Local golfers earn berth into national final in Nova Scotia

By Lethbridge Herald on September 10, 2024.

SUBMITTED PHOto From left, Brock Virtue, Keirstin Smith, Zac Weiss, Jenna McDonald and Gray McDonald pose after winning a RBC PGA Scramble regional qualifier to punch their ticket to the national final next month.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Five  local golfers came together to punch their ticket and  have their opportunity to compete at a national final next month.

The Lethbridge Country Club fivesome  of Brock Virtue, Keirstin Smith, Zac Weiss, Jenna McDonald and Gray McDonald travelled to Canmore and won the RBC PGA Scramble Alberta South  Regional Final on Sept.3 with a final net score of 49.8 and a To Par Net of -21.2 to book their spot in the national final at Nova Scotia’s Cabot Links Golf Course in early October.

“We had no idea that we won until they announced our names because you couldn’t see how everyone else was doing and we knew that we had a chance but we didn’t know exactly where we finished,” said Virtue.

“So when they announced our names as the winners we were all extremely excited.”

Virtue thought the team played well.

“We never had a bunch of really exceptional shots but (with) every single shot, at least one of us hit a good one,” said Virtue.

Virtue consider the girls as the stars of the day.

“On the first hole, me and Zach and Gray, we all missed the green,” said Virtue.

“It was a par 3 and then Keirstin put her tee shot to eight feet and so we made the birdie. And then we got everyone’s drives in until our 18th hole, which was the 16th hole at Stewart Creek, and we were left with one more drive from Jenna. So we had to use Jenna’s drive and she bombed it straight down the middle of the fairway and we all celebrated.”

There is a sense of excitement going to Nova Scotia.

“It’s a  group of friends and so to be able to do a golf trip like that and compete in something like this together ,with this group, is going to be so much fun,” said Virtue.

Preparation for the national championship consists of using the  Country Club’s practice facilities and playing in the evenings after work.

Virtue and Smith are in a relationship, the McDonald’s are married and Weiss is a pro at the club.

The fivesome won a local qualifier at their home club to reach the regional tournament.

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