KELOWNA, B.C. – The UBC Okanagan Heat women's golf team continued their excellent Fall season on Tuesday as they captured the silver medal at the 2024 Canada West Championships, hosted at the Okanagan Golf Club.
 
Following podium finishes in their first two events of the season, the Heat continued to roll at home as they captured their second-consecutive Canada West silver medal after finishing at 18-over par 456 in the 36-hole tournament.
 
The medal is also the third silver medal the team as claimed at the Canada West Championships in the last four years, to go along with a bronze medal.
 
"I'm super proud of them," commented Heat head coach Clay Stothers after the championship. "They grinded hard and as a collective group, I thought we did great. I know the team thinks they could have played better, which excites me as a coach because now it means we can get to work and get us ready for our final two events of the Fall."
 
Second-year Julia Alexander-Carew of Oakville, Ont., and fourth-year Lauren Nedo of Coquitlam, B.C., led the Heat in the team competition as both players tied for ninth after finishing at four-over par 150. Nedo posted two birdies and three bogeys in the final four for a one-over par 74 while Alexander-Carew had one birdie and three bogeys for a two-over par 75.
 
Second-year Symone Ripley of Saskatoon, Sask., and fourth-year Emily Cornwall of Calgary, also earned Top 20 finishes with Ripley finishing 14^th at 10-over par 156 and Cornwall in a tie for 18^th at 21-over par 167.
 
Third-year Bess Chan of Hong Kong, who was competing in the tournament as an individual, earned the Heat's first-ever Canada West All-Star nod as she was named to the second team after finishing sixth at even-par 146.
 
Chan, who wasn't named to the Heat's competitive team due to illness earlier in the week, rebounded for an impressive performance, including shooting one-under par in Monday's opening round for her first-ever tournament round under par.
 
"I was so happy for Bess," commented Stothers following the awards ceremony. "Considering how sick she was during qualifying, she showed up here with a great attitude and went out and shot a career-low. She's an unbelievable person on and off the golf course, our players love her and it couldn't happen to a better person."
 
The UBC Thunderbirds won their fifth-consecutive Canada West title as they finished at 16-under par 422 while the UFV Cascades claimed the bronze medal at 22-over par 460.
 
WOMEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
1. UBC Thunderbirds – 422 (-16)
2. UBCO Heat – 456 (+18)
3. UFV Cascades – 460 (+22)
4. Victoria Vikes – 466 (+28)
5. Calgary Dinos – 516 (+78)
6. Alberta Pandas – 519 (+81)
7. Lethbridge Pronghorns – 572 (+134)
 
HEAT INDIVIDIAUL STANDINGS
6. Bess Chan – 146 (E)* - Canada West 2^nd Team All-Star
T9. Julia Alexander-Carew – 150 (+4)
T9. Lauren Nedo – 150 (+4)
14. Symone Ripley – 156 (+10)
T18. Emily Cornwall – 167 (+21)
22. Eva Hogue – 169 (+23)
 
*Competed as an individual