Photo: Aaron Rempel Photography
The UBCO Heat men’s golf team has made history for the university, becoming the first team from the school to win a Canada West Championship.
Played at the Okanagan Golf Club, the Heat were dominant from the opening hole of the 36-hole championship, posting a team total of 24 under par to win by 17 strokes.
The men of UBC Okanagan beat out the Vancouver team from UBC, while also claiming all three spots on the podium for individuals.
Ryan Gillis won individual gold, rookie Thomas Lemay won silver and third year Andrew Rouble took home the bronze medal.
“It means everything right, it’s why we do it,” said Heat head coach Clay Stothers after the victory.
“They were ridiculous, like it was absurd. What did we finish, minus 24, and we won by 17, so yeah, the team played pretty good.”
Everyone on the team pitched in and played their part well, creating a commanding lead across the tournament.
“Having all three guys finish first, second and third, and then for the team to win on top of that means so much. It all kind of goes back to a belief system and what we’re trying to do and have fun while we’re doing it. I knew they could do it and I’m happy for them that they can see that they did it,” said the coach.
The team was led by Gillis, who helped UBCO claim the men’s individual gold medal for the third straight year, after former Heat Justin Towill won in back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023.
Gillis finished with an impressive score of nine-under par to finish first, after a round of one-under par on Tuesday that featured three birdies and two bogeys.
“He’s a guy you just kind of let him go and do his thing and he doesn’t get too up or too down,” said Stothers.
“When you watch him play, you have no idea if he’s five-under or five-over, he’s super even keeled and doesn’t get ahead of himself. He’s a phenomenal human being and his ceiling is through the roof.”
UBCO will compete in two more events this fall as they will host leg one of their match-play style event against the UFV Cascades Oct. 21 and 22 at the Okanagan Golf Club. The team will then travel to Arizona to compete in the Firestorm Fall Invite on Monday, November 4 and Tuesday, November 5.