age and competed for her junior high and high school teams in Lacombe. She also played briefly on the McLennan Ross/Sun Junior Tour before attending RDC.

“I talked with Scott (RDC head coach Scott Bergdahl) a long time ago about coming here,” she explained. “Scott is an unbelievable coach and has helped me with my swing a lot.”

She is one of the few Central Alberta women to play competitive golf, something she hopes will change.

“I always tell the little girls in the junior program at Lakewood to stick with it and I’m proud of them,” she added.

The RDC women placed second in the regionals with a two-day total of 388 which was based on the top two women’s scores each day. Grant MacEwan came in with a 357 while Concordia University College of Edmonton had a 390.

Amy Bergeron had a 107 Monday and was second on the RDC team with a 210 total while Melisa Koster shot 110-126 — 236.

Meanwhile on the men’s side, the RDC Kings finished second in the team competition with a 647 total, following a 327 Monday. The men’s totals are based on the top four scores out of the five-man team.

MacEwan led the team standings with a 606 while NAIT took the third berth at the provincials with a 649 total. Portage College of Lac La Biche came in at 736.

Former RDC King and Red Deer product Ryan Tofani (74-72) and Nathan Schurr (71-75) of Mount Royal tied for the men’s individual title with a 146, one stroke better than Adam Bruce of MacEwan (71-76). Mount Royal athletes were playing on an invitational basis and didn’t count in the team standings.

JD Morrical led the RDC squad with a 156 total, following a 77 Monday. Ben Stang (78-82) came in at 160 with Aaron Dyck (82-81) and Jonathan Laniel (78-85) at 163. However, Dyck wasn’t on the team, but will be added for the provincials.

Jordie Weich (88-83) came in at 171 with Landon Schmidt (87-85) at 172, Brayden Oehlerking (85-89) at 174 and Jeff McLean (87-89) at 176.

• Soccer Kings striker Joe Ziebart was named the Boston Pizza RDC male athlete of the week while cross-country runner, Jodi Sanguin, took the top female award.

Ziebart scored twice in the Kings 3-1 win over Lethbridge Sunday while Sanguin won the George McFadzean Memorial race at RDC Saturday.

• The volleyball Queens host the Ramada Inn Wild Rose Classic tournament beginning Friday and running to Sunday.

RDC, Keyano College of Fort McMurray and Augustana University College of Camrose compete in the A Pool with The King’s University College, NAIT and Ambrose College of Manitoba in Pool B, Lakeland, the RDC Alumni and Concordia in Pool C and Mount Royal, Olds and College of the Rockies of Cranbrook in Pool D.

Queens begin play Friday at 4:30 p.m. against Augustana before meeting Keyano at 8:15 p.m.

The final goes Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

• The soccer teams visit Mount Royal tonight while the cross-country team travels to Grant MacEwan Saturday.

The hockey Queens play at the Edge Hockey Academy in Calgary Saturday and Sunday.

The basketball Kings play in The King’s University College tournament this weekend, opening Thursday at 5 p.m. against Olds.

The Queens are at the SAIT tournament and meet Grant MacEwan at 6 p.m. Thursday.

drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com