Thompson, Kang and Crossley rule SOSSA golf
Cole Thompson left no doubt Monday that he would be attending his third Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association’s golf championship in his four years at Blessed Trinity.
The Grade 12 student carded a 69 to record a three-shot victory at Sawmill in the individual competition at the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association championships as well as the open boys division.
“I am excited. It feels good to represent Blessed Trinity again (at OFSAA) for another year,” he said.
He qualified for OFSAA in Grade 9 and 10, winning a silver medal in the high school boys division in Grade 10.
The Lookout Point member carded his 69 by grinding it out.
“I didn’t have my best ball-striking today, especially on the approach shots but I was able to manufacture some birdies on the back nine, make some good putts and I never really gave up,” he said. “I feel that I can definitely go a lot lower at this course, especially from the white tees because it plays pretty short for me. A couple of the par 4s I can drive.”
Thompson is a former member at Sawmill and he took full advantage of home course knowledge.
“I have played this course a 100 times now and it is helpful, for sure. Knowing where to miss off the tee is the biggest thing. There are a couple of weird holes where you can’t see your drive land so it’s important knowing what is over there, especially on 12, 15 and 16.”
He has no specific goals for his last appearance at OFSAA.
“The theme lately has been to not worry about results or anyone else and just play against the course and try and beat the course based on the given conditions or my game that day,” the Lookout Point member said. “Today, it was a bit windy and I didn’t have my best ball-striking but I still think I beat the course.”
It will be more of the same at OFSAA.
“I am going to try and focus on one shot at a time and not get ahead of myself.”
Thompson’s recent change in strategy is the result of his play at the Golf Ontario’s Ontario Super Camp and Junior Tour Championship Sept 22-25 in Belleville.
“When I went to Super Camp, I had two decent first days and I was T11 (tied for 11th) after two days. Going into the final round, I was thinking I wanted to make a charge and make some birdies and that’s when it went downhill,” he said. “I was thinking a little too much on the golf course about results and expectations that I had for myself maybe based on past successes and stuff like that. It has been more of a one-shot mentality now and not getting too far ahead.”
Joining Thompson at OFSAA Oct. 16-17 in Timmins will be A.N. Myer’s Ed Friesen. He carded a 75 to finish first in the high school boys division.
Boys leaderboard: Thompson 69; Dundas Valley’s Lucas Kostandof 72; A.N. Myer’s Logan Rossi 74; Friesen 75; Saint Francis’ Matthew Hitchcock 76; E.L. Crossley’s Ben Julie 76; Sir Winston Churchill’s Christopher Elliot 76; and five golfers tied at 77, including Holy Cross’ Nate Ditto and Notre Dame’s Julian Belcastro.
KANG TOPS GIRLS FIELD
It has been a great couple of weeks for Eden’s Tiffany King.
On Sept. 26, she was the top girl at the Niagara Region High School Athletic Association Zone 3/4 golf championships and on Monday she carded an 89 to win the SOSSA crown by two strokes.
“My chipping and my putting kind of came up clutch today. They got me out of some bad situations.”
The Sawmill member felt that her home course knowledge was important.
“I know what to hit, I know what the greens are like and I know all about it so it is easier to adapt to.”
She feels the biggest thing that would cause newcomers to the course trouble is not keeping the ball in the fairway.
“Everywhere else is hazard, hazard, hazard and you have to stick to the fairway as much as you can.”
Last year, Kang finished second at SOSSA and advanced to OFSAA as the low girl in the high school division. She finished middle of the pack at OFSAA last year.
“Honestly, I don’t have expectations about winning or anything. I am just there to play some golf.”
She is thrilled to go back to the provincial championships.
“I love going to OFSAA. It is pretty exciting.”
Other girls advancing to the OFSAA Festival Oct. 16-17 in Tecumseh were: Waterdown’s Shayla Whalen 91; Saint Paul’s Edyn Sobie 96; Orchard Park’s Hazel Templeman 100; Lakeshore Catholic’s Greir Atkins 102: and, Denis Morris’ Mya Nitsopoulos 104.
CROSSLEY SOSSA CHAMPS AGAIN
Ben Julie was thrilled Monday when he canned a 60-foot putt on his final hole to shoot 76 at the SOSSA championships to help the Crossley boys team defend its SOSSA title.
“I did think it might be the shot that helped us win but we ended up winning by three,” the Grade 10 student said.
Last year at OFSAA, Crossley did not fare that well.
“We were not good but our entire team was mostly Grade 9s and they were playing the course so long.”
Julie feels that taste of OFSAA will be beneficial in 2024.
“It should really help us because I feel we will be more ready and more prepared this time around.”
Crossley’s team is made up of two Grade 10s, two Grade 11s and one Grade 12 player and everyone will be back next year.
“I’m happy that we will have our team again next year and we can give it another run,” Julie said.
Top three teams: 1. E.L. Crossley 317 (Ben Julie 76; Brennan Turner 78; Blake Furtney 81; Jonah Shapland 82; Christian Baxter 86); 2. Dundas Valley 320; (Lucas Kostandof 72; Austin Cook 77; Bennett Kirkwood 81; Cole Marshall 90; Jacob Pesko 91); 3. Notre Dame 323 (Julian Belcastro 77; Leo Savio 80; Colby Franchetti 80; Townes Bestward 86; Carson McComber 90).
