Fall golf has its vagaries. But label what happened Monday at Cordova Bay as home-weather advantage as the University of Victoria women's and men's teams each took leads in the Vikes Shootout, which annually closes out the university golf season.
"It's cold and kept getting colder," said Megan Woodland, the Canadian international from UVic, who shot 75 along with Emily Nichol, to give the three-time defending champion women's Vikes a team total of 318 after the first-day 18 holes.
The only team remotely still in the hunt was Concordia in second at 319. The rest of the top-five was distant with the University of Alberta at 335, Simon Fraser at 341 and the University of Calgary at 352.
Each team has five players, with the top-four scores counting for the team total.
"It was windy and cold but still alright," said Nichol, the Vikes sophomore and science major from Kelowna. "We've had a good season and would like to cap it off."
The Vikes are ranked No. 10 in North America among CIS, NAIA and NCAA Div. II women's golf teams.
"I really love it. It's nice to be able to play all year-round on the Island and to stay in Canada to play and to get a good degree," said Nichol, of the UVic advantage.
Of course, it doesn't hurt to have the 2012 NAIA champion and 2011 World University Games player Woodland on your side.
"Megan is such a good role model and it's great to play alongside her," said Nichol.
Woodland, a psychology major in her fourth season, has never experienced anything but hoisting the Vikes Shootout Bobby Ford Trophy during her career.
"All the girls feel good about things going into the second round," said the Claremont Secondary grad named UVic female athlete of the year for 2011-12.
The women were fortunate to be in the clubhouse as the skies opened to pelt the men - who played 36 holes Monday - with rain.
But if you can't play in the rain, you don't deserve to call yourself an Islander. The Vikes shot to the lead over the first 18 holes in the eight-team men's event with a 13-over total of 297, which was keyed by Matthew Broughton's 72 and Sam Holland's 73.
Concordia of Oregon was second at 298, Mount Royal third at 302, Simon Fraser fourth at 305 and Alberta fifth at 309.
In the afternoon, UVic maintained its lead through 36 holes with a 593 total to Concordia's 594. Rounding out the top-five after 36 holes was Mount Royal at 612, Alberta at 614 and SFU at 615.
What makes UVic's strong early men's start all the more impressive is that the host school was missing its two main players with Darren Hupfer turned pro and defending NAIA-champion Carson Kallis redshirting.
There is guaranteed to be a new men's champion this year in the Vikes Shootout because the holders, UBC, did not enter.
The final rounds for both women and men go today at Cordova Bay with a shot-gun start at 8: 30 a.m.
