2025 ACAC Golf Rookies of the Year
Edmonton, AB (September 26, 2025) –
Female Rookie of the Year | CAROLINE FREY | Concordia Thunder:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Caroline Frey of the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder has been selected as the 2025 ACAC Women’s Golf Rookie of the Year.
Frey made an immediate impact in her first season with the Thunder, showcasing her consistency and competitive edge. After arriving in Canada as a Swiss exchange student and impressing at open tryouts just weeks before the season began, she quickly became a key contributor. Frey earned runner-up honors at Regional #2 at Lynx Ridge and went on to claim the bronze medal at the ACAC Golf Championships, carding rounds of 79, 85, and 89 at Alberta Springs in Red Deer.
“Caroline jumped right into our program and made her mark in such a short time,” said Concordia Athletic Director Nate MacLellan. “She brought both talent and positivity, and we’re grateful for the impact she made with the Thunder this season.”
A native of Zuoz, Switzerland, Frey has been completing her exchange studies at Concordia University of Edmonton. In her time with the Thunder, she established herself as both a standout competitor and a valued teammate.
Male Rookie of the Year | AUSTIN GUTTINGER | Northwestern Wolves:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Austin Guttinger of the Northwestern Wolves has been selected as the 2025 ACAC Men's Golf Rookie of the Year.
Austin Guttinger’s season with the Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves was nothing short of remarkable, highlighted by his ability to rise to the occasion when it mattered most. After finishing 14th overall at the North Regional at Millwoods GC with rounds of 74 and 75, Austin showed his potential again at the South Regional at Lynx Ridge GC with a strong opening round of 74 before an unfortunate foot injury forced him to withdraw on day two. Determined to bounce back, he entered provincials with quiet confidence and undeniable focus.
What followed was one of the most dominant individual performances in Wolves, ACAC, and CCAA golf history. Austin opened provincials with a career-low 67, highlighted by an eagle on the 18th hole, before bettering that mark the very next day with an outstanding 66. He closed with a steady 68 to finish 15-under par and claim the Men’s Individual Championship. While his scores and results speak volumes, it’s Austin’s humble nature, calm demeanor, and kindness that make him such a respected presence on and off the course. In just one season, he has firmly established himself not only as one of the top players in the province, but as one of the brightest young talents in Canadian golf.
“We could not be more impressed with Austin this season, obviously his on-course performance has been incredible, to be honest I cannot find the words to describe how amazing he played at Provincials other than dominant. But what we are most proud of is his natural quiet leadership that has benefited our younger players immensely. His calm, simple demeaner has rubbed off on a lot of our team and it has been really rewarding to see the growth he and the team made this year. We told him we believed he was a top player in the ACAC and CCAA, and I believe he proved that at Provincials.” – Coach Nathan Barendregt
Born in High Prairie, Alberta, Guttinger has quickly established himself as a rising force in golf, working towards his Bachelor of Business Administration while capturing titles at the 2024 High Prairie Men’s Open, the 2024 Slave Lake Open, and the 2025 Tsuu’tina Golf Classic, all while setting the course record at his home club, High Prairie District Golf Club, with a remarkable 5-under 67 on its par-72 layout.
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About the ACAC: The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to provide competitive collegiate sport experiences, promote academic achievement and be a leader of sport development in Canada.
For more information on the ACAC, please visit our website: www.acac.ab.ca
For additional information, contact:
Mark Kosak, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
markk@acac.ab.ca
Emily Peterson, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
emilyp@acac.ab.ca