The University of Victoria Vikes men's golf team kicks off its season today at the Northwest Christian Invitational in Springfield, Oregon, and they will be without two of their top guns - Darren Hupfer and Carson Kallis.
Hupfer is taking the year off, and he will likely turn pro in Alberta. Kallis has National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics eligibility issues, but he will stay with the team and help Bryan Carbery with his coaching duties. Kallis will play in the Vikes Shootout (Oct. 21-23 at Cordova Bay) and the Canadian University/College Championships (May 27-31 in Quebec).
Hupfer and Kallis were both NAIA first-team AllAmericans last year. Kallis also won the individual title last year.
Kallis transferred to the Vikes last year from the University of Texas in Arlington. However, he sat out the fall session at UVic, and that caused the eligibility problems.
"This is such a good way to ease into our season with our team that has four firstyear players,'' head coach Carbery said. "Without a doubt, James Holland will have to step up to be our leader with Carson and Darren competing this year.''
Carbery's rookies are Matthew Broughton, Alex Cartwright, Sean Hay and Jesse Teron. Cartwright's brother Jamie also joins the team after spending last year at Scottsdale Community College. The other member of the team is Sam Holland.
Broughton, who plays out of Royal Colwood, won the 2012 B.C. Junior Men's Golf Championship at the Sunshine Golf and Country Club. He defeated Team Canada member Kevin Kwon by two strokes.
"We will have big expectations from Broughton,'' Carbery said. "He brings great strength in his short game. We also have good talent in the Cartwrights and Teron.''
Teron recently finished second at a Future Links tournament.
The women's team is loaded with experience, including fourth-year players Megan Woodland and Michaela Misener. Woodland won last year's NAIA individual title, and she also placed second at the Canadian University/College Championships at Cordova Bay, losing in a playoff to Devon Rizzo from Waterloo.
The other members of the team are Michaela Abey, Cari Chow, Allison Lee, Emily Nicol, Shannon Raina and Brynn Tomie.
Woodland had a busy summer, working at Cordova Bay and also competing at the World University Golf Championships in the Czech Republic.
"Playing in those championships was a great experience,'' Woodland said. "It was a really fun trip because I was with a lot of my friends.''
The other members of Team Canada were Tomie, former Vike Alyssa Herkel, Kylie Barros from UBC and Rizzo.
"As a team, we didn't have the finish that we wanted. During the last two rounds, I shot 3-under and finished in 16th place. I was looking for a top-10 finish, but it isn't too bad to be 16th in the world.''
Carbery will have to wait until Sept. 23-25 to see his women in action at the Grand Canyon Invitational in Phoenix.
"The women's team will be very strong again this year,'' Carbery said. "I can't wait to see Megan play again. She is very focused on her game, and she is hitting the ball great. I'm expecting another big year from her.''
rrauch@timescolonist.com
