Carrels earns golf scholarship

By Jamie Rieger

The offers were plentiful for a County of Forty Mile girl who has opted to take up the University of Victoria’s golf scholarship.

Brianna Carrels has received golf scholarship offers from U.S. NCAA Division 1 schools, as well as five CIS scholarships, but she decided to stay in Canada to represent her country and has accepted the University of Victoria’s offer.

Carrels started playing hockey as a young girl, but a knee injury in her teens had her looking to try other sports. She first picked up a set of clubs and started playing golf when she was 15.

“I saw a flyer for a girls’ program and thought I would try it. I knew right from the start that golf would be what I wanted to do,” she said. “It’s a game of etiquette, it’s a social game, and I love being outdoors.”

Last year, Carrels placed first in the Canadian Junior Girls championship – Team Alberta Interprovincial Canada Cup and for 2014, is a Team Alberta member.

With scores of 76, 74, 75, and 77, she placed third at the Alberta Girls championship and qualified to represent Team Alberta at the CJG championship.

She also placed third a the CN Future Links Prairie Canadian championship in Saskatoon.

In 2012, she earned the MJT Cleveland Golf Canada award for Exemplary Athletic, Educational, and Personal Achievements.

“We have a great deal to be thankful for to all those who were involved in Brianna’s life as teachers at Foremost school and coaches in hockey that were involved in her life,” said mom, Trudy.

Carrels graduates from Chinook High School in Lethbridge this year with a 4.0 GPA and will be studying biomedical engineering when she begins her studies at the University of Lethbridge this fall.

In the 2012-13 year, she and her team placed first in the world team competition at the International Genetically Engineered Machine competition.

Carrels, who could focus primarily on her golf, is more focused on her education, but golf will play an important role in her university life.

“Right now, I am very focused on academics. I will be taking biomedical engineering and would like to go into Pre-Med and then, maybe specialize. The golf is a really good springboard for me,” she said.

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