NC Knights golfer Hazel Templeman became the first female athlete from the College’s golf program in 12 years to compete at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Golf Championships.
The second-year Sport Management student represented NC at the national competition, held October 13 to 16 at Le Blainvillier Golf Club in Blainville, Quebec, marking the program’s first female appearance at nationals since 2014.
Templeman competed individually at the national championship, accompanied by Knights golf head coach J.J. Alexander, who is in his first year leading the program.
For Templeman, the experience was a milestone in her 11-year golf journey and a chance to showcase the College’s golf program on a national stage.
“I was proud to represent Niagara College on a national stage and bring awareness to the school,” said Templeman. “It was an honour to be the one to bring us back!”
Templeman earned her spot at nationals following a strong comeback at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Golf Championships in London, Ontario, where she improved her performance over three rounds of competition.
“Looking back, I’m most proud of my provincials performance,” she said. “This gritty performance is what I will take with me into the future both on and off the golf course.”
At the CCAA Championships, Templeman faced challenging conditions throughout the four-round tournament, including cold temperatures and persistent rain that tested competitors on the course.
Despite the weather, she persevered through the challenging conditions and gained valuable experience at her first national championship.
Among her memorable moments was making a 20-foot putt for par on the 14th hole during her third round, connecting with fellow competitors and sharing the experience with Alexander, who was also attending his first national championship as head coach.
“I’m most proud of my relentless battle and unwillingness to give up,” said Templeman. “Nationals was the cumulative result of 11 years of loving (and hating) this game!”
For Alexander, Templeman’s opportunity to compete at nationals was an exciting achievement for both the student-athlete and the Knights golf program.
“Being my first year as coach of the Niagara College Knights golf team, it was great to see Hazel qualify for the National Championships,” said Alexander. “This was an exciting achievement for Hazel, but it also provided valuable experience for our program as we look to develop and motivate our team for the seasons ahead.”
Alexander praised Templeman’s growth and resilience throughout the season, particularly her comeback performance at the provincial championships.
“It was rewarding to watch Hazel’s game progress as she gained more competitive experience throughout the season,” he said. “At the Ontario Championships in London, Hazel got off to a slow start, but the way she responded and bounced back was impressive.”
With Templeman and several other players expected to return next season, Alexander is optimistic about the future of the Knights golf program. Increased interest in the team, including the strongest turnout at tryouts in several years, has also provided momentum for continued growth.
With Templeman and several other players expected to return next season, along with growing interest in the team, including the strongest turnout at tryouts in several years, Alexander is optimistic about the future of the Knights golf program.
“The success of our Knights golf team this year has me optimistic that we are building the foundation for long-term success,” said Alexander. “With a few players returning next season, I’m excited about the opportunity to build on what we accomplished this year, continue developing our players, and put ourselves in an even stronger position to return to the National Championships.”
Students interested in learning more about the Knights golf program or getting involved with the team are encouraged to contact head coach J.J. Alexander at [email protected].
NC congratulates Hazel and J.J. on their achievements and for representing the College at the national championships.
