2015-16 MSUB Golf Media Guide @MSUBGolf #MSUBGolf
Montana State University Billings Golf 2015-16 Quick Facts University Information
Location: Billings, MT Address: 1500 University Drive 59101 Established: 1927 Enrollment: 4,800 Chancellor: Dr. Mark Nook University Website: www.msubillings.edu
Yellowjacket Athletics Information
Affiliation: NCAA Division II Conference: Great Northwest Athletic Conference Colors: Navy, Gold Nickname: Yellowjackets Faculty Athletic Representative: Dr. Scott Harris Athletic Director/SWA: Krista Montague Sports Information Director: Evan O’Kelly Phone: 406-657-2130 Email: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Athletics Website: www.msubsports.com MSUB Sports on Twitter: @MSUBSports MSUB Sports on Facebook: MSUB Sports MSUB Sports on Instagram: MSUB Sports MSUB Sports on YouTube: MSUB Sports
MSUB Golf Staff
Head Coach: Shawn O’Brien, 7th year Phone: 406-657-2396 Email: shawn.obrien3@msubillings.edu Assistant Coach: Rhett Hightower Men’s Assistant Coach: Marcus Drange Email: marcus.drange13@gmail.com Women’s Assistant Coach: Mariah Cleveland Athletic Trainer: Tom Ebel Phone: 406-657-2375 Email: tebel@msubillings.edu
MSUB Golf History
First Year of golf: 2008 NCAA appearances Men: 1 (2013) Women: 2 (2009, 2010)
MSUB Golf Team Information
Home Course: Pryor Creek Golf Club Returners/Lost Men: 4/4 Women: 3/2
Contents Montana State Billings Golf About MSUB.................................................................3 2015-16 Schedule..........................................................4 About MSUB Athletics................................................5 Letter from AD Krista Montague...............................7 Coaches Head Coach Shawn O’Brien.......................................8 Assistant Coaches.........................................................9 2015-16 Season Feature Story: 2015 Grad. Jake Hedge.................... 12 Rosters......................................................................... 18 Women’s Season Preview.......................................... 19 Women’s Player Profiles............................................ 21 Men’s Season Preview............................................... 26 Men’s Player Profiles.................................................. 28 2014-15 Season 2014-15 Women’s Review......................................... 34 2014-15 Men’s Review............................................... 36 Yellowjacket Golf Program History Record Book............................................................... 38 About MSUB Pryor Creek Golf Club.............................................. 45 Hall of Fame............................................................... 46 MSUB Athletic Administration............................... 47 MSUB Athletic Staff.................................................. 48 NCAA Division II Statement................................... 49
Newcomers Men: 5 Women: 3 Redshirts Men: 0 Women: 0 Twitter: @MSUBGolf Facebook: MSUB Golf
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About MSUB Montana State University Billings is a comprehensive public four-year higher education institution located in Montana's largest population center, whose faculty is actively engaged in teaching, research, creative endeavors and public service. The University opened in 1927 and was initially called Eastern Montana State Normal School at Billings and was established to prepare teachers for elementary schools in Eastern Montana. MSU Billings has grown, with the city of Billings and Yellowstone County, into the major urban comprehensive higher education center of south central Montana. The University consists of five colleges on two campuses: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Allied Health Professions and City College, which serves the comprehensive two-year mission of the University on a campus seven miles west of the University Campus. MSU Billings offers a full complement of one- and two-year certificate programs, associate degrees, and bachelor and master degrees, as well as pre-professional academic offerings in nearly 100 academic areas; and features 23 programs that are totally available online. Several academic programs are unique to the Montana University System. MSU Billings Extended Campus also maintains a presence in Downtown Billings through outreach education to underserved populations, GED preparation, summer programs for children and short-term training/conference space. MSU Billings is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities. The MSU Billings College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, whose standards are used as the basis to evaluate a business school’s mission, operations, faculty qualifications and contributions, programs, and