The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2008 33 Oakville South Cody Goloubef the latest local draft pick of NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF T NEVIL HUNT/ METROLAND MEDIA GROUP HAPPY DAY: Oakville native Cody Goloubef beams after being selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in last weekend's NHL Entry Draft, held in Ottawa. Goloubef was one of three players with strong local ties to be picked in the draft. he Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup by drafting players from Sweden. The Columbus Blue Jackets appear to be looking closer to home for the foundation of a future championship team. For the third year in a row, Columbus used a high draft to select an Oakville native when it drafted Cody Goloubef Saturday at the NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa. The 6-foot, 195-pound defenceman was drafted in the second round, 37th overall. "It was awesome," Goloubef said of hearing his name called. "It was the proudest moment of my hockey career. I had a lot of buddies there and there were smiles all around." Goloubef joins Steve Mason (third round, 69th overall in 2006) and Stefan Legein (second round, 37th overall in 2007) in the Blue Jackets' stable of prospects from Oakville. "We usually just pay attention to schools or teams, not hometowns," said Columbus director of amateur scouting Paul Castron. "That's quite a coincidence." Though they are a year apart in age, Goloubef occasionally played with Legein in minor hockey when he was called up for games. Goloubef, who played a year of junior in Oakville before going to the University of Wisconsin, wasn't the only Oakville Blades alumnus selected. See Birch page 34 On target: Shepley close to LPGA card By Herb Garbutt the top five without a victory, but she believes it will come. "Absolutely, I don't know if it's going Jessica Shepley had just rolled in a 21- to be this season or next season, but it's foot putt on the 18th hole. With four going to happen," Shepley said Monday as birdies on the final five holes for a final she drove to the next tour stop in round 68 to move into a tie for first at last Hammond, Indiana. weekend's Duramed Championship in Shepley may not have felt that way Mason, Ohio, she had done everything during her first three years as a professhe could. Now it was time to play the sional, during which time she had only waiting game. one top-10 finish. Already As the final group came "The things we this season, Shepley has four to the green, two players had enjoy in life don't top-six finishes. Her $11,000 the potential to deny the 25- come easy. It payday on Sunday was more year-old Shepley her first than she made in any of her takes some professional victory. After first three seasons. Mindy Kim's shot found the sweat and tears After having success as water in front of the green, to get there." an amateur and collegiate only a long putt by golfer at the University of Stephanie Otteson could Jessica Shepley Tennessee, not being in conprevent a playoff. tention was new territory for "It was very exciting, very intense," Shepley. Shepley said. "I was kind of looking, kind "It wasn't the easiest thing to swalof not looking. You never assume a per- low," said the 2001 Ontario amateur son is going to miss but it sure wasn't 100 champion. "I had to dig down and find per cent." something inside me. I had very supportOtteson stepped up and found the cup ive friends and family and coach. I had a from 30 feet out, giving her a one-stroke good team around me to help keep my victory over Shepley, who finished as the head up at times." runner-up for the second time in five Shepley never considered packing it weeks. in, though. Though she didn't come away with "Obviously I struggled," she said. "I the victory, Shepley did move up to fifth don't think giving up is anything I ever in the Futures Tour money list -- an considered. This is what I want. I might important jump, considering the top five have shook my head a little and I knew I at the end of the season will earn LPGA had to work through it. The things we tour cards. Shepley is the only player in enjoy in life don't come easy. It takes OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF PHOTO COURTESY FUTURES TOUR FINE FORM: Jessica Shepley follows her shot at last weekend's Duramed Championship in Ohio. Shepley, an Iroquois Ridge grad, finished second in the tournament and sits fifth this season on the Futures Tour money list. some sweat and tears to get there." Bret Shepley said his daughter had to adjust to the difficult life of a touring pro, living on the road six months a year while still trying to eat properly and stay in shape. He said her competitive spirit was what carried her through the tough times. "She loves competition," he said. "In high school (at Iroquois Ridge) her coaches in volleyball and basketball sometimes had to tell her to tone it down a bit on the intensity. Once she's on the court or between the ropes, it's pretty much business." Ironically, Shepley said the success she's enjoying now is a product of being less results-oriented and putting less pressure on herself. "It's just a game, it's not life or death," she said. "I put it in perspective and I'm focusing more on the process, the journey and the people, and then letting the results happen." And they are happening with more regularity. Shepley was the only player with three sub-par rounds in Ohio, opening with a 67 and following it up with a 70. She began the season with a sixth-place finish, but it was her second-place showing in Kansas last month where work on her short game and putting paid off. "I had that good finish in Kansas, you see some putts roll in and you get some confidence," Shepley said. "It's unbelievable if you can tap into that and get a hold of it."