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by John Austen
When a couple of students approached Concordia Vice-Rector Marcel Danis
last February with the idea of forming a golf team, he was all for it.
All they needed was a little funding and a coach. Enter Les Lawton.
Lawton, who is in his 19th year as head coach of the Stingers women’s
hockey team, decided to add golf to his coaching résumé.
“I help administer the team more than I coach them,” Lawton
said. “They were looking for someone to get it going and I figured
I’d do it.”
Lawton is in charge of six golfers who form the fledgling team. They don’t
fall under the umbrella of the Athletics and Recreation Department and
receive no funds from the university. Danis is in charge of sponsorship
and has been able to keep the team going.
Members of the team include Brent LeCraw, Nick Poplemon, J.F. Mercier,
Chris Keays, Nick Galbraith and Simon Sinclair.
The team began play in Ottawa at a qualifying event for the World University
Golf Championships, to be played in Ireland. While none of the Concordia
golfers advanced, they did place two in the top 20 in a field of 64.
They also took part in a university alumni event, won by Sinclair, as
well as a staff tournament. The provincial championships will take this
weekend in St. Georges-de-Beauce.
“I really don’t think all that many people around the university
know that we exist,” said LeCraw, a 24-year-old Brossard resident.
“We haven’t really had any press coverage, but I’m sure
word will spread fast. Golf is such a popular game these days.
“Tiger Woods has turned so many new people on to golf,” he continued.
“So many different ethnic groups that didn’t have access to
the game now do, thanks to him. Kids are getting into it, which is great.”
“The interest is there at Concordia to get more players trying out
next year,” said Sinclair, a 21-year-old from Westmount. “It
would be great if we get 30 people trying out for six places, rather than,
say, 10 people trying out for seven spots.”
Lawton says he has a great group and has had a chance to play a few rounds
with them.
“They’re a pleasure to play with and they all manage the course
well, which is so important,” he said. “I’m sure there
are other students out there who could help us. We have put some flyers
out and we’ll keep spreading the word that there is a golf team at
Concordia.”
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