other critical areas. The MSU Billings College of Education is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education for preparing elementary and secondary teachers and school counselors through the Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees, and the Master of Science in Special Education degree. MSU Billings is also accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, and the Council on Rehabilitation Education. City College programs are approved by the National Institute for Automotive Excellence and the Montana Board of Nursing. Public service is integral to the mission of the University. Its two primary public service entities are KEMC/Yellowstone Public Radio and the Montana Center for Inclusive Education, a comprehensive education, rehabilitation, and @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBGolf | 2015 Media Guide | 3
2015 MSUB Golf Schedule 2015-16 MSUB Men’s Golf Schedule
Fall 2015 Day Date Event Location Rounds Thurs.-Fri. Sept. 10-11 MSUB/Rocky Collegiate Cup Billings, MT Match Play Mon.-Tues. Sept. 14-15 Regis Invite Denver, CO Three Fri.-Sat. Sept. 18-19 Saint Martin’s University Lacey, WA Three Mon.-Tues. Oct. 5-6 Chico State Invite Chico, CA Three Thurs.-Fri. Oct. 8-9 MSUB Fall Invitational Huntley, MT Two Spring 2016 Day Date Event Location Rounds Sat.-Sun. Mar. 26-27 MSUB Spring Invitational Huntley, MT Two Mon.-Tues. Apr. 4-5 Western New Mexico Invite Goodyear, AZ Three Mon.-Tues. Apr. 11-12 CSU Stanislaus Invite Turlock, CA Three Mon.-Tues. Apr. 18-19 GNAC Championships Coeur d’Alene, ID Three Mon.-Wed. May 2-4 NCAA Regional Championships TBD Three
2015-16 MSUB Women’s Golf Schedule
Fall 2015 Day Date Event Location Rounds Thurs.-Fri. Sept. 10-11 MSUB/Rocky Collegiate Cup Billings, MT Match Play Mon.-Tues. Sept. 14-15 RMAC #1 Longmont, CO Two Mon.-Tues. Sept. 21-22 Western New Mexico Invite Goodyear, AZ Two Mon.-Tues. Sept. 28-29 NCAA DII National Preview Denver, CO Two Mon.-Tues. Oct. 5-6 Dixie State Invite St. George, UT Two Thurs.-Fri. Oct. 8-9 MSUB Fall Invitational Huntley, MT Two Spring 2016 Day Date Event Location Rounds Sat.-Sun. Mar. 26-27 MSUB Spring Invitational Huntley, MT Two Sat.-Sun. Apr. 2-3 Western New Mexico Invite Goodyear, AZ Three Mon.-Tues. Apr. 11-12 Montana State University Goodyear, AZ Two Mon.-Tues. Apr. 18-19 GNAC Championships Coeur d’Alene, ID Three Mon.-Wed. May 2-4 NCAA Regional Championships TBD Three Home events in bold and played at Pryor Creek Golf Club.
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About Yellowjacket Athletics Home of the Yellowjackets, the Montana State University Billings department of intercollegiate athletics supports 15 men’s and women’s varsity sports which compete in the NCAA at the Division II level. MSUB is one of 11 full-time members of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, which features 11 championships throughout each academic year. More than 250 student-athletes compete on MSUB’s teams, and members of Yellowjacket teams posted a collective 3.15 grade point average during the 2014-15 academic year. MSUB-sponsored varsity sports include men’s and women’s teams in basketball, cheer/stunt, cross-country, golf, soccer, indoor and outdoor track & field, as well as baseball, softball, and women’s volleyball. 2014-15 marked a historic year for Yellowjacket Athletics, as MSUB hosted three conference championship events and an NCAA Division II West Region Championship for the first time ever. The ‘Jackets welcomed more than 30 teams to Billings on Nov. 22, 2014 for the NCAA Division II West Region Championships at Amend Park, hosted the 2014-15 Men’s and Women’s GNAC Basketball Championships from March 4-7, 2015 at Alterowitz Gym, and capped off the year by hosting the 2015 GNAC Baseball Championships from May 7-8 at Dehler Park. MSUB also serves as the host of the largest NCAA Division II softball tournament, the Desert Stinger Classic, which was played for the sixth year in a row from Feb. 12-14, 2015 at Majestic Park in Las Vegas. The 2014-15 year also featured three All-American athletes from MSUB, including senior Kayleen Goggins (women’s basketball), junior Robert Peterson (men’s indoor track & field), and senior Brody Miller (baseball). Miller was also selected as the 2014-15 GNAC Male Athlete of the Year for all sports, just the second baseball player in the conference’s history to win the award, and the second student-athlete from MSUB to collect the honor as he joined women’s basketball star Bobbi Knudsen (2013-14). Capturing GNAC crowns during the 2014-15 year were MSUB’s baseball and softball teams. The Yellowjackets won the 2015 GNAC Softball Championships and advanced all the way to the semifinals of the NCAA Division II West Region Championships in May.
