OSHAWA, Ont. - The Laurier golf teams capped off their conference seasons at the OUA championships hosted by Ontario Tech.
The Golden Hawks men's team put on an outstanding performance on both days to win the OUA title for the first time since 2019, and second in program history.
The team was led by first-year Dayton Price who won individual gold with a score of -6, and it was his third consecutive gold medal finish. The OUA All-Star became the first Laurier men's golfer to claim first place since Jaron Brown in 2019.
He shot 11 birdies over two days, and finished the first round at -2 (70). Before the second round, he was sitting in third place, but his -4 (68) second round bumped him all the way to the top.
"Our team's victory at the OUA Championships is a true testament to the dedication and unity each player showed throughout the season," head coach Jeff Colley said.
"Dayton's individual championship win highlights his incredible perseverance and the relentless effort he's put into his game. Dayton had an incredible season and capped it off with a brilliant performance at the OUA Championships."
"This group has been through some heart-breaking defeats in past OUA Championships, so to see them finally capture that gold medal was a great moment. This group is very special, and I am excited to see what they can do at the National Championships in the spring."
Behind him, Conor Gaudet and Nathan Procter tied for 14th at +5. Gaudet shot an even 72 in round one and +5 (77) in round two. Procter shot +4 (76) on day one, and moved up 11 spots on day two, thanks to his eagle on the par-5 seventh hole, ending +1 (73).
Matthew Whitehead finished tied for 22nd at +8. After an even first round, the second time around gave him some challenges as he shot +8 (80). Coming in tied for 34th was Adam Brenton who scored +11. In round one, like Procter, he made an eagle on the seventh hole and finished at +6 (78), while on day two he improved one stroke to +5 (77).
The Golden Hawks are now set to represent at the Canadian University Championships in June 2026. The host is still to be determined.
On the women's side, Olivea Pope led her team to a sixth-place finish and claimed individual bronze with a score of +10. It was her second bronze medal of the season and her highest finish at the conference championships. Her +2 (74) in the first round was a personal best. She also earned a spot on the OUA All-Star team.
"Olivea's bronze medal at the OUA Championships is a fantastic achievement and a reflection of her steady improvement over the past three years. Her dedication and hard work have truly paid off, and this finish is well-deserved," Colley said.
"Watching her grow as a player and stay committed to her goals has been inspiring for the whole team. We're proud of Olivea and excited to see how her game progresses in the future."
Kristi Godkin finished 14th at +18. She performed well on day one, shooting +8 (80). However the second day was more challenging with a +10 (82). Alicia Cromack came in tied for 33rd at +35. Ava Mauro rounded out the foursome tied for 43rd at +47.
