(MSUB Athletics release)
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Wrapping up the 2018 fall season on Tuesday at the Bellingham Golf & Country Club, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team played the final round of the Western Washington University Invitational.
The Yellowjackets shot a team score of 327 on the par-73, 5,983-yard course, improving by four strokes between rounds and finishing in 10th place overall among the field of 13 with a two-round total of 658 (331-327). “We were hoping for a little bit better finish, but we could feel the team was a little out of gas after the long road trip,” commented MSUB associate head coach Jeff Allen. “There are a lot of positives to take away from the trip, and there is even more to learn from. We have a lot of good things to build on for the off-season, and a lot of things we can all work on.”
Sophomore Renae Heisler was MSUB’s top finisher, as she took 24th place with a two-round score of 160 (80-80). Heisler’s final round featured a pair of birdies, as she saved strokes on the par-4, 285-yard Hole 2 and the par-5, 517-yard Hole 7.
Senior Shealyn Hafer was MSUB’s most improved golfer at the event, as she went from an 85 in Round 1 to an 80 in the second. Despite a tough start on Tuesday, Hafer played her final eight holes of the tournament at 2-under-par. She made birdies on the par-4, 295-yard Hole 6 and the par-5, 513-yard Hole 11. Overall Hafer finished in a tie for 40th place with a total of 165.
Close behind Hafer was fellow senior Sarah Schroefel, who also displayed improvement between rounds. Schroefel moved down from an 85 on Monday to an 82 on Tuesday, and finished in a tie for 45th place with a 167. Schroefel carded one birdie on Tuesday, matching Hafer’s performance on the par-5 11th hole.
“I was proud of how our two seniors had some of our best scores for the team today,” Allen commented. “They finished on a high note and showed great leadership for our group.”
Freshmen Tierney Messmer and Kinsey Irvin also competed for the ‘Jackets, finishing with scores of 168 and 169, respectively. Messmer shot an 85 on Tuesday with eight total pars in her final round, while Irvin carded an 86 and also had eight pars on Tuesday.
Sonoma State University protected its Round 1 lead and won the event with a two-round score of 610 (298-312). The Seawolves held off the host Western Washington Vikings by eight strokes, and SSU had the top two individual finishers at the event as well. Megan Daleo took the top spot with a two-round total of 148 (72-76), edging her teammate Sabrina Virtusio by a single stroke.
Meantime, the men’s golf team wrapped up their Concordia University Invitational Tuesday at Columbia Edgewater Golf Club.
The Yellowjackets shot a team score of 317 on Tuesday, finishing the three-round event with a total of 940 and taking sixth place among the field of eight teams. “Today was another tough day for our team,” said MSUB assistant coach Marcus Drange. “We struggled around the greens and could not get the ball to go in. We hit quite a few good shots as a team, but had a hard time converting those opportunities.”
Sophomore Caleb Trost was the top finisher for MSUB on the par-71, 6,823-yard course, as he tied for 20th place with a three-round total of 228 (77-77-74). Trost saved his best round for last, as he finished the event with a 3-over-par 74 his final time through the course on Tuesday. “Caleb had a great round today with the exception of two holes,” Drange said. “He took dead aim today, and was able to make five birdies. That was huge for our team.”
Also in the top-25 was junior Garrett Woodin, who turned in a score of 229 over the three-round event. Woodin tied for 22nd place, after shooting a 79 on Tuesday to follow scores of 76 and 74 in his opening two rounds Monday.
Junior Payton Stott took 33rd place, as he shot a 240 with scores of 78-80-82. The scores of sophomore Logan Martin also contributed to MSUB’s team total, as he placed 39th with a total of 245 (84-79-82).
Also competing for MSUB was sophomore Riley Kaercher, who took 41st place after shooting a 254 (90-78-86).
Fellow Great Northwest Athletic Conference school Western Washington University stormed to the team title, shooting a three-round score of 844 (280-281-283) to win it convincingly by 25 strokes over second-place Simon Fraser University. The Vikings’ Jordan Lee won the event, as he shot a 205 (67-66-72) and protected his Day-1 lead.
“As a team we will keep working and will get prepared for the Mike Grob Cup at the end of next week,” Drange said. “It will be fun to step out of stroke play and compete in a match play event. I know the guys are all looking forward to that.”
Though tournament play has concluded for the fall season, the ‘Jacket men and women have one more event on the calendar before the winter. They will square off against Rocky Mountain College in match play running October 18-20, as the Mike Grob Cup (men) and Leslie Spalding Cup (women) will take place at Peter Yegen Golf Club and Lake Hills Golf Club in Billings.
MEN: Concordia University Invitational
Columbia Edgewater Golf Club | Portland, Oregon
Final Results | October 9, 2018
Team – 1. Western Washington, 844 (280-281-283); 6. MSU Billings, 940 (315-308-317). Individual – 1. Jordan Lee, WWU, 205 (67-66-72); T20. Caleb Trost, MSUB, 228 (77-77-74); T22. Garrett Woodin, MSUB, 229 (76-74-79); 33. Payton Stott, MSUB, 240 (78-80-82); 39. Logan Martin, MSUB, 245 (84-79-82); 41. Riley Kaercher, MSUB, 254 (90-78-86).
WOMEN: Western Washington University Invitational
Bellingham Golf & Country Club | Bellingham, Washington
Final Results | October 9, 2018
Team – 1. Sonoma State, 610 (298-312); 10. MSU Billings, 658 (331-327). Individual – Megan Daleo, SSU, 148 (72-76); 24. Renae Heisler, MSUB, 160 (80-80); T40. Shealyn Hafer, MSUB, 165 (85-80); T45. Sarah Schroefel, MSUB, 167 (85-82); T51. Tierney Messmer, MSUB, 168 (83-85); T53. Kinsey Irvin, MSUB, 169 (83-86).
