(Editor's note: MSUB Athletics release)
LIVERMORE, Calif. – Making a move up the leaderboard between rounds at the Northwest Nazarene University Invitational, the Montana State University Billings men’s golf team finished the event in ninth place on Tuesday at Poppy Ridge Golf Course.
The Yellowjackets improved by 14 strokes between rounds, shooting a team score of 308 Tuesday on the par-72, 6,958-yard course to finish with a two-round total of 630 (322-308). “The guys adapted well to the better conditions today,” said MSUB head coach Jeff Allen. “They got to play in a lot less wind today for most of the round. Overall they adjusted well to the course and they battled back and competed hard.”
Garrett Woodin was MSUB’s top finisher at the event, as he tied for 12th place among the field of 78 golfers. The senior carded five birdies his second time through the course on Tuesday, finishing with a two-round score of 152 (79-73). Woodin’s 1-over-par 73 on Tuesday included an even-par 36 on the front-nine, and a string of three birdies in-a-row on holes 9-through-11.
“This was another solid performance by Garrett,” Allen said. “He has played this course a few times now, and he had a really solid round going. It was a good job by him, and hopefully he can keep building on that.”
Tying for 23rd place was Dawson Strobel, who posted a two-round total of 156 in his first event as a Yellowjacket. Strobel followed Monday’s 79 by cutting off two strokes to finish with a 77 his second time through the course. Strobel made his lone birdie Tuesday on the par-3, 193-yard third hole, on his way to a 1-over-par 37 on the front-nine. He finished the event with three birdies and just one double bogey in the 36 holes.
“Dawson played some good golf, and started to show his talents,” said Allen. “I still feel like he’s looking for his best golf, but he’s trending in the right direction for sure.”
Riley Lawrence finished in a tie for 31st place, shooting a two-round score of 158 (81-77). Lawrence also broke the 80 barrier on Tuesday, using 13 pars and nothing worse than a bogey to improve his overall score. The senior got off to a strong start his second time through the course, with eight straight pars to open Round 2.
Matching the scores of Strobel and Lawrence on Tuesday was sophomore Paul O’Neil, who tied for 36th place with a two-round total of 159 (82-77). O’Neil’s day also started well, as he was 1-under-par over the first four holes including a birdie on the par-4, 305-yard second. He cruised through the front-nine at 1-over-par 37, and stayed at that mark through his first 12 holes of the day.
Posting a pair of near identical scores, senior Caleb Trost finished the event in a tie for 48th place with a two-round figure of 161 (80-81). The lone birdie for Trost on Tuesday also came on the second hole, and he finished the day with 10 pars as well.
Also competing for the ‘Jackets was Kevin Kolb, who cut off a pair of strokes between rounds and shot an 82 on Tuesday. Kolb’s Round 2 scorecard featured 10 pars, and he finished the event with a two-round total of 166 (84-82) to tie for 62nd place.
Julius Kreutzer of Academy of Art University rallied to win the individual title, shooting a two-round score of 146 (77-69). Kreutzer’s 3-under-par 69 on Tuesday was the only sub-70 score in the tournament. Sonoma State University and Western Washington University tied for the team title, shooting identical scores of 610 (307-303) among the field of 14 teams.
THE BUZZ: Woodin was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…Woodin’s 73 on Tuesday was his best individual score since shooting a 1-under-par 71 on March 9, 2020 at the Notre Dame de Namur Invitational.
NEXT UP: The ‘Jackets are set to play in the NCAA Regional Preview event on March 22-23 at The Home Course in Dupont, Washington. The three-round tournament previews the site of both the 2021 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships as well as the NCAA D2 West Region Championships.
Northwest Nazarene University Invitational
Final Results – March 9, 2021
Poppy Ridge Golf Course – Livermore, California
Team – T1. Sonoma State University, 610 (307-303); T1. Western Washington University, 610 (307-303); T9. MSU Billings, 630 (322-308). Individual – 1. Julius Kreutzer, Academy of Art, 146 (77-69); T12. Garrett Woodin, MSUB, 152 (79-73); T23. Dawson Strobel, MSUB (IND), 156 (79-77); T31. Riley Lawrence, MSUB, 158 (81-77); T36. Paul O’Neil, MSUB, 159 (82-77); T48. Caleb Trost, MSUB, 161 (80-81); T62. Kevin Kolb, MSUB, 166 (84-82).
Battling rainy and windy conditions on Tuesday at Poppy Ridge Golf Course, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team wrapped up play at the Northwest Nazarene University Invitational.
The Yellowjackets finished the event in seventh place, shooting a two-round score of 691 (341-350) on the par-71, 5823-yard course. “The women got the bad end of the draw both days for weather,” MSUB head coach Jeff Allen commented on another wet and windy day on the course. “I was really proud of how they competed for both rounds. Even though our scores are a lot higher than we expect them to be, I was happy with how they dealt with the conditions and a challenging course. We have a long way to go still to get to where we want to be, and every player realizes that. We are just going to try to keep building on this experience and hope that it makes us better down the road.”
Tierney Messmer led the way for the ‘Jackets, shooting a two-round total of 171 (83-88). Messmer carded five pars her second time through the course, and finished in 29th place.
Kinsey Irvin took a tie for 30th place at the event, with a two-round score of 173 (88-85). Irvin had a pair of birdies on Tuesday, on the par-5, 503-yard ninth hole and on the par-5, 489-yard 17th hole. Irvin’s best stretch of the event came in holes 14-through-17, which she played at 1-under par.
Matching Irvin’s performance was Avery Gill, who also tied for 30th place with a 173 (85-88). Gill finished the tournament with an 88 on Tuesday including four pars.
Senior Sydney Rochford was one stroke behind the duo of Irvin and Gill, shooting a two-round total of 174 (85-89). Rochford completed the event in a tie for 33rd place.
Also competing for the ‘Jackets was Jalen Wagner, who wrapped up in 40th place with a two-round score of 187 (96-91). Wagner improved by five strokes between rounds, and finished strong with a 41 on the back-nine her second time through the course.
Sonoma State won the team title with a two-round score of 621 (309-312), holding off second-place Academy of Art by 11 strokes. SSU’s Lexi Nielsen maintained her Round 1 advantage, and won medalist honors with a two-round score of 150 (73-77).
THE BUZZ: Messmer was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day.
UP NEXT: The MSUB women are next in action at the El Cheapo Classic in Pueblo, Colorado. The two-round event runs March 21-22 at Walking Stick Golf Course.
Northwest Nazarene University Invitational
Final Results – March 9, 2021
Poppy Ridge Golf Course – Livermore, California
Team – 1. Sonoma State, 621 (309-312); 7. MSU Billings, 691 (341-350). Individual – 1. Lexi Nielsen, Sonoma State, 150 (73-77); 29. Tierney Messmer, MSUB, 171 (83-88); T30. Kinsey Irvin, MSUB, 173 (88-855); T30. Avery Gill, MSUB, 173 (85-88); T33. Sydney Rochford, MSUB, 174 (85-89); 40. Jalen Wagner, MSUB, 187 (96-91).
