SHS golfers win provincials!

Times Reporter   

 

The Strathmore High School boys golf team claimed the 3A/4A ASAA Provincial Championship with a three shot win over Edmonton Christian on Sept. 24.

The hometown boys won gold despite trailing by one shot after the first day of provincials, hosted by Strathmore Golf Club and Muirfield Lakes from Sept. 23-24. 

SHS had a final team score of 439. This is the first time in the school’s history that a team has successfully defended and repeated as provincial champions.

In the individual category, Zach Olson earned gold shooting a two day total of 144, while Austin Biletsky captured silver with one more stroke. Roughly 66 schools were represented by 190 golfers. At 2011’s provincials, Clark’s team finished just short, and earned second place.

“My entire team is in Grade 12, which is good for them, but disappointing for us,” said Wes Clark, coach of the team for seven years. Other team members included Brady Morris and Kevin Taplin.

“Everyone, they eat, breathe, and sleep golf – but Zach is a very consistent player. He doesn’t have the ups and downs, and steadily improved in terms of shooting lower and lower scores.”

In Grade 10, Olson won bronze at zones, followed by silver the next year.

Austin is consistent as well, Clark noted, but in a different way.

“His claim to fame is consistency off the tee, hitting onto the fairways and putting himself in good position,” Clark said. 

On Sept. 17, Strathmore also hosted zones where the Spartans also won gold, shooting 5 under par as a team. Olson scored in the low 70s, and attained gold in the individual category, while teammate Biletsky won bronze.