Hi! My name is Michaela DiMarcantonio and this summer I have the pleasure of working as a Media and Public Relations Intern with the Communications Department at Golf Canada. Having a love for the game of golf and a passion for public relations, this is definitely my dream internship. However come Monday, I will be trading my laptop and camera for my clubs and a pin sheet.
From May 25 to May 29, I will be competing in the 13th Canadian University/ College Championship at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont., where collegiate golf teams from across the country will compete for the national title.
This will be my final tournament wearing the maroon and grey of the McMaster Marauders Women’s Golf Team. Throughout the competition, I would like to invite you to follow my player’s blog as I share my experience and reflect on my golf journey.
Entry 3 – The end of the road
This past Friday was the final day of the 2015 Canadian University/ College Championship. As always, the final round of any tournament is the most exciting and with many of the leaderboards packed coming down the stretch, this competition was no different. It was thrilling to cheer on my fellow competitors in their pursuit of the national title.
After play was complete, the awards ceremony began near the putting green at Cutten Fields surrounded by the Canadian and provincial flags. It was quite the sight to see the winning teams and individuals hoist their trophies and beyond inspiring to hear their acceptance speeches filled with words of excitement and gratitude. They have worked so hard to earn these victories for themselves, their teams, their coaches and their schools. The team champions received banners that will hang in their schools for years to come and future generations of aspiring athletes will beam with pride at the sight of what those before them have accomplished.
To the winners of the 2015 Canadian University/ College Championship, I congratulate you on your achievements! For others who may not have finished the tournament in the way they had hoped, although it is disappointing, there are so many lessons to be learned. Look back and see how much you’ve grown and always remember how far you’ve come.
To those graduating, I congratulate you on outstanding collegiate careers. I had the opportunity to compete alongside many of you during the past four years. I wish you all the best in your future careers and endeavors, whether they remain close to the course or far from it. Wherever your paths may take you, I hope you continue to find comfort in knowing the golf course will always be your second home.
To the freshmen who have just completed their first years at school, enjoy the ones to come and relish every moment – they will be some of the best of your life. Practice hard, study harder and love every minute of it because the whole experience may be over before you know it. Make goals and achieve them; have dreams and soar past them. Take pride in the privilege of representing your schools.
It was a remarkable week at Cutten Fields and I would like to thank the membership and staff for hosting this wonderful championship. On behalf of the field, we were honoured to play such a beautiful course and make use of its outstanding practice facility – calling it world-class would not do it justice.
I would also like to thank my fellow Golf Canada Tournament staff, officials, scorers and starters for their commitment and dedication to their craft. They were all up well before sunrise and in bed well past moonrise. Without you, this event would not have been possible. So, thank you!
To everyone who has been so kind in reading while I shared my experiences at the 2015 Canadian University/ College Championship, you have my gratitude. Golf is a life-long game and may we all continue to learn from it, well past our years in the classroom.
Entry 2 – “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vince Lombardi
I have always been a firm believer that success is the result of hard work. Playing competitive golf has taught me that dedication and commitment are fundamental to success – not just on the course, but off it as well.
Today was the practice round at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont., for the 2015 Canadian University/ College Championship; tomorrow the real competition begins.
Through this championship, Golf Canada provides the nation’s student-athlete golf teams with the opportunity to gather and celebrate the wealth of talent being developed in Canada’s post-secondary institutions. From an athlete’s perspective, it’s about providing meaningful competition – to not only gauge where our games are, but to also see the areas in which our games can grow.
The game humbles me. It has taught me to aim further; to try harder; to want to be better, but not only for my own sake. Collegiate golf is unique because tomorrow when I step on to the first tee at Cutten Fields, I won’t just be playing for myself.
I will play for my teammates, who are every bit my family as my own siblings.
I will play for my coaches, whose words of advice are second only to my parents’ guidance.
I will play for McMaster University, where walls and classrooms have given me the same sense of security as any home I’ve lived in.
In the field this week, there will be freshmen representing their schools for the first time at the national level; there will also be veterans sporting their school colours for the final time. For myself, it will be the latter. Regardless, we all share the same passion to compete and better ourselves. There are few things in life as rewarding as the satisfaction of working hard and seeing that determination and effort pay off.
As I look forward to my first round tomorrow, I can’t help but reflect back on my four years at McMaster University. All student-athletes can attest to the challenge of balancing university life and team responsibilities. During the season, I missed classes to compete, but I always considered these days as opportunities for growth – and although they were not academic, they contributed to my university experience and to the person I have become.
Competing this week as a student-athlete for a final time is an honour – one that I will not take lightly and one that I will cherish always.
Entry 1 – Reading textbooks and greens
Like many high school grads, the decision of where to continue my post-secondary education was a difficult one. So many factors came into play, but I was certain I wanted to continue playing golf at a Canadian university. Upon meeting the coaches at McMaster and discovering the Communication Studies program, I knew it would be a great fit.
The first month of university was a big adjustment with a busy schedule and large lecture rooms filled with new faces. It was intimidating, but despite all the changes, golf remained constant. After classes I looked forward to practice and in my first collegiate tournament, despite my nerves, I felt very comfortable. Like always, the golf course was my second home.
Before the Ontario University Championships in second year, my head coach gathered the team and told us, “When you’re older and you look back on your university days, you won’t remember sitting in lectures or if you spent an extra hour studying for a test, but you will remember your experiences representing McMaster, all of your accomplishments and the memories you make with your teammates.”
Those words couldn’t be more true. At the time, I didn’t realize what an amazing experience playing competitive golf for my school would be. I am so grateful for the golf program at McMaster University and the support Golf Canada provides to universities and colleges across the country.
I’ve learned so much through this game – patience, discipline and perseverance. I can’t wait to compete one final time next week at Cutten Fields with my team and to take in one last lesson as a Mac student.
More information on the 2015 Canadian University/ College Championship is available here.