A pair of Earl Marriott Secondary golf teams have been teeing off on the competition this spring – and will look to continue their string of success this week.
Marriott’s junior and senior teams are both vying for Fraser Valley titles this week – the juniors teed off Monday at Richmond Golf and Country Club, while the senior team plays today (Tuesday) at Northview Golf Club’s Ridge course.
Success for either team would add to an already banner season for Mariner golfers. Both teams won their respective Surrey championships and western Fraser Valley regional tournaments, while the senior crew also finished first at the Delta Police High School Golf Tournament in mid-April at King’s Links Golf Course.
“It’s been a great year so far,” said Earl Marriott coach Mark Figueira.
“This is probably the most complete team we’ve had in quite a long time. At the senior level, all five of our golfers have the ability to shoot really low on any given day, and our juniors have been very consistent, too.”
At last week’s senior western Fraser Valleys at Northview’s Canal course, the EMS team of Devin Kelly, Max Waterman, Edward Metcalfe, Jake Lea and Riley Edwards combined to shoot a team score of 305, which was 15 points lower than second-place South Delta, and 18 better than third-place Heritage Woods.
At the junior event, held at Hazelmere Golf Course, Marriott’s team of David Stark, Eric Macdonald, Kevin Smith, Mat McConachie and Austin Cope scored 315 to edge South Delta and Clayton Heights, which finished second and third, respectively.
At Surrey championships – held at Surrey Golf Course – Marriott’s senior golfers scored a 298 to edge Elgin Park by 19 points, and were 44 points lower than Fleetwood Park, in third place. Semiahmoo, which carded a team score of 343, was fourth.
In the junior event, Marriott’s team – made up of Stark, Macdonald, Smith, McConachie, Sophie Liu and Katherine Metcalfe – took the city title after defeating Clayton Heights and Fraser Heights. Semi placed fourth.
After this week’s Valley tournament, up next for local high-school golfers are provincials, which are scheduled for Courtenay’s Crown Isle Golf Resort later this month.
“I think the kids are really excited,” said Figueira of the Fraser Valleys.
“It’d be nice to get the double (title) again, and win juniors and seniors, and go on to provincials, but we’ll see what happens.”