Humber golfers pick up five medals at nationals, including women’s team gold

Humber’s golf team picked up the school’s first national sports medals of the year, winning five at the shortened CCAA event at the Ambassador Golf Club in Windsor, Ontario held between Oct. 11 and Oct. 15.

Hayley McCallum and Madison Ouellette tied for second place in the women’s individual competition, one stroke behind the winner. The duo were also part of OCAA Team 1, who won gold in the team event. In that same team event, Humber’s Elaine Surjoprajogo was on OCAA Team 2, who picked up bronze. Matthew Bremer earned a medal for the Hawks on the men’s side of things, picking up bronze in the individual event.

With the final round cut short due to rain, and the scores from the end of the third round used to decide the winners instead, Humber golfers finished with five medals, but were left disappointed after a strong start to the cancelled fourth round had them in good position to move up.

McCallum and Ouellette were both challenging eventual winner Anne-Sophie Bélanger of Champlain College St. Lawrence for the individual crown, with first-year student Ouellette holding the lead at the time of the decision to halt play.

Madison Ouellette and Hayley McCallum of the Humber Hawks (Photo: CCAA) Photo credit: CCAA

“That was really frustrating,” said McCallum. “It didn’t look good when we were on the range warming up, and then for the first 10 holes it was great, so then to have it suddenly come down was really disappointing.”

“It didn’t really affect me too much,” Surjoprajogo said of the rain. “I wish I could have played more, rain is rain, I don’t know why they had to stop it. For my two teammates I felt really, really bad… all three girls, it was neck and neck.”

The weather wasn’t the only thing McCallum was battling, as she was also dealing with a nasty shoulder injury – an acromioclavicular (AC) joint separation, which is when the collar bone separates from the shoulder blade.

McCallum has been dealing with it since late-August, but she decided to power through.

“It was pretty painful during provincials, I almost dropped out there,” McCallum said. “We knew that if you didn’t finish in the top three at provincials, you wouldn’t be going to nationals. I wouldn’t be dropping out of that tournament, I’d be dropping out of the entire season, so I had to take that into consideration.

“Luckily I was able to play through it, and obviously things worked out for the best. Now I have a break, and I’m really glad I stuck to it.”

Despite the injury, the third round at the Ambassador Golf Club was the best of her nationals career.

“That was amazing. I’m really proud of it, especially putting together a string of good scores,” McCallum added. “It shows an improvement in my game, and that’s what you work for.”

Hayley McCallum of the Humber Hawks (Photo: CCAA) Photo credit: CCAA

Both McCallum and Surjoprajogo have the potential to play one more year for the Hawks, and with Ouellette a budding superstar in her first year, the women’s golf team has a real chance to win big again next season.

“It’s a great experience, an experience that not everyone can do,” said Surjoprajogo of her time at Humber thus far. “After graduating college I get to think back and see what I accomplished for myself during my time.”

“Technically I’m done this year, but I might be returning,” hinted McCallum, who added that her primary focuses at the moment are on recovery and academics. She that she had some personal goals she would like to meet as well, and would only come back if she has enough tome to heal and recover from her injury.

“I don’t want to come back for next season without being at my best and pushing to win individual at provincials, and win individual at nationals. If I think I can do that, I’ll come back, but I want to commit to it fully.”