Courtenay's Mark Valliere has been named to the six-player British Columbia golf team for the 2013 Canada Summer Games. He will be joined by British Columbia Golf's Team BC head coach Robert Ratcliffe of Crown Isle Golf & Resort Community.
Three boys and three girls will travel to Sherbrooke, QC from Aug. 2-17 to compete in 72-hole individual/team competitions at the Milby Golf Club. British Columbia Golf made the announcement March 23.
Along with the 18-year-old Valliere, representing British Columbia will be fellow Team Canada Development Squad members Kevin Kwon, 17 of Maple Ridge, Victoria's Naomi Ko, 15 and Taylor Kim, 18 of Surrey. Rounding out the team is Trevor Yu, 16 of Vancouver and 16-year-old Alix Kong of West Vancouver.
"British Columbia is going to have an incredibly strong team heading into the Canada Summer Games," Ratcliffe said. "We have six of the strongest and most talented golfers in the province. Each one of them has the ability to shoot low numbers in competitive play as is evidenced by their past successes."
All team members have proven track records of strong competitive play, including 2011 Western Canada Summer Games individual gold medalists Kim and Valliere.
"I am confident we will have one of the strongest provincial teams going into the Games which is a true testament of the players' potential and the reason why they were selected to represent B.C.," added Ratcliffe.
In selecting the team, a six-person Committee used a seven-point criteria scale when assessing possible team members, of which included an athletes Titleist Order of Merit standings for British Columbia, past provincial/national performances and coaches recommendations. Athletes were also evaluated at provincial selection training camps held throughout the 2012 season.
The rigorous process for selecting worthy Team BC athletes was an onerous task for the committee as the talent pool for golf in British Columbia is plentiful, a fact that doesn't go unnoticed by those involved with the Games.
"From team selection to competition, British Columbia Golf has proven time and again that they are a first class organization who prides themselves on putting the best team on the course," said Michelle Collens, Assistant Chef de Mission for Team BC.
"Golf has and continues to be one of the sports which has exemplified Team BC excellence. We look forward to supporting the athletes and coaching staff prior to and while on-site in Sherbrooke."
British Columbia Golf's six athletes will travel to Sherbrooke, QC from April 25-27 to participate in a pre-Games Training Camp, allowing the athletes to practise at the host Milby Golf Club to familiarize themselves with not only the course set-up but the culture and environment that Sherbrooke will provide during the Games experience.
The 72-hole golf competitions will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 14, concluding on the final day of Games competitions on Saturday, Aug. 17. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to boys' and girls' individuals as well as boys' and girls' teams.
"British Columbia Golf would like to thank the Province of British Columbia for integral funding that has allowed our athletes to take part in the 2013 Canada Summer Games and as an organization, we are looking forward to working with the Mission staff to create a lasting impression for our athletes and others at the Games," a British Columbia Golf spokesperson said.
GAMES NOTES The six-player golf team is part of the British Columbia multi-sport athlete contingent competing in the Games that will see 4,000 athletes from across the country converge on the City of Sherbrooke over 16 total days of competition ...
– British Columbia Golf