VICTORIA – When Owen Croft arrived at the University of Victoria in 2022, it wasn't as a member of the Vikes men's golf team. He hadn't been recruited, had never spoken to head coach Justin Clews, and had no guarantee he'd ever wear a Vikes uniform.

Growing up in Georgetown, Ont., Croft spent most of his early athletic career focused on hockey. Golf didn't enter the picture until Grade 11, and even then, it wasn't something he planned to pursue seriously. That changed during the pandemic, when golf courses reopened before hockey rinks, and he found himself spending more time swinging a club than handling a stick.

What started as a substitute soon became a full-time passion. As his interest in the sport grew, so did his potential. His coach back home, Vikes golf alumnus Nick Starchuck, began talking up UVic, the golf program, life on the West Coast and the idea stuck.

When Croft arrived in Victoria, he came as a student first, but he also came with a goal. During his first year, he got a membership at Uplands Golf Club, where the Vikes practice, and spent as much time as he could around the course—even playing rounds with some of the Vikes golfers.

Before long, Clews started to take note of the golfer who seemed to be there every day.

"I remember seeing him around, noticing the way he hit the ball and thinking, who is this guy and why haven't I heard from him?" said Clews.

In April 2023, Clews struck up a conversation at the driving range and learned a bit about his backstory. While there wasn't much space on the roster at the time, they began texting shortly after, and by the fall of 2023, Croft was a member of the UVic men's golf team.

"I got a membership at Uplands where I knew they practiced and just kept showing up every day," said Croft. "Eventually Justin talked to me on the range, and the rest is history."

"Justin's the best. He's changed my life, and I really look up to him. I'm thankful for him, and I'm thankful for my teammates."

Three years later, Croft has become the Vikes most consistent athlete, putting together an impressive career thus far.

As a rookie, Croft earned UVic Male Rookie of the Year honours, was named an All-Canadian and captured Continental Athletic Conference Golfer of the Year recognition. The success validated what Clews had seen at Uplands.

While many athletes plateau after a breakthrough season, his trajectory continued upward. Each year has brought more consistency, more confidence and stronger performances in the biggest tournaments on the schedule.

This past season represented the culmination of that growth.

Croft captured the Canada West individual men's title, earning a place on the conference's first all-star team before turning his attention to the national stage. At the NAIA Continental Athletic Conference Championship, he finished in second behind
teammate Jagre Knight, and at the NAIA Men's National Championship in Illinois, he finished third overall, matching the second-best national championship result ever recorded by a Vikes golfer. The accolades followed, including CAC All-Star, NAIA All-American, GCAA PING All-Region, and GCAA PING Second Team All-American.

"Owen is extremely dedicated, and his game has developed steadily year after year," said Clews. "He's motivated to improve not only on the golf course, but in the classroom as well, which speaks a lot to his character. I think winning Rookie of the Year that first season was a really pivotal moment in helping propel him to feel limitless in what he could achieve."

Croft says self-belief and having confidence in the work he has put in play a huge role in managing the mental aspect of the game. As well as being grateful to get the opportunity to play golf with his best friends.

Croft and the Vikes are looking to wrap up the 2025-26 season with a win at the upcoming Canadian University Championship set to begin next week, from June 16-19 in Levis, QC.