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About Yellowjacket Athletics
MSUB’s women’s soccer team also competed for a GNAC Championship title, finishing in second place in the conference standings and earning the No. 2 seed into the conference tournament in the fall of 2014. In men’s golf, senior Jake Hedge also represented the ‘Jackets at the NCAA Regional level, competing as an individual in the championships in Monterey Bay, Calif., from May 6-8, 2015. In 2013-14, the MSUB women’s basketball team made history by winning the 2013-14 Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular season title and advancing to the NCAA Division II west regional championship game. MSUB’s 2013-14 women’s basketball team joined the Yellowjackets’ 1998-99 squad as the only two in program history to advance to the NCAA regional title game. The latter continued on to the Elite Eight, marking the furthest-advancing MSUB team in the school’s history. In 2012, the MSUB softball team won the GNAC regular season title with a 32-18 overall record and earned hosting privileges for the 2013 conference softball tournament. The 2012 Yellowjacket men’s basketball team also earned a conference title, defeating the University of Alaska Anchorage 74-70 in the GNAC tournament championship game. Formerly known as Eastern Montana College, MSUB athletics stem back to the 1927-28 season, the year in which the university was founded. The Yellowjackets have competed in a number of different conferences throughout the years, and prior to the 1980-81 season the athletic department transitioned from the NAIA to competing at the NCAA Division II level. The MSUB Hall of Fame and Distinction inducted its inaugural class in 1990 and serves as a tribute towards influential figures on and off the court, in both current and retired sports.
2014-15 MSUB Hall of Fame Inductees Natalie Bills (left) and Alira Carpenter.
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Yellowjacket Athletic Director Krista Montague Krista (Fjelstad) Montague is entering her 13th year of employment at MSU Billings and her third as director of intercollegiate athletics. In 2014-15, MSUB hosted several marquee championship events for the first time ever. In November, MSUB welcomed the 2014 NCAA Division II Cross Country West Region Championships to Billings, which included participation from 32 teams across the region. MSUB also hosted the 2014-15 GNAC Basketball Championships and the 2015 GNAC Baseball Championships during the academic year. MSUB’s softball team advanced to the NCAA Division II West Region Championship game after winning the GNAC Championships title, and the Yellowjackets’ baseball team also claimed a conference title during 2014-15. During her first year at the helm of the athletic department, Montague successfully secured hosting responsibilities for the upcoming 2014 NCAA cross country west regional championships and 2014-15 Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s and women’s basketball championships. Montague began her employment with MSUB in July of 2002 as the department’s development and marketing director. Shortly after being hired, she was appointed to the position of senior woman administrator, making her the highest-ranking female administrator in the athletic department. When Montana State University Billings announced the hiring of Montague as its new athletic director on May 10, 2013, it became the first NCAA institution in Montana to have a female athletic director. In 2005, the titles of assistant AD and NCAA compliance coordinator were added to her duties, while she still managed the corporate partnership program and special events for the department. In 2009, Montague was promoted to associate AD. As associate AD, her primary responsibilities included overseeing and managing NCAA II compliance for each of the 17 sports and co-ed cheer, as well serving as a crucial member of the athletics administration team and academic liaison between the different campus constituencies and athletics. Montague, a native of Eastern Montana, received her undergraduate degree in business administration with an option in marketing in 1999 from MSU Billings. Montague was a four-year letterwinner for the MSUB women’s basketball team and left the program with the school record for career free-throw percentage. As a senior, Montague helped MSU Billings to the West Region Championship and the program's first and only Elite Eight appearance in women’s basketball. Montague is a member of NACDA (National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics) and NACWAA (National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators), as well as various other state and local organizations. In 2011-12, she served on NACWAA’s Legislation & Governance Committee, and also served as a member of the NCAA II Softball West Regional Advisory Committee in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. Before joining the MSU Billings athletic staff full time, Montague was the athletic department’s part-time corporate partnership director and held various positions for DD Marketing (Pueblo, Colo.), Norwest Bank, and Billings Clinic. Montague is currently pursuing a master's degree in public relations at MSU Billings. She lives in West Billings with her husband Brent and two daughters Shayla (14) and Allie (12). @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBGolf | 2015 Media Guide | 7
Coaching Staff
Head Coach Shawn O’Brien
7th season Shawn O’Brien begins his seventh year as the head men’s and women’s golf coach at Montana State Billings. For the second year in a row in 2015, O’Brien led the MSUB women to a second-place finish at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships in the team race. On the men’s side in 2014-15, O’Brien coached senior Jake Hedge into the NCAA Division II West Region Championships, after he was selected as a first-team all-GNAC pick with an MSUB-record low season scoring average of 73.0. Also among notable performances under O’Brien’s guidance in 2014-15 was a fourth-place finish by freshman Austin Berg at the Chico State Invitational in October of 2014. In 2013-14, O’Brien’s women’s team finished in second place at the GNAC Championships, and senior Capri Ingram finished fourth individually at the event. After leading Gage Huft to the Men’s NCAA Div. II South Central/West Regional and the Yellowjacket women to a solid finish at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships, O’Brien was named the GNAC Women’s Coach of the Year following the 2012-13 season. In his first year, O’Brien guided the women’s golf team to its second-straight NCAA tournament appearance and led the team to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament title. In addition, O’Brien was named RMAC Women’s Golf Coach of the Year. Under O’Brien the Yellowjackets have recorded 17 combined individual victories and 54 individual top-5 finishes. He has coached 22 