RICHMOND, B.C. – Hosting the first True North Classic since the inaugural edition in 2019, the Simon Fraser Red Leafs women's golf team placed second at its home tournament Tuesday at the Richmond Country Club. The Red Leafs finished with a collective score of 43-over-par 619, after opening Canada's only NCAA golf event Monday with a 24-over 312. UBC Okanagan claimed top spot with 603 shots and individual medalist honours as Emily Cornwall won the event at 2-over 146 (69-77).
 
"It was a great start to the season," said SFU head coach Matthew Steinbach. "With four freshmen in the lineup, they certainly led the way for us. Chloe (Tran) and Izzy (Ferguson) set the bar. I'm really happy with how everyone came together as a group. We play an interesting sport where you compete as an individual but you're represented as a team. I think we're headed in the right direction there. We were hoping for a better result and finish, but with the scores we're posting, we're confident we're not too far away."
 
In an impressive showing, SFU freshman Chloe Tran (Langley, B.C.) was fourth at 7-over 151. Her first round as a university competitor was a 1-over 73, before concluding with a 6-over 78 Tuesday. Tran was entered in the tournament as an individual, and her results did not count towards SFU's team score.
 
"One of the goals heading into this event was to keep my emotions level, not letting them get too high or too low," said Tran. "I think I did a good job of that over the last two days.
 
"I didn't play super well in qualifying leading up to this event. With nerves, it was a bit overwhelming for the first little bit so being able to compete as an individual to get used to the college golf setting was good for me and my confidence. It was very exciting to place as the team's top finisher."
 
Reigning Great Northwest Athletic Conference co-Player of the Year Shirin Anjarwalla (9-over 153) moved into a tie for fifth with a strong final round. She recorded three birdies en route to a 2-over 74 Tuesday. The junior from Nanaimo, B.C., carded a 7-over 79 Monday.
 
Freshman Izzy Ferguson of Ottawa and junior Kassie Muanyam of Nanaimo, B.C., tied for 10th at 11-over 155.
 
Ferguson made her university debut by shooting rounds of 4-over 76 and 7-over 79. She recorded the only eagle of the tournament on Monday, by shooting a 3 on the par-5 fifth hole. Muanyam had rounds of 79 and 76. Her 24 pars over the last two days was second-most in the tournament.
 

Freshman Meera Minhas (Burnaby, B.C.) tied for 13th with a result of 12-over 156. After a 9-over 81 Monday, Minhas birdied the seventh hole and added 13 pars for 3-over 75 in the final round. Freshman Anaya Bhandal of Surrey, B.C., tied for 25th place (23-over 167) in her debut event at the university level. She posted rounds of 11-over 83 and 12-over 84.
 
In all, four rookies played their first university tournament for SFU at the 2022 True North Classic. 
 
At 18-over 162, Brooke Brezovski competed as an individual, and ended in a 20th-place tie. The sophomore from St. Albert, Alta., signed for rounds of 10-over 82 and 8-over 80.
 
Steinbach spoke of what it means to host the True North Classic again.
 
"Just to be welcomed by the Richmond Country Club means a lot," he said. "During COVID, golf certainly exploded and there was a huge golf boom during the pandemic, and so access was difficult. Getting across the border was difficult. A lot of teams weren't able to travel so it was important that in the first year we were allowed to, that we were able to host again and hopefully set the stage for many True North Classics in the years to come."
 

 
The next event for the Red Leafs this season is the Saint Martin's Invitational, Sept. 23-24 at The Home Course in DuPont, Washington.
 
For the latest information on SFU Athletics, visit athletics.sfu.ca. You can also find us on social media at @SFU_Athletics.
 
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