Collegiate Golfers Juggle Online Classes While Competing At B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship

Vancouver's Leah John Is Competing In The B.C. Women's Amateur This Week...And Taking Online Classes For University - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

CAMPBELL RIVER -- Leah John is not only contending for the B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship this week at Campbell River Golf & Country Club, she’s attending the first week of her classes at the University of Nevada. Talk about multi-tasking.

“Monday was my first day of class,” said John, a 20-year-old from Vancouver who is starting her sophomore year at Nevada.

Those classes are being held on-line and John was told she could not be skipping them to compete this week. So John has tried to arrange her tee times so she can rush back to her hotel, dial up Zoom and ‘attend’ her class.

“I wasn’t allowed to miss class to play in this golf tournament so I had to do some organizing with people here to be very flexible with my tee times,” said John, who is majoring in kinesiology. “I said if I am going to work this hard and have to do this I am going to come out here and play the best I can. It’s also nice to have something to take my mind off it, too.

“My classes are all on-line through Zoom. That is definitely a challenge in itself, getting comfortable with that computer software. But it’s nice to have it on the go. After my round I'll open up my computer and start class and off we go.”

All that school work does not seem to be interfering with her golf. John shot an even-par 70 on Tuesday and had a share of the lead heading into Wednesday’s second round. It’s a tough time for student-athletes as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced cancellation of the fall competitive season. John said she is just trying to make the best of a difficult situation.

“It has been a weird year. Honestly, it hasn’t fazed me too much and I am trying to take advantage of the time as best I can to get stronger, to get as good at golf as I can, to get smarter, all of those things. I love challenges, I like them to push me. I am also fortunate to be in a safe environment.”

John, a member of Marine Drive Golf Club, loved her first year at Nevada, even though the spring golf season ended early when COVID struck. “It was one of the best experiences I ever had. I love my team, I love my coach, the university. It is such a great fit for me. They have definitely pushed me, too.”

Kathrine Chan - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

Richmond’s Kathrine Chan is in a similar situation. Chan is beginning her junior year at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif. Like John, Chan is taking her courses on-line and classes are now in session. “I have to go back to the hotel and do some homework,” Chan said after her opening round here on Tuesday. “That is what I plan to do now. Right now, I am taking four courses.”

Chan, a sports administration major, does plan to head to campus next week so she can at least practise with some of her teammates. “Honestly, it is a bit disappointing that we can’t go out and play,” Chan said. “But then I understand this is for safety. I am just back here grinding and trying to get ready for when there is a possibility that we get back playing.”

Phoebe Yue - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

Former B.C. Junior Girls champion Phoebe Yue of West Vancouver is heading into her junior year at UCLA in Los Angeles. She’ll be taking all of her classes on-line this fall and remaining home. “Our first day of class is Oct. 1,” Yue said.

“UCLA is on a quarter system so we start a little later. Everything is going to be going on-line. I was originally planning on going back but then all fall sports got cancelled so I am staying home. I'm really hoping we will be able to go back and compete in the spring. But you never know.”

Yue knows she will miss not only the competition this fall but all the other things that come with attending college. “It is nice that I can do everything from my bedroom, but I miss the interaction between other students and professors and Teaching Assistants. It is kind of hard to ask questions and stuff. And I definitely miss my friends at school.”