The unmistakable sound of spikes on cart paths and the hum of range balls echoed through Olympic View Golf Course on Tuesday and Wednesday, marking the unofficial start of spring golf on Vancouver Island.
Under clear skies, the Victoria City Police Athletic Association (VCPAA) hosted the 38th edition of its annual high school golf tournament – a fixture in the local sports calendar since its inception in 1987.
The VCPAA, made up of five members from VicPD, has long used the tournament as a way to build connections between youth and law enforcement.
“Policing is more than law enforcement – it’s about community. It’s about trust,” said Sergeant Jasmine Bader, who has organized the event since 2018. “We’re not just officers – we’re mentors, teammates, and role models. The VCPAA High School Golf Tournament and other events we organize allow us to build relationships in a way that is positive, uplifting, and fun.”
This year’s tournament welcomed 142 players from 24 schools across Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, including 16 girls and 126 boys. Twelve of the participating schools were from Greater Victoria.
Royal Bay stole the show in the team competition, with its top squad claiming gold with a combined score of 446. Royal Bay’s second team followed closely, earning silver at 462, while Vancouver College rounded out the podium with a score of 465.
Team scoring was based on each school fielding four players, with the top three scores counting each day.
In the girls’ individual category, Vienna Scheffer of Royal Bay took home gold with rounds of 72 and 75 for a total of 147. Emma Krall of Brookes claimed silver (74–77—151), while Brentwood College's Dara Miao earned bronze (82–78—160).
The boys’ competition featured a dramatic finish, as Stelly’s Owen Norman and St. Andrew’s Owen Beaulac each finished with a total of 146 – Norman shooting 76–70, and Beaulac going 75–71. Norman was awarded gold via the USGA countback tiebreaker system. Ewan Baldwin of Brookes rounded out the top three with scores of 73–75 for a 148 total.
For Claremont Secondary – a perennial contender and last year’s champion – 2025 offers a chance to see some new faces step up.
The school has offered a golf performance class for nearly 20 years, and now practices weekly at Highland Pacific and Ardmore, providing chances for their younger golfers to gain practice.
And according to longtime coach Shon Ryan, this tournament was no different.
“We had quite a few of our golfers graduate last year, so this was a bit of a transition year,” Ryan said. “A lot of kids got an opportunity they normally wouldn’t have had to play in this tournament. Charlie Piercy, a Grade 10, was our best finisher. He shot 77 and 73, which put him in a tie for sixth.”
Ryan, who’s coached at Claremont for over two decades, spoke highly of the VCPAA event and its role in the local golf scene.
“The opportunity to play two days in a row in a competitive tournament like this makes it really special,” Ryan said. “The police have been doing this forever, and they’re really supportive. The fact that Olympic View opens their course just for the kids is remarkable.”
And the timing couldn’t have been better. “That’s the best weather we’ve had in probably three or four years,” Ryan added. “The greens were like putting on a pool table. The course was in great shape.”
The tournament also serves as a preview of what’s to come at the Island and Provincial Championships. While not all of B.C.’s top teams make the trip to Victoria, many of the strongest programs from the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island do.
Ryan believes there’s plenty of parity this season and pegged Royal Bay as the team to beat.
“They walked away with first and second this year, and they’ve got depth,” Ryan said. “There’s talent spread across the Island, though. Our goal at Claremont is to qualify for provincials. It’s not a rebuilding year – we hate that term – but we do have a younger group. I’m proud of how they’re stepping up.”
With more tournaments on the horizon – including the Islands at Morningstar Golf Course in Parksville and the 'AAA' B.C. Provincial Championships at Shuswap National Golf Course in Salmon Arm – this week’s event marked just the beginning of what promises to be another exciting season of high school golf in the province.
