Olds College will be sending six golfers to the ACAC (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference) championship after hosting the South Regional tournament over the weekend at the Olds Highlands Golf Course.
Those qualifying for the Broncos include: Dustyn Wozny, Brandan Lyster, Eddie Ard, Bradley Gerspacher, Erik Benoit and Rebecca Grabski.
Lyster was Olds College's top golfer, shooting 11 over during the two days of play to finish 11th.
"I would say the most challenging part was the greens. You couldn't have a downhill putt. They're slick and there are some tough pins out there as well," he said.
Teammate Dustyn Wozny was right behind him, shooting 12 over.
"The greens are always true and they run really quick," he said. "The rough gets to you a little bit. If you get it in the rough, you're pretty much screwed."
Grabski, who finished 18 over, will be headed to Lac La Biche for the championship. She has qualified before and hopes to shoot in the low- to mid-80s.
"I think we've got a pretty good chance to medal," said Broncos coach Cory Mossing. "We'll be in the competition for silver or bronze."
She might have been a visiting player, but Nicole Schultz was well-acquainted with the Olds golf course.
Schultz, who graduated from Olds High School in 2015, was golfing for Medicine Hat College, where she's studying nursing.
"It was really nice to be familiar with the course," she said. "I kind of know the tricks. My coach is teaching me how to read the greens differently so being out here today … my approach shot, I would strategically place it, or try to at least."
On Day 1, she shot an 83, her best ever on the course. She shot an 87 on Day 2.
Golf pro Wade Bearchell remembered Schultz growing up at the course, working all over the place: in the back shop, driving range, kitchen and pro shop.
Her parents are active members, he said, and was glad to see that she has continued to play the game, acknowledging that it can be an expensive sport.
Schultz said Rattlers teammates asked for advice on the trip to Olds.
"They picked my brain a bit on the way up here, on the holes and how to play them … I just said, ‘stay below the hole when you can,'" she said.
"The greens are always true and they run really quick," he said. "The rough gets to you a little bit. If you get it in the rough, you're pretty much screwed."DUSTYN WOZNYOLDS COLLEGE BRONCOS
