Aldershot’s Roach wins gold with Atlantic men’s team
Three golfers – Captain Marc Roach, Aviator Sarah Bradfield and Master Corporal Natasha Philippe – from 14 Wing Greenwood and 5th Canadian Division Support Base Detachment Aldershot competed in the August 11 to 14 Canadian Armed Forces Nationals, hosted by CFB Shilo at the Shilo Golf and Country Club.
All three qualified to the Atlantic team through play at the July 16 to 19 Atlantic region championships, held at the Gage Golf Club, CFB Gagetown. The Atlantic team going forward included, on the men’s side, Roach, 2IC D Company at 5th CDSB Det Aldershot; Captain Dave Parsons, Halifax; Captain Chris Topshee, Shearwater; Chief Petty Officer First Class Steven Clark, Halifax; Lieutenant Commander James Everett, Halifax; and Sailor Third Class Mitchell Stevens, Halifax. The women’s Atlantic team included Philippe, Bradfield and Captain Danielle Vortisch, Halifax.
At nationals, the Atlantic men took the lead from Round 1 and held it through the next two rounds to take the championship. Roach shot 82, 87 and 84. His total individual 253 put him at 20th of 31 golfers in the field, with Paul Swansburg taking top spot with a 223.
On the women’s side, Ontario took the team lead from Round 1 all the way to the final championship. The Atlantic team placed fourth. Individually, Bradfield (110, 105, 109) finished 10th and Philippe (117, 110, 104) finished 12th in the 14-player women’s field. The individual women’s winner was Taylor Rogalasky (83, 90, 82).
Regional round-up
Greenwood’s team at regionals included Roach, Corporal Ryan Ross, Corporal Tristan Tobin, Sergeant Jerome MacMullin, Corporal Wyatt Magarvey, Captain Paul Bailey, Bradfield, Corporal Joanne Gauthier and Philippe.
Roach was at his first regional tournament, qualifying for nationals after tying for individual third with a 77, 78 and 81; for a 236 total.
Tobin, an avionics systems technician with 14 Air Maintenance Squadron, maintained a consistent 84 through all three rounds – but said his hole-in-one on the fifth hole during the practice round, and coming within an inch from second place on the last day – on that same hole! – with a tap-in birdie; were tournament highlights.
CFB Halifax’s men won regional team gold, with 12 Wing Shearwater taking team silver.
On the women’s side at regionals, 14 Wing’s Philippe, Bradfield and Gauthier captured team gold, with silver going to CFB Halifax.
Philippe, an aircraft structures technician with 14 AMS, and Bradfield, 413 (Transport and Rescue) Squadron’s squadron air maintenance engineering officer; both tied for second place during individual play, and went into “overtime.” After playing a total of 20 holes on the last day, Bradfield won by one stroke, finishing second overall, followed by Philippe in third.
Aviator Sarah Bradfield takes a shot during one of three rounds at the Canadian Armed Forces’ national golf championships.
Master Corporal Natasha Philippe looks down the fairway during a Canadian Armed Forces nationals round in Shilo.
Greenwood’s team at regionals included Captain Marc Roach, Corporal Ryan Ross, Corporal Tristan Tobin, Sergeant Jerome MacMullin, Corporal Wyatt Magarvey, Captain Paul Bailey, Aviator Sarah Bradfield, Corporal Joanne Gauthier and Master Corporal Natasha Philippe.
