SFU Women Deliver Win To Their New Head Coach In Season-Opener

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

DUPONT, WA (September 23, 2024) - The Simon Fraser University women’s team gave Krysta Schaus a win in her debut as the program’s interim head coach. The Red Leafs won the Saint Martin’s University Grisham Memorial tourney played at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash.

SFU finished the 36-hole team event at nine-over par. That was good for a 16-shot win over UBC-Okanagan and George Fox University, who tied for second.

Sophomore Dana Smith of Campbell River led the way for SFU as she finished solo second in the individual competition at three-under par. That was one shot behind individual winner Julia Alexander Carew of UBC-Okanagan.

Izzy Ferguson and Meerra Minhas both tied for fourth for SFU at three-over par. Anaya Bhandal (T10) and Chloe Tran (T21) were the other members of the winning team.

Schaus took over as interim head coach of the women’s and men’s teams about a month ago when former longtime coach Matthew Steinbach resigned to pursue an educational opportunity. Smith said the team was delighted to get Schaus a win in her first event.

“We’ve all been putting in the work over the summer leading up to tournament season and we’re so happy it paid off,” Smith said. “Krysta has been doing great so far in her new role and this was her first victory as head coach, so everyone is really happy for her.  We hope to use this momentum heading into the True North Classic this week and the rest of our fall semester and have more good results.”

Click HERE for final results.

The SFU women, along with the men’s team, co-host this week’s True North Classic at Riverway Golf Course in Burnaby. Eleven women’s teams and eight men’s teams are slated to compete in that event.

Fellow Canadian teams competing include the University of Victoria, University of the Fraser Valley, UBC-Okanagan and UBC, which is sending its women’s team and some members of its men’s team who will compete at Riverway as individuals.

Teams from south of the border include University of Hawaii-Hilo, Hawaii Pacific, Western Washington, Seattle Pacific, Saint Martin’s and Northwest Nazarene.