Russell Howlett’s fabulous freshman season as a collegiate golfer continued this week in Squamish.
The South Delta Secondary graduate and Beach Grove Golf Club junior alumni led the UBC Thunderbirds to a decisive victory at the Canada West Championship and nearly came away with top individual honours too.
Howlett fired rounds of 66-71 at the Squamish Valley Golf Club to finish in a tie for top spot with Ethan Banks. He would go on to lose in a playoff to his University of Calgary counterpart.
Coming off a his first university victory last month at the Cascade Invitational in Chilliwack, Howlett continued his stellar play with a sizzling 6-under opening round score that included four birdies on the front nine. He opened his second round Tuesday with an eagle on the par-5 first hole before a pair of bogeys on 14 and 15 led to the sudden-death playoff.
The team competition was no contest as the Thunderbirds cruised to a 23-stroke victory ahead of runner-up Fraser Valley. Ethan de Graaf, Dylan MacDonald and John Paul Kahlert were also part of the four-player aggregate score over the 36 holes.
It was UBC’s fourth straight team win. Next up is this weekend’s UBCO Invitational at the Okanagan Golf Club.
