Tomie gives Vikes a national golf title

Brynn Tomie is bringing back a national championship after the fifth-year Victoria Vike stole the women’s title in the fourth and final round at the Canadian University/College Golf Championship at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont., on Friday.

Tomie — who started the day tied for the lead — birdied the par-3 17th hole and sank a clutch 15-foot par putt on the 18th to finish with a 4-over 75 for a 16-over total of 300. The Bedord, N.S., native becomes the fourth Vikes’ women’s individual champion following Christina Spence Proteau (twice), Anne Balser and Megan Woodland.

The victory also capped Tomie’s career as a Vike.

“I couldn’t have finished my career with UVic any better,” said an elated Tomie on her final tournament as a Vike.

“I am so happy. I am not sad about my Vikes career ending because it couldn’t have been better finish. On the 18th, I said to [assistant coach Alison Quinlan] this is my last hole as a Vike.”

It couldn't have been more exciting for her or her Vikes teammates, who finished second as a team.

“My heart was pounding so hard but somehow I [made the last putt] robotically,” added Tomie. “I read the putt. I took my time on it and I hit it. I can barely remember doing that, but it caught the bottom lip and went in. I knew when it went in I won, but I didn’t know that we got second as a team, so that was an amazing thing to be added on top of that.”

The Vikes team finished three shots back of champion University of Montreal.

Montreal’s Caroline Ciot seemed to have control of the individual title, but suffered bogeys on the 11th, 14th, 15th and 18th holes to fall a shot back of Tomie. Ciot was 1-over on the front nine and drew back to even par with a birdie on the 10th before letting it slip way.

Vikes freshman Brianna Carrels finished tied for seventh overall with a final round 5-over 76.

Meanwhile, Michael Griffin was the highest placing member of the Vikes’ men’s team, finishing tied for fourth with an even-par 70 for a 4-over 284 total. Teammate Alex Cartwright was tied for 10th after a 71 Friday and 288 total.

The Vikes’ men’s team also placed second behind the victorious UBC Thunderbirds.