UBC Okanagan Heat women’s golfer Julia Alexander-Carew won the individual title at the Canadian University/College Championship on Friday after firing a sparkling final round of five-under par 67 to win gold with a four-round total of seven-under par 281.
Alexander-Carew, a second year from Oakville, Ont., came roaring out of the gates at Rivershore Golf Links with four birdies and an eagle on her opening eight holes to overtake Una Chou from the UBC Thunderbirds on the leaderboard.
A steady final 10 holes kept Alexander-Carew in the lead and she capped off her tournament in style with a birdie on the 18th hole to claim gold.
“It was a really good year for me and closing it out with this type of win is huge,” said Alexander-Carew, who finished second in her first national championship a year ago in Ontario.
“It was an unbelievable week caped off by an amazing final day performance,” commented Heat head coach Clay Stothers on his star golfer’s showing in Kamloops. “It was one of the greatest days I have had as a coach. I am so proud of Julia and believe this is just a start of something amazing for her and her career.”
Alexander-Carew and her Heat teammates, Lauren Nedo, Emily Cornwall and Bess Chan, had more to celebrate after the round as they captured their second-consecutive team silver medal at the event. UBCO’s four golfers combined to shoot 15-over par 879 as they were steady from start to finish over the four rounds.
“I am very proud of the girls who are seeing first hand their hard work paying off,” added Stothers on his team’s fourth-consecutive appearance on the podium at the national championship. “We played so well this week and have come so far in a very short time as a program. The future is extremely bright.”
Nedo and Cornwall joined Alexander-Carew in earning top 10 finishes at Rivershore as they placed seventh and eighth respectively on the individual leaderboard.
Nedo, one of only six golfers to post red numbers during the tournament, finished at 10-over par 298 while Cornwall was steady for three rounds after a tough opening day to shoot 12-over par 300.
Chan rounded out the Heat golfers finishing tied for 17th.
The Thunderbirds would claim their eighth consecutive team championship at the event after finishing at 14-under par 850 while the Victoria Vikes completed the Canada West sweep of the podium thanks to a team total of 51-over par 915.
Alexander-Carew, who earned All-Canadian honours for the second time at the event, will reap the benefits of her victory later this summer and is exempt in the 111th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship presented by BDO. The event will be held at The Riverside Country Club in Saint John, N.B. from July 22-25.
TEAM STANDINGS
1. UBC Thunderbirds – 850 (-14)
2. UBCO Heat – 879 (+15)
3. Victoria Vikes – 915 (+51)
4. Laval Rouge et Or – 948 (+84)
5. UFV Cascades – 953 (+89)
6. Humbers Hawks – 969 (+105)
HEAT INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1. Julia Alexander-Carew – 281 (-7) – Gold Medalist & All-Canadian
7. Lauren Nedo – 298 (+10)
8. Emily Cornwall – 300 (+12)
T17. Bess Chan – 320 (+32)
Men’s golf makes cut, finishes ninth at Canadian University/College Championship
With a lineup featuring three rookies, the UBC Okanagan Heat men’s golf team put together a strong showing at the Canadian University/College Championships this past week, surviving the cut in the 19-team field to finish ninth at the Rivershore Golf Links.
The five-man Heat team, featuring third-year Andrew Rouble, sophomore Ryan Gillis, and rookies Thomas Lemay, Chris Jo and Carl-Hanns Arndt, combined to shoot 45-over par 1197 during the four-round event.
“I’m proud of how the men grinded all week,” said head coach Clay Stothers following the conclusion of the tournament. “They didn’t get the results they were looking for but they didn’t quit. As a program we have a lot to be excited for. This tournament is dominated by seniors and we have a very young team with three freshmen playing this week. I can’t wait to do this all again next year.”
Leading the way for the Heat was Gillis as he improved on his standing from his rookie campaign by one position, finishing in a tie for 12th after a 13th place showing in Ontario last year. The applied science major shot even-par 288, highlighted by a hole-in-one in his final round, acing the par-three second hole.
Competing in his third national championship, Rouble was steady all week, finishing tied for 28th at 11-over par 299.
The UBC Thunderbirds ran away with the men’s team championship title, carding a score of 21-under par 1131, 24 shots ahead of second-place Victoria at three-over par 1155. The Laval Rouge et Or claimed bronze with a team-total of 26-over par 1178.
TEAM STANDINGS
1. UBC Thunderbirds – 1131 (-21)
2. Victoria Vikes – 1155 (+3)
3. Laval Rouge et Or – 1178 (+26)
4. Montreal Carabins – 1183 (+31)
5. Humber Hawks – 1184 (+32)
6. UFV Cascades – 1185 (+33)
7. Queen’s Gaels – 1191 (+39)
8. Laurier Golden Hawks – 1192 (+40)
9. UBCO Heat – 1197 (+45)
HEAT INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
T12. Ryan Gillis – 288 (E)
T28. Andrew Rouble – 299 (+11)
T36. Chris Jo – 303 (+15)
T42. Thomas Lemay – 308 (+20)
51. Carl Hanns-Arndt – 326 (+38)
Past UBCO Canadian University/College Championship Results
2025 – 9th Place
2024 – 6th Place
2023 – 7th Place
