A trio of golfers from Innisfail High School has brought home bronze from the provincial golf tournament for the first time ever.
Held in Bragg Creek on September 29 and 30, golfers from across Alberta hit the greens to battle for provincial honours. Redwood Meadows Golf and Country Club hosted the first day while the second day's rounds were played at the River Spirit Golf Club.
Innisfail golfers led by Courtney Dickson finished in third place with the bronze medal in the 3A/4A Girls Senior Golf Team Provincial Championship. Harry Ainlay High School won the girls 3A/4A banner with a two-day score of 505, Cochrane was second at 515 and Innisfail third with a shot total of 593.
“This is the first time Innisfail High School has had a team in the provincial tournament,” said Dickson of their standing. “I have played for three years in provincials as a singles player but this was our first team effort.”
The 17-year-old Dickson, like the rest of the team, did not play well on the first day of the two-day event, a stat she corrected on the second day.
“I did not have a good day on the 29th,” said Dickson, who will still be able to play junior golf until September of 2015. “That may have been a result of not being as focused on golf as I have been in the past. I picked it up on the second day.”
Dickson has been golfing competitively since she was 11 years old and works at the Innisfail Golf Club, in addition to attending Grade 12 at Innisfail High School.
“After I graduate golf will still be in my future, but I do want to develop a career just in case it doesn't work out,” said Dickson. “The University of Lethbridge is a strong possibility right now.”
Jeff Anderson, the athletic director at Innisfail High School, sees Dickson as a mentor for the younger golfers.
“She brings a sense of calm to the team,” added Anderson. “After the first day she helped her teammates refocus and shoot better. Her maturity as an athlete is obvious.”
Individually, Dickson finished 13th overall shooting 178, while Nikki Norlan posted a 188 shot total and Bradie Oulette-Pillman took 20th place with a finishing total of 227 over the two days of action.
“We are pleased that the golf team was able to do well at provincials,” said Anderson.
.
