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Gryphon golfer remembered as a fighter

Funeral service on Thursday for Gryphon golfer.

Known as a “fighter and a grinder” on a golf course, David Fell had an infectious personality and a determination to always achieve his very best.

Flags at the University of Guelph, where Fell was a top Gryphon golfer, are flying at half-staff this week in honour of the young man. He died suddenly on Friday, Aug. 19. He was just 21. He spent three years on the Gryphon golf team, and four years at the university.  

The son of Bob and Elizabeth Fell, brother of Joshua, David is remembered by his family as a person of love, determination, passion and faith. A funeral mass will take place on Thursday.

Fell was an Ontario University Athletics (OUA) first team all star on the U of G varsity golf team, and was the team’s most valuable player last year, said Scott McRoberts, the university’s director of athletics.

He golfed at the national and international level, and McRoberts said he had the capacity to maintain focus and grind it out, no matter what obstacles he faced.

“He was the co-captain of the team last year, and such a leader and a fighter,” McRoberts said. “It was so sad to hear the news. It was tragic and sad.”

Judging by a YouTube video of Fell on the driving range, he had a smooth, compact golf swing with a lot of power behind it. His stroke on the greens was methodical and accurate.

The word on Fell was that he had great capacity and huge potential for the game.

Friends are invited to meet with the Fell family at the Gilbert MacIntyre and Son Funeral Home, Hart Chapel, 1099 Gordon St., Guelph, on Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. A vigil for David will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday at 6:45 p.m.

The funeral mass will be celebrated at Holy Rosary Church, 175 Emma St. in Guelph on Thursday, August 25 at 10:30 a.m. Interment will take place at Woodlawn Memorial Park in north Guelph.

As an expression of sympathy and in lieu of flowers, donations to the Holy Rosary Church would be appreciated by the family.

McRoberts said the past year has been a very difficult one for campus athletics, especially the golf team. Gryphon golfer Grace Glofcheskie was struck and killed last December in a hit and run on Woolwich Street. She had recently graduated.

“I feel for the team, and respect their resiliency,” McRoberts add. “Resiliency was what David was known for on the golf course. He might miss a putt, but he would come right back, fighting for the next hole. He was known for having a mentally tough game, and you could never get him out of playing his game.”

Fells best overall OUA performance was in 2013. Last year he shot an astonishing 65 at University of Waterloo/Wilfred Laurier University Invitational, the lowest round of his career.

The pressures of academic life are considerable, and when coupled with an athletic career at the varsity level those pressures can intensify, McRoberts indicated. Ensuring that competitive athletes at U of G find a balance in their lives is a consistent focus of the athletics program.

“We offer an unbelievable amount of support for our student athletes, both through our coaches, through the many resources we have with different departments on campus, and student affairs,” he said.


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Rob O'Flanagan

About the Author: Rob O'Flanagan

Rob O’Flanagan has been a newspaper reporter, photojournalist and columnist for over twenty years. He has won numerous Ontario Newspaper Awards and a National Newspaper Award.
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