all-conference selections and 28 academic all-conference selections. In 2011, O’Brien coached the male (Brad Harrelson) and female (Melissa Saken) GNAC Freshman of the Year, and in 2012, Cayley Fish and Eric Gravbrot were named the GNAC Female and Male Freshman of the Year. O’Brien is a member of the National Golf Coaches Association and the Montana Coaches Association. O’Brien spent two years assisting the women’s basketball program at MSUB and previously was an assistant coach for boys’ basketball at Belfield High School (N.D.) in 2006-07. He was an assistant coach for the girls’ varsity at Campbell County High School (Wyo.) in 2007-08. O’Brien had an outstanding career as a kicker for the football team at Dickinson State University. In 2004 as a freshman, he set a school and Dakota Athletic Conference record by hitting 17 field goals for the season. O’Brien also had 42 extra points for 93 points and led his team to the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Championships. He earned all-DAC and all-America honors that season. O’Brien was a three-time allDAC honoree and still holds the school career records for field goals (34) and extra points (109). His 211 points rank among the top-5 in school history. He is the son of Deb and the late Thomas O’Brien and has a sister, Molly. He has a bachelor’s degree in physical education with a minor in coaching from Dickinson State. He earned his master’s degree in school counseling from MSUB in 2010. On Sept. 5, 2009, O’Brien married Kristen Rogers of Colstrip, Mont. The couple and their son Luke reside in Billings. 8 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBGolf | 2015 Media Guide
Coaching Staff
Assistant Coach Rhett Hightower
5th season Rhett Hightower begins his fifth season as an assistant golf coach at Montana State Billings. He played collegiate golf for the University of New Mexico from 1997-99. Hightower resides in Billings and is the father of two children, Austyn (6) and Cullyn (2).
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Coaching Staff
Assistant Coach Marcus Drange
2nd season Marcus Drange begins his second season as assistant golf coach after serving in the same capacity in an interim role in 2014-15. Prior to becoming a coach, Drange participated in the Yellowjackets’ golf program for three seasons.
mark of 66.
Drange was selected as the team’s most improved player during the 2013-14 season, and was the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year and an all-conference selection in 2011-12. During his career at MSUB, Drange notched three top-5 tournament finishes, and holds a career-low single-round
Prior to MSUB, Drange attended Montana State University in Bozeman from 2009-11. Drange was the Gallatin Valley Open champion in both 2010 and ’11. Drange is a 2009 graduate of Billings West High School, where he was a Montana State AA all-state selection in 2008.
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Coaching Staff
Assistant Coach Mariah Cleveland
1st season Mariah Cleveland begins her first season as assistant women’s golf coach after participating in golf with the Yellowjackets for the past four seasons. Cleveland graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance in 2015, and will begin studying in MSUB’s athletic training graduate program in the fall of 2015. In 2014-15, Cleveland finished her collegiate career as a second-team all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference selection. As a senior, she recorded the second-best scoring average on the team at 82.2 and fired a career-low score of 73 at MSUB’s fall invitational tournament. A native of Laurel, Mont., Cleveland graduated from Laurel High School in 2011 and was an all-state golfer for the Locomotives.
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Feature Story: 2015 Graduate Jake Hedge
After growing up at Yellowstone Country Club, Jake Hedge has become one of MSUB’s best April 8, 2015 Billings native Jake Hedge is the Yellowjackets’ top golfer as a senior, and credits his progression as a golfer to the time he spent as a kid growing up at the Yellowstone Country Club. MSUB SPORTS – Established in 1914 and originally called the Billings Golf and Country Club, one of the most historic golf courses in Billings holds a rich tradition and history. After a fire destroyed the clubhouse in the mid-1950s, prestigious golf course architect Robert Trent Jones was hired to bring the landscape back to life. By December of 1958, the 18-hole masterpiece and new clubhouse had been completed, and the resulting Yellowstone Country Club stood as one of more than 500 courses Jones constructed throughout his career. Since then, a separate nine holes and around 400 homes have popped up amid the original 630 acres of land, and more than 2,000 members have called the country club home throughout the years. Among its most recent inhabitants are John and Pete Hedge, who started a family from their home located within the confines of the club. It was through this opportunity that Montana State University Billings men’s golf senior Jake Hedge naturally grew up living the game of golf, and it is his time spent with family and friends playing the course at Yellowstone Country Club that has turned him into one of the best golfers the Yellowjacket program has ever seen. HURRY UP, JOHNNY John Hedge remembered an article he read a couple decades ago entitled, ‘How to Make Your Kid Fall in Love with Golf ’. 12 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBGolf | 2015 Media Guide
Feature Story: 2015 Graduate Jake Hedge “The three worst words in golf are, ‘hurry up, Johnny,’” John Hedge said. “That’s why so many kids quit golf early, because they hurry up and don’t have any fun.” The father of three sons and a daughter, John Hedge adopted this mindset around the time he remembers his children feeling out their grip and playing games of “yard golf.” The object was a simple one, with various trees or marks around he Hedges’ yard serving as the holes for the young children to aim for. From there, John gradually brought his children out onto the real course at the country club. For him it was never a chore or something he rushed through just to do it. “If it took an hour to play a hole then that’s what we did,” John said. “At the end of every round, you always have a putting contest with your kid, and you always make sure you lose so that they get the candy bar reward.” John looked on with a prideful smile as he watched his children develop a passion for the game. If a 5-year-old Jake smacked a shot into a trap, John would let him play in the sand. If Jake scattered the friendly ducks with four shots in a row into the water, John would drop a fifth ball and tell him to give it another swing. “Golf was something I wasn’t smart enough to figure out,” John said. “But not even knowing what I was doing, my kids knew how to play in and out of sand, were never worried about water, and they loved to putt.”
