Horns conclude fall golf season

INTERPROVINCIAL TRAVEL BAN CANCELS CANADA WEST CHAMPIONSHIP

The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns golf team enjoyed a little playoff action in their second Canada West outing of the season.

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that will be it for the golf season for now.

Pronghorn Michael McDougall-Price wound up in a three-person playoff against the Calgary Dinos and the SAIT Trojans during Day 2 of play Monday afternoon at the Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club west of Calgary. Meanwhile, the Pronghorns men’s team duelled the Dinos in a team playoff.

McDougall-Price was knocked out after the first hole, but finished the second-day with a 73 and a 39 the first day Sunday when the opening round was called due to darkness after the front nine.

The Dinos got past the Pronghorns in the team playoff.

Calgary tops in the team event, while the Trojans won the individual side on the second hole.

The next stop was supposed to be the Canada West championship this weekend in Kelowna, but it was cancelled last week when the B.C. government made a decision not to allow interprovincial travel for sports.

Since it was the last round for awhile with the hopes of there being a USPORTS National Championship in the spring, the three teams got in a few extra holes.

“The last time I was involved in a playoff in university was when I was still on the team,” said Pronghorns golf coach Dallas Ducheminsky. “I think it was 2014 we had one against the

University of Alberta in the Alberta Championship at the Wilderness Club.”

Much like the U of L Invitational at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort when the Horns rallied from a six-stroke deficit against the Dinos to win, Lethbridge — as well as the Dinos — staged another comeback on Monday.

“We were five strokes back, both us and the U of C,” said Ducheminsky. “We were tied after Day 1 and SAIT had us by five strokes.”

With Kelowna off the schedule, Ducheminsky said the goal is to hopefully line up another tournament this fall.

While disappointed by the Canada West cancellation, Ducheminsky said it didn’t come as a surprise.

“Canada West had mentioned there could potentially be an issue with travel. But I think everybody understands what’s going on in society right now.”

Still, there is hope for some events and a national championship in the spring.

“Our plan is we don’t know if there is going to be a national championship,” said Ducheminsky. “So if they decide there’s a national championship we’re going to keep preparing to make sure we’re ready in case we get the chance to go to that. They train at the university like all the other athletes in the High Performance Training Room and we practise every week at Evergreen when the weather allows. So they’ll definitely be keeping their swings in check over the winter, for sure.”