(Editor’s Note: Montana State sports information release)
BOZEMAN — Senior Jaylee Tait and junior Clare Dittemore led the Montana State golf team during the final round of tournament play on Sunday, April 22, as the Bobcats earned an eighth-place team finish at the Big Sky Championship at Boulder Creek Golf Course.
Tait, a two-time all-conference honoree for MSU, completed her final round as a Bobcat with a 2-over-par 74. Dittemore also shot 2-over Sunday with a team-high four birdies to help carry MSU during the third round of action.
Sophomore Delaney Elliott played consistent golf throughout the tournament and wrapped up her conference showing with a 5-over 77. Sophomore Lilly Navarre fired a 79 to close out the Bobcat scoring lineup, while Kelly Hooper carded a final-round 83.
The Bobcats completed the meet with a 304 and a three-round score of 920. Idaho won the Big Sky title with a conference championship record score of 866, while Sacramento State (876) and Portland State (879) finished in the next two spots in the team standings.
“Everyone had an opportunity to contribute all season long for us,” Montana State head coach Brittany Basye said. “That’s why we take five and use four scorers. They all fought to the end and I’m proud of them for hanging tough. Our season obviously didn’t end the way we would have liked, but we have many things to look forward to next year.”
Dittemore was MSU’s individual leader for the three-day tournament. Despite an opening 82, Dittemore recorded back-to-back rounds of 71 and 74 to finish 11-over-par. Her 227 strokes over three rounds was her second-best total during the 2017-18 season as she finished tied for 26th overall.
Elliott shot rounds of 78, 76 and 77 to wrap up her appearance at the Big Sky meet. Her 231 total tied her for 31st individually.
Tait placed 36th by recording her best round of the tournament Sunday and finishing at 234. Hooper tied for 38th at 236 strokes and Navarre (240) wrapped up her debut at the Big Sky Championship with a 49th-place showing. Idaho’s Sophie Hausmann won the individual title by shooting a championship-record score of 206.
The Montana State golf season came to an end with the conclusion of the conference tournament.
“This is a great group of ladies,” Basye said. “We will miss Pari and Jaylee and wish them all the best. We are thankful for what they each brought to this Bobcat golf team.”
Tait and Pari Keller are Montana State’s lone golfers exhausting eligibility following the 2017-18 campaign. The Bobcats have received three letters of intent from incoming freshmen to compete for Montana State at the start of the 2018-19 season.