out there,” John said. “He just loved it.”
By the time Jake was six, he followed his 11-year-old brother Josh onto the course and started practicing on his own. Sometimes John wouldn’t see his youngest son for 10 hours. “He would spend his entire summer
When Jake was eight and he began playing in his first competitive tournaments, it was clear he was a step ahead of the curve. “You play growing up for fun, but once it’s time to compete you’re not sure what to expect,” Jake said. “I started gauging myself against the other players and felt like I was a step ahead from the beginning. It definitely helped having guidance from my older brother Josh. He showed me the ropes and it’s easier to become a good player when you have an already good player with you.” With the five-year difference between Jake and Josh, more often than not the latter would be 100 yards down the course waiting for his younger brother to catch up. While Jake had no chance of matching his brother’s shots distance-wise, he began developing a short game unlike anything Josh had seen before. “Of course when we were younger I would hit the ball twice as far as him, but when we got up near the greens he would always hit his wedges closer than me,” Josh said. “He had a better short game than anyone I have ever known.” What was most impressive to Josh was the character and maturity development he witnessed in Jake. Because of the patience John had instilled in his sons, Jake did not get frustrated and give up when his older brother out-drove him. Instead, he displayed a rare sense of tenacity as he developed his game, constantly focusing on what he could do better. “I can always say that having Jake around kept golf fresh and fun,” Josh said. “Everything was a game, and we kept it light and easy. We had a blast together, and playing with him is one thing I will always be thankful for.” @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBGolf | 2015 Media Guide | 13
Feature Story: 2015 Graduate Jake Hedge PUTTING INTO THE PRO-AM With the sun bearing down on Yellowstone Country Club, the temperature flirted with crossing into triple digits as 30 top amateur players convened to play a 36-hole United States Golf Association qualifier tournament in 2008. The prize for the winner was a trip to Alabama to compete in the U.S. Junior Amateur Golf Championships, and after the first 18 holes Jake sat in the lead with a 74 on the course he had called home his entire life. Winding through the cavernous holes a second time, Hedge was just as efficient, not fazed by the relentless heat or worried about hitting the perfect shot each time. By the time he reached the 18th green, his chip shot landed about 25 feet from the hole. “I had about a 25-footer and I needed to make it to win,” Hedge said. “If I missed it, we would have gone to a playoff, but I made it. It was easily the greatest moment and feeling of success that I’ve had in golf, especially with it being on a course that I see every day. It’s a memory that always comes back to me and that I will cherish forever.” One of the young players in that tournament with Hedge was Brandon McIver, one of his best friends growing up as the two had bonded during their time on the course together. The duo became a force to be reckoned with at Billings West High School, as they helped the Golden Bears claim the boys’ golf state title four times during Hedge’s prep career. “Brandon was one of my best influences, and he also grew up at the country club,” Hedge said regarding McIver, who is now a junior on the men’s golf team at the University of Oregon. “We played together every single day, and he is a friend I really enjoyed spending time with on the course. Golf solidified our friendship and we made each other better players.”
