LÉVIS, Que. – The UBCO Heat men's and women's golf teams will be on the hunt for their first national championships this week as they get set to tee off on Tuesday at the 2026 Canadian University/College Championships presented by BDO at Golf La Tempête.
 
The opening round is set to get underway on Tuesday, June 16 at 7:40 a.m. Eastern. Fans can follow the action with Golf Canada's Live Scoring.
 
The UBCO men head into the championship as one of the favourites with four wins in seven tournaments this past season, including their second-straight Canada West Championship won back in October. The Heat will have the same quintet of golfers as they had in Chilliwack at the conference championship when they rallied to beat the UBC Thunderbirds by two shots.
 
Leading the way will be third-year Ryan Gillis who has been on the podium at back-to-back Canada West Championships, winning the individual title in 2024 before adding a bronze medal in 2025. Gillis, a native of Calgary, was also UBCO's low finisher at last year's national championship, tying for 12th place.
 
He will be joined by fourth-year Andrew Rouble, who was an All-Canadian at this event back in 2023 after tying for fourth place in his rookie season.
 
Chris Jo makes his second appearance at the national championship, finishing tied for 36th a year ago, while Ryan Vest and Oakley Mayner will be making their debuts at the Canadian University/College Championship.
 
The Heat women are also one of the pre-tournament favourites having finished second at this event for each of the last three years. The team has also enjoyed an incredible season, finishing first or second in each of their last six tournaments, including three victories.
 
UBCO will have arguably the best university golfer in the country on their side as reigning Canadian University/College individual champion Julia Alexander-Carew makes her third appearance at the national championship. Alexander-Carew was named UBCO's Athlete of the Year for women's sports back in April after another outstanding season and now has nine individual victories to her name as a member of the Heat.
 
Last season, she shot seven-under par in Kamloops to capture the gold medal and lead the Heat to a team silver medal.
 
Alexander-Carew will be joined by a veteran group which also features graduating seniors Lauren Nedo and Bess Chan who will be making their final appearances for UBCO at the national championship. The Heat's fourth golfer is rookie Shinyao Zhang who will compete in her first national championship in her home province.
 
The Heat women will tee off beginning at 8:20 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday followed by the men at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.