Elphinstone golfers have hit a hole in one so far as they set their sights on the provincial championships.
Elphi finished its regular season schedule with a 7-0 win over Balmoral on Monday to claim top spot in their division with a 5-1 record. Elphi's other wins were against Mulgrave, Don Ross, St. Thomas Aquinas (STA) and Chatelech 5-2 in a close match played last Wednesday (April 22) at the Sechelt Golf and Country Club. Elphi's lone loss came at the hands of Collingwood, who picked up a 5.5 to 1.5 match win on April 15 also at Sechelt.
Collingwood expects to be Elphi's toughest test if they hope to repeat as North Shore champions and earn a spot at the B.C. championships slated later in the month in Chilliwack.
Collingwood finished seventh at last year's provincials, while Elphi finished sixth.
The top four seeds in the North Shore AA division square off on Monday in the zone finals at the Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club in Roberts Creek. The top team gets a berth to Chilliwack, while the second place team will have to play a Lower Mainland back door qualifier to try and earn a place at the provincials. Collingwood won this qualifier last year to get to the provincials.
"Our goal is certainly to get back to provincials," said Elphi coach Peter MacDonald. "Collingwood is our nemesis. They have a very strong program and we always have tough matches when we play them."
Elphi's team is a senior-laden squad with lots of experience -something MacDonald hopes will give them an edge on Monday.
The team is anchored by Jesse Ostrosky, Jake Davidson, Connor Richey, Max Fisher and Clark Graham.
Chat may be in a building year as coach Dave Stoddart points out, but the Eagles could very well be in the mix come Monday.
Heading into play Wednesday afternoon against STA, Chat had a record of 3-2 with wins over Balmoral, Don Ross and Mulgrave. A win over STA would all but assure Chat a spot at the zones on Monday.
"There is no question Elphi has some senior boys who are peeking and they are a very strong team - probably the top team in the division," said Stoddart. "We're re-building, but we have some great kids in the lower grades that are showing a lot of promise. In the next two years I think we'll be in a position to take another shot at a provincial title once the boys get a little older."
Grade 11 Nate Lussier and Grade 10 Chase Stevens anchor the team along with Grade 9s Kyle Horsman, Reece Nelsen and Jove Knauf.
