STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.

VIU Mariners looking to fill spots on womens golf team

Jun 28, 2017 | 10:28 AM

NANAIMO — Recruiting season is in full swing for the VIU golf team.
 
Four of the seven spots on the mens team have been spoken for, but the Mariners are looking to fill out the womens squad.
 
Coach Kevin Oates says he’s talked to a few potential recruits already and the process is ongoing.
 
There was only one female player at VIU in 2016, Paige Schappert from St. Catharines Ontario.
 
Oates is hoping for a larger contingent this year but participants will still be able to enter the four PACWEST tournaments as an individual even without enough members for a full team.
 
He notes that any potential VIU player would need at least nine credit hours at the university come September.
 
“From an athletic standpoint we’d like somebody that has the desire to be better, and that we can work with to be better. We’re looking for someone who can shoot in the 80’s or 90’s as a starting point,” Oates said.
 
While there hasn’t been a long list of female golfers with the Mariners in the last few years, the program has helped produce some excellent players.
 
Two alumni Oates speaks very highly of are Kalli Gordon and Hannah Diamond.
 
“Hannah did two years at VIU and most recently transferred to UVIC and competed in the NAIA national championships this year with great success,” said Oates. “She was (ranked) in the top ten for quite awhile. Kalli Gordon had a provincial silver medal and went on to compete at nationals and finished top ten there.”  
 
The VIU season starts at the end of August with training and practice sessions two to three times a week at the Nanaimo Golf Club.
 
Tournament play begins in the second week of September with four PACWEST tournaments scheduled before the end of October.
 
Interested players can get information and contact details online at the VIU Mariners website.

 
dan@nanaimonewsnow.com
 
On twitter: @danmarshall77