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Scores soar with high winds at Winona State Warrior Invitational

Posted at 10:27 AM, Mar 14, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-14 12:31:33-04

(MSUB Athletics release)

LAS VEGAS – Borderline unplayable conditions due to sustained winds of 35 miles-per-hour put a dent into the final round of the Winona State Warrior Invitational on Wednesday afternoon, as the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team trudged through 18 holes at Stallion Mountain Golf Club.

Only one player managed to card a score better than 85 Wednesday, on the par-72, 5,929-yard course, and only five of the 74 players were able to break a 90. “The conditions were unbelievably difficult,” said MSUB head coach Jeff Allen. “A ball at rest on the green would get blown off with a gust of wind, and we just couldn’t get the ball to sit still. It was unfortunate, and everyone had to endure that difficulty. Good shots weren’t rewarded, and it didn’t matter what the players did as they couldn’t control it.”

As a team MSUB posted a score of 380, which was the fourth-best team score of the day despite being 74 strokes worse than Tuesday’s season-best 306. Despite the conditions, the Yellowjackets settled for third place as a team with a 686, as they finished behind first-place Missouri Western State (653) and second-place Rocky Mountain College (660). “I was just happy that everyone was able to complete their round,” Allen said. “It’s something we will have to forget about as we move forward with our season.”

Shealyn Hafer, who entered the round in second place after a career-best 73 on Tuesday, finished in a tie for eighth place as she struggled through a 97 on Wednesday.

Freshman Tierney Messmer was the Yellowjackets’ top finisher on the day, as she managed a 92 and wound up in seventh place with a two-round total of 169.

Senior Sarah Schroefel tied with Hafer for eighth place, after she shot a 95 on Wednesday and finished with a 170 as well.

Sophomore Renae Heisler tied for 20th place, with a two-round score of 181 (81-100). Sydney Rochford tied for 24th at 183 (82-101), and Kinsey Irvin was a stroke behind her in a tie for 26th at 184 (88-96).

Shi Qing Ong of Missouri Western State managed to hold on to her Round 1 lead, and finished in a tie for first place with a two-round score of 159 (71-88). Her teammate Anna Bech posted the top score Wednesday with a 78, to tie for the individual title as well with a 159.

THE BUZZ: Messmer was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day.

NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets’ next scheduled tournament is April 5-6 at the Western New Mexico University Mustang Invitational in Goodyear, Arizona.

Winona State Warrior Invitational

Final Results | March 13, 2019

Stallion Mountain Golf Club | Las Vegas, Nevada

Team – 1. Missouri Western State, 653 (313-340); 3. MSU Billings, 686 (306-380). Individuals – T1. Shi Qing Ong, MWSU, 159 (71-88); T1. Anna Bech, MWSU, 159 (81-78). 7. Tierney Messmer, MSUB, 169 (77-92); T8. Shealyn Hafer, MSUB, 170 (73-97); T8. Sarah Schroefel, MSUB, 170 (75-95); T20. Renae Heisler, MSUB, 181 (81-100); T24. Sydney Rochford, MSUB (IND), 183 (82-101); T26. Kinsey Irvin, MSUB, 184 (88-96).

The Yellowjacket men settled for eighth place as a team, posting a two-round score of 659 (306-353) on the par-72, 7,152-yard course layout. “The conditions were unbelievably difficult,” said MSUB head coach Jeff Allen. “A ball at rest on the green would get blown off with a gust of wind, and we just couldn’t get the ball to sit still. It was unfortunate, and everyone had to endure that difficulty. Good shots weren’t rewarded, and it didn’t matter what the players did as they couldn’t control it.”

Only two players among the field of 76 were able to break the mark of 80 amid wind gusts that manipulated the position of resting golf balls throughout the entire round.

Junior Garrett Woodin finished in a tie for 20th place after posting a two-round score of 161. Woodin entered the day in a tie for eighth place, but followed Tuesday’s 72 with an 89 in Wednesday’s unmanageable conditions.

Caleb Trost also shot a 161 to tie for 20th, moving up eight spots on the leaderboard to finish the event. The sophomore managed an 85 on Wednesday, after shooting a 76 Tuesday.

Next down the list for MSUB was sophomore Riley Kaercher, who tied for 31st place with a two-day score of 164 (76-88).

Junior Payton Stott checked in at a tie for 56th place, as he shot an 84 on Tuesday and a 91 Wednesday for a two-round total of 175. Logan Martin also competed for the ‘Jackets, and took a tie for 66th place with a final score of 180 (82-98).

Ian Carroll of Indianapolis and Michael Tait of Rocky Mountain College tied for first place, with each shooting a two-round score of 149. Conner Davis (79) and Jake Littlejohn (78) of La Verne were the only two players in the 70s on Wednesday.

Indianapolis held on to its Round 1 lead and ran away with the team total after shooting a 325 on Wednesday. Overall Indianapolis beat second-place Winona State by 22 strokes, with a two-round total of 609 (284-325).

THE BUZZ: Trost was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day.

COMING UP: MSUB is next in action at the Colorado School of Mines Bob Writz Invitational. The three-round event is scheduled to run March 23-24 at Bear Creek Golf Club in Lakewood, Colorado.

Winona State Warrior Invitational

Final Results | March 13, 2019

Stallion Mountain Golf Club | Las Vegas, Nevada

Team – 1. Indianapolis, 609 (284-325); 8. MSU Billings, 659 (306-353). Individuals – T1. Michael Tait, RMC, 149 (69-80); T1. Ian Carroll, Indianapolis, 149 (68-81); T20. Garrett Woodin, MSUB, 161 (72-89); T20. Caleb Trost, MSUB, 161 (76-85); T31. Riley Kaercher, MSUB, 164 (76-88); T56. Payton Stott, MSUB, 175 (84-91); T66. Logan Martin, MSUB, 180 (82-98).