When the University of the Fraser Valley Golf team captured its first ever British Columbia Colleges’ Athletic Association (BCCAA) golf title last October, the Cascades relied on the prowess of veteran players Mitch Lock, Brett Stewart, Sean Patrick, Mike Broadfoot and Jessie Singh.

Considering the Cascades will enter the 2009 college golf season with those same five players on the roster, head coach Chris Bertram appeared to be on the right track at the end of last season when he stated good things lie ahead for this team.

After two intense rounds of golf at Ledgeview Golf and Country Club and Chilliwack Golf and Country Club, Bertram had the difficult decision of selecting the eight-person roster he would take on the course to battle other BCCAA golf teams this fall.

Bertram, back for his fifth season as head coach of the UFV golf team, kept his top golfers on the team, which has a distinct Fraser Valley flavour to it.

Lock (3rd year, Mission), Stewart (4th year, Abbotsford), Sean Patrick (4th year, Abbotsford), Mike Broadfoot (3rd year, Abbotsford) and Jessie Singh (4th year) are all back to compete.

“We’re bringing back the core of our team from last season, and with them they bring the experience and leadership we are going to need to challenge for a national championship,” stated Bertram. “These guys have all been in the heat of battle many times now, and they are ready to get it done this year.”

Bertram has added three rookies to fill his eight-man roster. Joining the Cascades in 2009 will be Jeff Wright (Mission) who returns to the Cascades after a one year hiatus, Blair Coan (Abbotsford) and Aaron Pauls (Chilliwack).

“Our new additions this season add the kind of depth that we have never seen before with Cascades Golf. We now have eight players who I feel can go head-to-head with any University team in the country,” said Bertram.

The 2008 golf season provided the best results ever achieved by the golf program at UFV. At the BCCAA Varsity Championship, Patrick shot a sizzling four-under-par 67 in the final round to lead the Cascades to a 10-shot victory over Thompson Rivers University. Singh finished the BCCAA’s four-tournament schedule in second place overall.

The Cascades then finished in third place, earning the Bronze medals, at the PING Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) Golf Open Championships. Lock finished second overall after losing in a playoff to Shawn Vanderwal at nationals.

The Cascades will open the 2009 BCCAA golf season Sept. 19 at the Selkirk College tournament, which will be hosted by the Castlegar Golf and Country Club.