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Feature Story: 2015 Graduate Jake Hedge As Hedge and McIver assisted each other and learned the game together, Hedge felt well-prepared to carry his game on to the collegiate level. With his education at the forefront of his university selection process, Hedge elected to attend the University of Wyoming, where he could pursue a degree in accounting while continuing to play golf. After redshirting as a freshman, Hedge competed for the Cowboys for two seasons as a sophomore and junior. By the time his senior year rolled around, Hedge had completed his degree early and had a tough decision in front of him. “I graduated early, but I wasn’t sure that I was ready to move forward with my career,” Hedge said. “I felt like I still had some passion left for golf, and that I had something to offer to a program.” Hedge obtained his bachelor’s degree in accounting in the fall of his senior year at UW, and after deciding not to play golf in the spring season with the Cowboys he turned to an old friend who he played with in high school to seek advice. “Jake called me one day when he was on a road trip, and I could tell he was trying to figure out a place where he could keep playing,” commented MSUB assistant coach Marcus Drange who at the time was a junior on the Yellowjackets’ golf team. “I told him I really enjoyed being on the team here and encouraged him to think about it.” “Marcus is the one I really talked to, and he helped solidify my decision to come back to Billings,” Hedge said. “I knew I wanted to pursue my education further, and I also didn’t want to have any regrets finishing my college career early. I knew I would never get those years back and that I would have regretted it if I hadn’t kept playing.” Currently working towards a second bachelor’s degree in finance, Hedge has lived up to the expectations and has been MSUB’s top golfer this season. Hedge has been the top finisher in each of MSUB’s six events thus far, has three top-10 finishes and has a low round of 68 on the season. Currently averaging a score of 71.5, Hedge is the leading golfer in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. “We realized that Jake had the potential to play for two more years, and we really put our best foot forward in trying to get a player of his caliber to come to MSUB,” commented Yellowjacket head coach Shawn O’Brien. “Any time you can get a student-athlete of Jake’s caliber, it is going to help your program succeed. To top it off, Jake’s academic performance and work ethic are outstanding.” GETTING A GRIP While Hedge has realized tremendous success during his time at MSUB, there was a time in his golf career where continuing on didn’t even present itself as an option in his mind. A time when the simplest choice seemed to be walking away from the game altogether and quitting.
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Feature Story: 2015 Graduate Jake Hedge After reaching the U.S. Junior Amateur and finishing his prep career with another team state title, Hedge took a major step back in his game and fought a mental battle that not all players are resilient enough to overcome. “By the time he graduated high school, Jake had reached a plateau as a player,” commented Bob Eames, the 41year veteran as Golf Professional at Yellowstone Country Club. “He was holding back and couldn’t maneuver the ball the way he wanted to. His grip wasn’t very fundamentally sound, and that was limiting him on his shot making ability.” After carefully developing his skills for a decade and a half, Hedge made the toughest call of his career and accepted the notion of completely reworking his grip. Entering the transition, Hedge understood that the change would be drastic, and the frustration he was about to face would test him mentally. “It was a very unnatural feeling, and Bob told me I was going to go through a couple of years struggling,” Hedge said. “I trusted Bob and his advice, and I knew if I wanted to enjoy golf to my fullest potential that I had to make a change. It ended up being the best thing for me, and it has made the game of golf much more fun.” “I said, ‘Jake you’re going to get worse before you get better, but you have to trust me,’” Eames remembered. “He had total faith in what we were doing, and when you look at him play now he can hit any shot that is required.” Hedge entrusting Eames with his entire golf game as he knew it was not a blind leap of faith, as much of the credit for Hedge’s progression as a player he credits to the University of Wyoming alumnus. “Bob’s positivity, energy and reassurance throughout my career has helped me more than anything,” Hedge said. “I always appreciate what he has to say, and in the last few years he’s been a big part of me getting better.” Before Hedge’s prep career, it was the constant encouragement from Eames that reminded Hedge of the incredible potential he had. When Hedge left for the state tournament as a freshman at Billings West, Eames told him that winning the tournament was not out of his reach. A short time later, Hedge hoisting the individual trophy after cruising to victory is a moment he will not soon forget.
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Feature Story: 2015 Graduate Jake Hedge “I have known Jake and his brothers and sister since they were itty-bitty,” Eames said. “They come from an incredibly strong family. John and Pete Hedge are two of the greatest parents in the whole world, and they have raised some of the best kids I have ever been around.” PLAYING FOR CANDY BARS “None of what I’ve done would be possible without my dad and mom. My dad supplied my clubs, my membership to the country club and he made it possible for me to live my dream. I am very thankful to him and my mom for allowing me to pursue my dream so easily.” – Jake Hedge on his father John and mother Pete. As the sun sets on Yellowstone Country club these days, John Hedge looks far into the distance and contently smiles over the marvel that has served as the breeding ground for his family. He has been witness to the once-nonexistent trees growing into landmarks and serving as a means of navigation through the long course to golfers young and old, beginner and expert alike.
the trap.
