A Nanaimo golfer was a medallist at provincial championships.
Matthew Wilson of Wellington Secondary School finished third at the two-day tournament at the end of May at Sandpiper Golf Course at Harrison Mills.
Wilson was the first-round leader after shooting a 70, then shot a 75 the second day to finish plus-1, four strokes back of the provincial champion. Another Wellington golfer, Maria Schwager, was fifth in girls’ individual competition.
Wellington tied with Brentwood College for the Vancouver Island championship in senior AA competition earlier in the month after a two-day tourney at Arbutus Ridge Golf Club in Cobble Hill.
Brian Lennox, coach of Wellington’s golf team, said due to weather conditions that day and time constraints, all involved were satisfied with calling the Island championship a tie.
“The winds were gusting 40-plus kilometres and all five of the golfers shot in the 80s which, under the conditions, was incredible, I thought,” said Lennox.
He said it was Wellington’s first-ever Island championship in the sport.
Golf is a co-ed sport in B.C. School Sports, as boys and girls can contribute to the same team scores, with girls hitting from the ladies’ tees.
Wilson led Wellington at Islands with a first-day 73 and teammate Demitri Vassilopoulos led the team with an 80 the next day.
“[Wilson] is our lead golfer but we’ve got some other good players, too,” Lennox said.
The other team members are Christos Vassilopoulos and Isabel Schwager. All five golfers are Nanaimo Golf Club members and Lennox thanked that club for its support.
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