KOMOKA, Ont. – In what was the final collegiate event of his outstanding University of Guelph golfing career,
Justin Allen turned in yet another memorable performance.
Competing as a Gryphon for the final time, the Etobicoke, Ontario native led the way for the Gryphons at the 2023 Canadian University/College Championship, which took place from May 30-June 2, just west of London, at FireRock Golf Club in Komoka, Ontario.
Justin Allen finished 3rd overall in a field of 105 golfers and, in the process, recorded the second-highest finish ever by a Gryphons men's golfer in the 19-year history of the national championship event, with only Chris Hemmerich's 2nd-place finish in 2013 topping Allen's impressive week at FireRock. Allen, a marketing management major at the University of Guelph, shot -7 under over the course of four rounds, finishing just two strokes back of 2nd-place finisher, Liam Mosher (Victoria Vikes). The men's individual title was won by Jackson Jacob (Fraser Valley Cascades).
Justin Allen's impressive -7 under performance was highlighted by a 2nd round, 67, with golfers throughout the field greeted by blistering summer-like weather tough course conditions throughout the week at FireRock Golf Club.
The soon-to-be 24-year-old Allen was the OUA's top finisher on the men's side, marking the second consecutive year in which
Justin Allen has finished the national championship event as the OUA's best finisher, following his 6th-place finish a year ago in Quebec.
"It was truly amazing to see Justin reach the podium at nationals to cap off his incredeible career at Guelph," said
Brian Bard, head coach of the Gryphons varsity golf teams. "His results over the last two seasons put him in the conversation as one of the best Gryphons men's golfers of all-time. It has been a pleasure to have him on this team, he is a true leader on and off the course and we will miss him."
Allen's strong individual performance also helped lead the Gryphons men's golf team to a 9th-place finish (out of 20 different schools from across the country) in the overall men's team standings. The Gryphons men's team was comprised of
Wesley Gill,
Kobe Smith,
Curtis Coulson and
Liam Fischer, who alongside Allen, battled hard to make the cut (with only the top 10 of 20 schools on the men's side advancing to Friday's final round). The Gryphons would ultimately finish just one stroke behind the Humber Hawks for 8th-place in the final standings (which would have matched their finish from a season ago at nationals). "It was great to see this team come together and play some great golf in tough conditions," said Bard. "To make the cut against such strong competition, including teams from the West that play year-round in the U.S., is a tremendous accomplishment. Each team member contributed at least one counting score over the four days."
The University of Victoria Vikes claimed the men's team title, the first in their program's history. While on the women's side, the UBC Thunderbirds claimed their sixth consecutive team title, and 16th in the 19-year history of the national championship event, with UBC's Sonja Tang also defending her individual title.
The Gryphons were also represented at this year's national championship event on the women's side by
Jacqueline Giles. Giles, who back in 2021
made school history for Guelph by becoming the first ever U of G woman to claim the OUA individual title, was unable to recover after a slow start to her national championship appearance this week in London. After posting a 95 in her opening round, the molecular biology and genetics major showed tremendous resolve, posting rounds of 82 and 80 in rounds 2 and 3. Despite the strong finish, it was ultimately not enough for Giles to make the cut and advance to Friday's final round.
"I was so proud of Jacqui to regain her focus and post two good scores after a tough Day 1," added head coach
Brian Bard. "That kind of resilience is what champions are made of."
Gryphon Results at the 2023 Canadian University/College Championships
Men's
Justin Allen: 3rd (73-67-71-70) -7
Wesley Gill: 35th (76-75-76-77) +16
Kobe Smith: 38th (72-76-72-86) +18
Curtis Coulson: 45th (83-82-74-76) +27
Liam Fischer: 49th (85-83-81-75) +36
Women's
Jacqueline Giles: missed cut (95-82-80)
Men's Team Standings
Men's Individual Standings
Women's Team Standings
Women's Individual Standings
Related:
(from golfcanada.ca) –
UBC Thunderbirds win sixth straight women's team championship, Victoria Vikes win first men's team championship at the University/College Championship
