LEVIS, Que. - Riding the momentum of a conference title, the Laurier Golden Hawks men's golf team will tee off Tuesday at the 2026 Canadian University Championship, aiming for a national podium finish at Golf La Tempête in Levis, Quebec.
The tournament, held on the outskirts of Quebec City, marks Laurier's fifth consecutive appearance at nationals. The Golden Hawks enter as Ontario University Athletics (OUA) champions after extending their streak to seven straight conference podium finishes.
Laurier placed eighth at last year's national championship in Kamloops, B.C., but returns with an experienced lineup and heightened expectations. The program is still in pursuit of its first national title, with its best result coming in 2017 when the Golden Hawks earned silver.
This year's roster includes
Adam Brenton,
Patrick Holloway,
Matthew Whitehead, team MVP
Dayton Price, and captain
Conor Gaudet.
"They have the talent, discipline, and chemistry to compete with anyone in the country," Laurier head coach
Jeff Colley said. "If they continue to perform at their highest level, they have a great opportunity to bring home a national championship."
Whitehead, a fourth-year kinesiology and physical education major from Cambridge, Ont., will be a key piece after recording one of the top individual finishes in program history last season. He shot 2-under to place ninth - the best showing by a Laurier men's golfer at nationals since Golden Hawks Hall of Famer Austin Ryan finished sixth in 2018.
He isn't the only Golden Hawk coming in with heightened expectations. Price captured the individual championship at this season's OUA men's championship, becoming the first Laurier men's golfer to claim it since Jaron Brown in 2019.
"I'm really looking forward to my fourth nationals," Whitehead said. "I feel like this is one of our best teams we've had during my time at Laurier. Our goal is a podium finish, and I feel this course suits our games very well - lots of drivers and being knowledgeable on where to miss around and on the greens."
Whitehead pointed to the team's culture as a driving factor behind its success.
"We care so much about each other and play for each and every person on the team, not just ourselves," he said. "That's why we've been such a strong team the past few years."
On the women's side, Laurier will be represented by fifth-year captain
Kristi Godkin of Orléans, Ont., who qualified for nationals as a wild card entry.
One of the most decorated golfers in program history, the business major and team MVP put together a remarkably consistent season, capturing titles at the Queen's and Windsor Invitationals while adding runner-up finishes at Guelph and Western. She also recorded top-six finishes in every OUA invitational event before placing 14th at the conference championship.
Godkin will tee off her opening round at 9:40 a.m. on Tuesday as she makes her fourth appearance at nationals.
"Heading into my fourth nationals as a wildcard pick, I'm feeling incredibly honoured and excited for one last opportunity to compete for the purple and gold," she said. "While it's bittersweet not having the girls' team by my side this year, I'm eager to finish on a high note after a disappointing OUA performance.
"Having a few national tournaments under my belt, I know exactly what it takes to contend at this level and my game feels ready for the challenge."
She added the event marks a meaningful close to her Laurier career.
"The past five years have been an amazing journey made possible by the support of Laurier, my teammates, coaches and the opportunities I've been given along the way," Godkin said. "Through plenty of hard work, challenges, and unforgettable memories, I've grown both as a student-athlete and person. I'm grateful for every step of the journey; now it's time to make the most of one final nationals."
Colley believes she has the tools to challenge for the individual title.
"If Kristi is able to take advantage of her length off the tee with precise wedge play, she will be a contender for the individual title this week," he said.
Following three rounds, the field will be cut to the low nine men's teams and low six women's teams, along with any team within 15 strokes of the lead. Individually, players within five shots of third place or inside the top 10 will also advance.
Live scoring for each round will be available on
the championships website.
Laurier Golden Hawks tee times - Round 1 (ET)
