LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – The UBC Thunderbirds have swept the Canada West Golf Championships for the first time since 2023, with T-Bird Katherine Hao becoming the first woman ever to win multiple individual titles. UBC's women took their seventh straight Canada West crown, while the men earned their first in three years, and third overall. Both programs now stand alone with the most Canada West championships of all-time.



The Thunderbirds women (435, +9) built an eight-stroke lead from the opening round into a 20-shot win over the UBCO Heat (455, +29), who finished runner-up for a third consecutive year. The victory continues the T-Birds' run of dominance at the conference championship, having now won the event all seven years that it's been contested.

One woman on UBC broke new ground with her performance, as second-year Katherine Hao (140, -2) took home the individual championship for the second straight year, becoming the first woman ever to earn Canada West medallist honours more than once.

"It feels really great being able to win again," said a delighted Hao, after the award ceremony. "It was amazing to win as a freshman, but being able to defend my title this year again was really special and I'm really glad that my coach and team were there to support me."

The Burnaby native was undeniably the best woman on the course at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort, stringing together the two lowest rounds of anyone on her side of the event to win the 36-hole tournament by a staggering nine strokes. Her final round of 67 (-4) was six strokes better than anyone else fared on either day.



"The first round was really windy, and I wasn't expecting it to be so bad," reflected Hao. "The first couple of holes were a bit rough, but I was able to come back on the back nine and had three birdies to finish.

"Today I was able to stick to the gameplan, hit my irons in close, and make birdies."

All five T-Birds women finished within the top-nine, with Sarah Yang (149, +7) becoming the sole runner-up on a countback, follow by Cadence Ko and Keira Hou (151, +9) tied for fifth, and Morgan Best (154, +12) alone in ninth.

"The elevation definitely let us hit it further here, and I think that ended up being a big advantage for our whole team," said Hao. "The par-fives ended up being pretty gettable for us. The wind was a big factor the first day, which threw all of us off a bit, but we were more adjusted today and all played better."



The UBC men (570, +2) pulled away from the pack as the final round went on, shaving off 18 strokes between days one and two to earn an eight-shot win over two-time defending champion UBCO (578, +10). The T-Birds become the first men's program ever to take three Canada West titles, ending a mini-drought that saw them fail to win the event for consecutive years for the first time ever between 2024-2025.

Individually, UBC's Aneesh Kaura (138, -4) was one of two players on either side to shoot below par on each day, finishing in third place and two strokes back of Alberta's Kai Baerg (136, -6) for medallist honours. He was followed by Jake Houston (141, -1) in fourth, Manpreet Lalh (144, +2) tied for seventh, Leighton Wright (149, +7) tied for 16^th and Forrest Van Alstine (153, +11) tied for 27^th in the 45-player field.



The victories mark the first two conference championships of the 2026-27 season for the UBC Thunderbirds, and the first banners for the program under first-year head coach Cory Renfrew.

"It was really nice to be able to have both of our teams with the banner and trophy," concluded Hao. "It was really special to all be able to celebrate a win together."

The 'Birds will look to keep their momentum going next week at their second Cascade Collegiate Conference event of the year, after having won both sides of the CCC season-opener as well. They will be travelling to Lewiston, Idaho for the Lewis-Clark State Fall Invitational at Lewiston Golf & Country Club Monday, October 12^th - Tuesday, October 13^th.