WELLAND, Ont. - Monday, Sept. 28 saw the best college golfers in Ontario flock to Hunters Pointe Golf Course in Welland, Ont., for the opening round of the 2015 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Golf Championships. Wet and rainy conditions plagued the field throughout the day, but golfers still managed to turn in impressive rounds.

The event consists of three 18-hole rounds. The male and female players posting the lowest gross score through 54 holes earn their respective individual championships. On the team side, men's teams consist of four or five golfers, with the top four individual scores of each round contributing to the total team score. Women's teams consist of two or three golfers, with the top two individual scores of each round contributing to their total score. Schools with the lowest aggregate of gross scores after 54 holes win the respective team titles.

This 2015 championship event features 71 men's players representing 15 Ontario post-secondary institutions, and 14 women's players representing five schools.

On the men's side, the host Niagara Knights took advantage of their familiarity with their home course posting an impressive team score of 280. Three Knights - Logan Lammerant (Seaforth), Josiah Dixon (Bognor) and Zach Bankuti (Brampton) - opened with 69 to lead the field. Veteran Evan Littlefield (Thunder Bay) also posted a respectable 73 to give the Knights a 14-stroke lead after day one.

The nine-time defending champion Humber Hawks also had a solid first day posting a team score of 294. The Hawks were paced by Barrett McCarthy (72), Christian McCullough (73), Scott Benzoni (73), and Will Gavarkovs (76).

Rounding out the top three were the Seneca Sting (16-over, 296), led Matt Madden (70) who sits alone in fourth place. Kolton Kowalchuk (73), Juan Novoa (75), and Scott Baker (78) round out the Seneca team scores.

On the women's side the Humber Hawks posted a 155 riding the solid play of Sheila McKeen (77) and Michaela DiMarcantonio (78). The two golfers sit in third and fourth place in the women's individual division.

Hot on the heels of the Hawks were the Georgian Grizzlies who posted 157, just two strokes behind their women's golf rivals. Emilie Tyndall (76) sits in second place on the individual side, while Sady Beelik posted an 81.

Rounding out the top three were the St. Clair Saints who received strong rounds from both Victoria Ducharme (78) and Laura Martin (80) for a team total 158.

Defending CCAA Champion Lorelle Weavers, continued her outstanding play posting a 76 to lead the women's field by one stroke heading into Day 2.

The teams will return to Hunters Pointe on Tuesday for the second round of the 2015 OCAA Championships. The first tee time is set to get underway at 7:30 a.m. For up to date information visit www.goknights.ca.

2015 OCAA GOLF LEADERBOARD
Men's Individual
T1 Logan Lammerant, Niagara, -1 (69)     
T1 Josiah Dixon, Niagara, -1 (69)
T1 Zachary Bankuti, Niagara, -1 (69)         
4 Matt Madden, Seneca, E (70)  
5 Alexander Zappio, St. Clair +1 (71)

Men's Team
1 Niagara, E (280)
2 Humber, +14 (294)
3 Seneca, +16 (296)
4 St. Lawrence (Kingston ), +20 (300)
5 St. Clair, +20 (301)

Women's Individual
1 Lorelle Weavers, Niagara, +5 (75)          
2 Emilie Tyndall, Georgian, +6 (76)            
3 Sheila McKeen , Humber, +7 (77)          
T4 Michaela DiMarcantonio, Humber, +8 (78)
T4 Victoria Ducharme, St. Clair, +8 (78)   
T4 Sonia Nagindas, Humber,+8 (78)

Women's Team
1 Humber, +15 (155)
2 Georgian, +17 (157)
3 St. Clair, +18 (158)
4 Niagara, +30 (170)
5 Sault, +77 (217)

Championship Website: gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao15/event/gao15299/contest/3/leaderboard.htm

Hunters Pointe Golf Course: www.hpgolf.ca

Source: Niagara College