Although his children are now all grown, he won’t soon forget the slow evenings they would spend strolling the course. Some nights they would play nine, some nights he would lay back and look on as Jake dug around in the sand, electing to make patterns and let his imagination roam over finding a way to loft his lodged golf ball out of
“We just think it is fun as long as he is having fun,” John said. “We never pushed Jake, but he just loved the game. We never wanted him to get his identity from the game, and I think that’s why he likes playing so much.” The evening-ending putting contests always brought out the best in Jake, as he never showed more determination than when a candy bar was on the line. Those losses were the happiest of John’s life, and every time he handed over the prize, he was reminded he was raising his family right.
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Rosters 2015-16 MSUB Yellowjackets Women’s Golf Roster Name Anna DeMars Bailee Dexter Shealyn Hafer Kortney McNeil Haley Shackelford Sammy Walter
Ht. 5-5 5-6 5-4 5-6 5-5 5-10
Cl. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. Jr. So.
Sw. R R R R R R
Exp. HS 1V HS HS 2V 1V
Hometown (Previous School) Townsend, MT (Broadwater) Townsend, MT (Broadwater) Butte, MT (Butte) Billings, MT (Billings Senior) Gillette, WY (Campbell County) Billings, MT (Billings Senior)
Head Coach – Shawn O’Brien. Assistant Coaches – Rhett Hightower, Mariah Cleveland. Pronunciation Guide Bailee Dexter – BAY-lee Shealyn Hafer – SHAY-linn HAY-furr
2015-16 MSUB Yellowjackets Men’s Golf Roster Name Austin Berg Parker Bradbury Scott Larson Braden Luper Dylan Meccage Connor Miele Michael Porter Cody Sherrill Austin Walter
Ht. 5-10 5-8 6-1 5-10 6-1 6-1 5-10 5-11 6-7
Cl. So. So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Fr.
Sw. R R R R R L R R R
Exp. 1V 1V HS HS RS RS TR HS HS
Hometown (Previous School) Billings, MT (Billings West) Billings, MT (Skyview) Kalispell, MT (Glacier) Twin Falls, ID (Canyon Ridge) Laurel, MT (Laurel) Evertt, WA (Saint Martin’s University) Coeur d’Alene, ID (North Idaho College) Kalispell, MT (Glacier) Billings, MT (Billings Senior)
Head Coach – Shawn O’Brien. Assistant Coaches – Rhett Hightower, Marcus Drange. Pronunciation Guide Braden Luper – LOO-purr Dylan Meccage – MESSAGE Connor Miele – my-EE-lee Marcus Drange – DRAYN-ge
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2015-16 Women’s Season Preview
BILLINGS, Mont. – Finishing as the runner up at each of the last two Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women’s Golf Championships, Montana State University Billings has high goals set for the 2015-16 season which begins this weekend. The Yellowjackets return three golfers from last season’s second-place team, including junior Haley Shackelford and sophomores Bailee Dexter and Sammy Walter. “Our goal is to win the GNAC championship this year, and that is definitely a reality that is in front of our women if they take advantage of the opportunity,” said MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “The three freshmen we brought in are going to have a lot of success within our team. The team is tight-knit as a group on and off the golf course, and that is going to push each of them to become better and better throughout the season.” Dexter was MSUB’s top finisher at the GNAC Championships last season, and she finished the year with an overall average score of 82.8 over 16 rounds. Walter was MSUB’s top overall golfer as a true freshman, earning second-team all-GNAC honors after posting a conference-eighth best scoring average of 81.2 over a dozen rounds. Shackelford was close behind, also earning second-team honors with an average round of 82.2 as a sophomore. “I’m excited because we are all young, and we are ready to get on that golf course and compete,” said Shackelford. “Every year the goal is to win a GNAC championship, and we gained three great new players so I am excited about that.”
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2015-16 Women’s Season Preview “It is going to be nice that our freshmen can rely on those three to come in and show them how we have done things,” O’Brien said on his returners. “All three got some valuable playing experience last year, and that’s only going to help them this fall and this spring.” Joining the trio of returners are three talented freshmen in Anna DeMars, Shealyn Hafer, and Kortney McNeil. DeMars and Dexter were high-school teammates at Broadwater High (Townsend, Mont.), and she comes to MSUB after winning nine letters in golf, volleyball and basketball. Hafer, a Butte, Mont., native, was also a three-sport standout in her prep career in golf, basketball and softball. She earned all-state honors four times in golf, and helped the Bulldogs to three second-place finishes at state. McNeil is a Billings Senior High School graduate, who ran the Broncs’ girls’ basketball team as a point guard in addition to her four-year career as a golfer. She is a two-time Class AA state champion, and she helped the Broncs capture the 2012 team state title in golf. “We are going to rely on our three freshmen as much as we rely on the upperclassmen to do their job,” said O’Brien. “The combination of having six women who can all play on a daily basis is going to help us push some of the top schools in our conference.” The Yellowjackets will open their fall schedule with a match play event against Rocky Mountain College, the first of six events on tap in 2015. Among MSUB’s four road tournaments is the NCAA Division II National Preview, scheduled for Sept. 28-29 at CommonGround Golf Course in Denver. The Yellowjacket Fall Invitational is scheduled for Oct. 8-9 at Pryor Creek Golf Club in Huntley, Mont., and it will be the final tournament of the fall before the ‘Jackets begin the championship portion of their schedule in March, 2016.
