By any metric, the 2024-2025 season was extremely successful for UBC’s men’s and women’s golf teams. Over the course of the year, both teams were crowned Canadian national champions. Multiple players on both teams were named to the all-conference team. Both won their conference in NAIA play, with the women’s team going one step further and winning an NAIA national title. Yet, despite all the accolades — for many, the year was still bittersweet.
Across both teams, 2024-2025 was the final year for nine players, who would all graduate after the season. Considering that — at an event like the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship — both the men’s and women’s teams only brought twelve players combined, that amount of turnover is significant. These nine players have essentially spent their entire careers together, which is an eternity in university sport, where entries into a team are typically staggered.
While all nine of these incredible players came to UBC through different paths, they all were able to unite as Thunderbirds, having made their mark with an incredible university career — and memories that will last them a lifetime. For one of these graduating seniors, Grace Bell, the enormity of the journey her team has taken becomes much clearer upon looking back.
“It’s been super special. I don’t think any of us knew what was coming when we first started on the team. I can still remember my first day on campus and meeting everyone,” said Bell. “Seeing how each of us has changed and grown, both as athletes and as people … it’s really, really fun to see just how different everyone is now compared to that first day.”
It isn’t just Bell’s teammates that have grown — she has too. In February, Bell marked a career-best performance by becoming the first T-Bird to win an individual NCAA D1 event in 30 years. Despite the immensity of what she accomplished, Bell was able to stay even-keeled throughout the tournament, not knowing she was in the lead until the very end. That calm came from her four years of experience, taking everything one shot at a time and playing a killer game to break the drought.
“I just went out and showed everyone exactly how hard I was working for honestly, as long as I can remember. It was really cool to see it all come together,” said Bell.
Grace Bell recently completed her final year on the UBC women’s golf team. Navya Chadha / The Ubyssey
No one supported Bell more than her fellow Thunderbirds that day. Each individual achievement like Bell’s was a win for the whole team.
This energy extended from not just the women’s team, but the men’s side as well. All of the seniors cultivated a close system of trust and support between one another.
“It was almost like we were having this internal battle, the women’s team and men’s team could push each other. That was a really interesting dynamic, and it’s just all supportive,” said Bell. “You couldn’t ask for better athletes to just be so supportive regardless of anything going on, you knew they were in your corner.”
For Aidan Schumer, on the men’s team, that support was most evident for him during his best performance of the season. During the Cascade Conference Championship, Schumer played an incredible second round to help UBC earn the win, tying the program and conference record with a score of 64 — 9 under par. Coming back from a subpar initial round, shooting five over par, he was able to stay out of his head with the support of his teammates and coaches and he pushed through to finish strong.
“I think it [was] a combination of being patient and letting the hard work pay off,” said Schumer.
Yet, despite the Cascade Conference Championship being a cause for celebration because of both Schumer and the teams’ performances — it also marked that both the end of the season and these players’ time as a T-Bird was drawing near.
However, before that time came, they made sure to go out with a bang. In their last two tournaments, both the men’s and women’s teams pulled through — with both winning the Canadian National championship and the women’s team adding an NAIA championship.
For Bell, adding the NAIA championship win was just a little sweeter after losing the same tournament the year prior.
“Winning it in my first two years, losing in my third year, and then coming back and winning again in the fourth was so special,” said Bell. “To do it with that group of girls was the icing on the cake.”
The season may have ended, but these players are walking away with a whole lot more than trophies. For the past few years, having the chance to play as a Thunderbird has meant so much to the nine seniors. Golf was more than a sport — it was an avenue to build long-lasting relationships.
“It’s really special because these guys are not just my friends and teammates — they are my brothers,” said Schumer.
While their UBC careers may be over — the relationships that they formed with one another will last long past their last tee time.
“It’s that quiet confidence we all had in each other — no one had to say it outwardly, but everyone knew that anything you did, the entire team was behind you,” said Bell. “Having that for the last four years has been super special, and I’m really excited to see what everyone does post-grad and [to keep] in contact with them all.”
First online Sept. 4, 2025, 2:15 p.m.
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