Cougars and Lightning in the hunt at ASAA Golf Championships
The local entries are in contention at the Alberta Schools Athletic Association Golf Championships.
The host Notre Dame Cougars senior girls are in a tight battle in the team category, sitting second behind Strathcona of Edmonton through the first 18 holes of the two-day competition.
The Cougars shot 272 as a team and are 14 strokes ahead of Springbank after day one Monday at Innisfail Golf Club.
Notre Dame is lead by Tanika Samuels and Grade 12 Megan McCullough. Samuels and McCullough are both in the top 15 and shot 93 and 94, respectively.
McCullough said she was happy with her iron play and added it’s been a fun season with the group they have.
“I thought I played better (Monday) than I have been. My irons and my chipping were really good,” she said. “It feels good we have four girls this year, so it’s good because they only take three scores.”
Notre Dame’s Natalya Watson shot 99 and Julija Watson fired a 105.
Jenna Bruggeman of Strathcona is first after day 1 with a 67 and teammate Alexa Wingnean is second with a 75.
On the male side, two Hunting Hills Lightning players are in contention for an individual title. As a team, they shot 234 and lead the 3A/4A competition by one stroke over Springbank of Calgary.
Cole Bergheim shot 74 at Innisfail Golf Club and is four strokes back of West Island College’s Hunter Thomson, who had a 71 to start the tournament.
“I had a lot of bad holes, a lot of bad approach shots and couldn’t get up and down. Had a lot of bridies on the back down so I brought it back,” he said.
Bergheim’s teammate Alex Gerrard also had a strong start, putting up a 77 and is tied for third with four players, including H.J. Cody’s Logan Graf.
With the team having a shot at the title, Bergheim thinks they’ll have a shot to go low at Alberta Springs in round two Tuesday.
“Everyone has to play good, there can’t be any blow-up holes, Alex and I helped the team out for sure (Monday,” added Bergheim.
“I think (Alberta) Springs is easier than Innisfail, so that should help. Go low and try to help the team out.”
The shotgun start at both courses for round two gets underway at 10 a.m. Tuesday.