Ursulak leads at provincials
James Ursulak of Ponoka remains the low Central Alberta golfer through two rounds of the provincial junior boys championship.
After carding a 73 during Tuesday’s opening round of the 72-hole tournament, Ursulak fired a 4-over 75 Wednesday and trails leader Wilson Bateman of Edmonton Blackhawk by 10 strokes after 36 holes. Bateman is four strokes up on second-place Emmett Oh of Calgary Bearspaw.
Spencer Dorowicz of Olds shot a second-round 77 and sat 29th with a 154 total, and Brett Pasula of the Red Deer Golf and Country Club (RDG&CC) was another shot back after turning in a second-round 71.
Michael Pruss of Red Deer carded an 82 Wednesday and was tied for 49th at 162, while Kolby Vold of Wolf Creek shot 81 and was in a 54th-place tie with Matt Codd of the RDG&CC (79 Wednesday) at 163.
Brayden Thorogood of Sundre followed with a 164 total that included a second-round 79, and Jesse Teron of the RDG&CC was also at 164 after shooting 82.
Allan Pruss of Red Deer (85 Wednesday) and Nolan Bruin of the RDG&CC (84) both made the 36-hole cut with a 168 total.
Missing the cut were Ryan Caines of Sundre, Mikeal Skaley of Ponoka and Austin Jacobson of Wolf Creek.
Griffiths off the pace
Katie Griffiths of Red Deer carded an 89 Wednesday with one round remaining in the Alberta junior girls golf championship at Canmore.
Griffiths, with a 54-hole total of 265 that includes earlier rounds of 90-86, is well back of third-round leader Jennifer Ha of Calgary. Ha turned in a 2-over score of 74 Wednesday and with a 214 total has a six-stroke lead over Mieke Heyns of Lethbridge with 18 holes to play.
Courtney Dickson of Innisfail failed to make the 36-hole cut.
Boston Pizza to meet Branley’s in final
Cole Scott scored twice and assisted on another goal as Boston Pizza shaded Eh Team 5-4 Tuesday at Kin City to advance to the Red Deer Men’s Ball Hockey League championship series.
Ryan Lund sniped two goals and contributed an assist in a losing cause.
Boston Pizza will face Branley’s in the best-of-three final opening tonight at 7 p.m. at Kin City A.
Branley’s advanced with a 14-3 thumping of the Canadiens Tuesday, getting three goals and four assists from Johny Li. Andrew Znak had a goal and one helper for the Canadiens.
Catalinas haul in medals
Red Deer Catalina swimmers captured 30 medals — including eight gold — in the 2011 Speedo Age Group and Senior Long Course provincials at Fort McMurray during the long weekend.
Rebecca Smith mined gold in three events — the 11-12 girls 100m and 200m backstroke and 400m individual medley — while Madalyn Smith was victorious in the 13-14 girls 50m and 100m breaststroke events.
Other Catalina gold-medal winners were Nicole Cossey (15 and over girls 100m freestyle), Emma MacDermaid (11-12 girls 50m free) and Kristen Trepanier (11-12 girls 200m butterfly).
The Catalina contingent also won the medium-size club award.
“This achievement was our goal this year, we wanted to show our community and our province that Red Deer swimming is a big deal. We are currently the strongest team in Alberta outside of the big centers (Calgary and Edmonton).” said Catalina head coach Mandi Smith.
“We are constantly the underdogs, we don’t have the same facilities or the support available to us that some of the big clubs have daily access to and take for granted. Red Deer athletes have to work that much harder to be able to be competitive provincially and nationally. Catalina swimmers do not back down from challenges and are now recognized by their competitors as provincial champions. Our swimmers should be very proud of their accomplishments this season. I certainly am.”
Setting new club records during the weekend were MacDermaid, Rebecca and Madalyn Smith, Cossey, Rebecca Miller, Amy Andrew and Alana Skocdopole, while Trepanier was a Canadian Western National qualifier in the 100m butterfly and Paul Demaeure and Breana Menzel were National Age Group qualifiers in the 100m breaststroke and 200m breaststroke.
Three Red Deer Catalina swimmers will attend the Canadian Senior Nationals July 21-24 and 17 swimmers will represent the Catalina Swim Club in the Canadian Agre Group Nationals July 27-Aug. 1 at Montreal.
Other medal winners during the weekend:
Silver: Cossey (15 and over girls 50m free), MacDermaid (11-12 girls 1500m free, 100m free, 400m free, 200m free, 100m free), Menzel (11-12 girls 50m and 200m breast), Marshal Parker (15 and over boys 800m free), Skocdopole (15 and over girls 400m IM, 100m ‘fly), Madalyn Smith (13-14 girls 200m breast), Rebecca Smith (11-12 girls 200m IM), Trepanier (11-12 girls 50m fly,100m fly).
Bronze: Cossey (50m back), Rebecca Smith (100m free, 400m free, 50m ‘fly, 100m ‘fly), Trepanier (1500m free, 400m IM).
Alberta wins senior rugby nationals
Red Deer Titans players Shannon Court and Aly Bowd helped the Alberta team win the Canadian senior women’s rugby championship at Vancouver during the long weekend.
The fourth-ranked Albertans rallied to upset defending champion British Columbia 17-16 in a semifinal, then downed Ontario 27-17 in the title match.
Meanwhile, the Titans under-15 and under-13 girls will host a provincial tournament Saturday.
The next training session for all junior and youth rugby is tonight at Titans Rugby Park.