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Player Profiles Haley Shackelford
Class: Junior Hometown: Gillette, Wyoming Previous School: Campbell County High School Major: Elementary & Special Education
2nd-Team All-GNAC | 2014-15 Academic All-GNAC | 2014-15
2014-2015: Second-team all-GNAC…played in MSUB’s lead position all season…finished with a scoring average of 82.2…had three top-10 finishes and two top-5 finishes…tied for first place at MSUB’s fall invitational…competed in all 16 rounds and eight events…fired a low-round score of 75…academic all-conference selection. 2013-14: Contributed an average round score of 83.8 as a freshman…played in six rounds over three events… tallied a single round low-score of 77. Campbell County High School: Four-year letterwinner...was named all-state all four years and was the Wyoming state champion in 2011...was the 2012 Wyoming women’s state amateur champion after shooting rounds of 76, 75, and 73...appeared in the Americas Cup in San Diego, Calif., in 2010, and in Reno, Nev., in 2011...was also a two-year letterwinner in basketball.
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Player Profiles Bailee Dexter
Class: Sophomore Hometown: Townsend, Montana Previous School: Broadwater High School Major: English 2014-2015: Excelled in first season as a Yellowjacket, finishing as MSUB’s top golfer at the GNAC Championships in seventh place…averaged a score of 82.8 on the season…competed in all 16 rounds and eight events…posted a lowround score of 75 and had three top-10 finishes. Broadwater High School: Four-time all-state selection, team captain, MVP and academic all-state honoree in golf…2014 individual state champion…2013 & ’14 team state champions…third place in state sophomore and junior years…also earned three letters each in volleyball and basketball…two-time all-state selection and three-time all-conference pick in volleyball…twoyear team captain…academic all-state four years…in basketball, three-time all-state pick…overall MVP one year…offensive MVP three years…2013 state runners up…academic all-state all four years.
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Player Profiles Sammy Walter
Class: Sophomore Hometown: Billings, Montana Previous School: Billings Senior High School Major: Health/Human Performance
2nd-Team All-GNAC | 2014-15
2014-2015: Second-team all-GNAC pick…selected as MSUB’s Women’s Golfer of the Year and Freshman of the Year at the Buzzies…led the team with a scoring average of 81.2…earned GNAC Golfer of the Week after finishing in third at MSUB’s spring tournament and in 19th less than a week later at the Western New Mexico Invitational…had three top-10 finishes and one top-5 finish…competed in six events and 12 rounds…had a low-round score of 76 as a true freshman… finished tied for 10th place at the GNAC Championships. Billings Senior High School: Earned four letters in golf under head coach Terry Caekaert…three-time academic all-state selection…member of the honor roll all four years…member of the National Honor Society… shot a 4-under 69 as a senior in Helena.
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Player Profiles Anna DeMars
Class: Freshman Hometown: Townsend, Montana Previous School: Broadwater High School Major: Elementary Education Broadwater High School: Entering senior year, has won nine letters in golf, volleyball and basketball...three-time all-state pick in golf and has been named academic all-state in all three sports...best single round in golf is a 76, and she was the Wheat Montana Junior Golf Tour champion...under head coach Pete Robischon, helped the Bulldogs to back-to-back team state championships.
Shealyn Hafer
Class: Freshman Hometown: Butte, Montana Previous School: Butte High School Major: Undecided Butte High School: A three-sport standout, excelled in golf, basketball, and softball for the Bulldogs...was a four-time all-state golfer, and helped her team to three second-place finishes...was also a three-time academic all-state pick, and was the team captain during her 2014 season...winning the Best Golfer award, she placed third individually at the state tournament in 2014...set a record at Deer Lodge Golf Course, and was a member of the Girls Junior Americas Cup Team and the Montana Alberta Cup Team.
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Player Profiles Kortney McNeil
Class: Freshman Hometown: Billings, Montana Previous School: Billings Senior High School Major: Nursing Billings Senior High School: Two-sport, four-year athlete...in addition to golf, was a point guard on the girls’ basketball team for head coach Drew Haws... two-time Class AA individual state champion, and she led the Broncs to the 2012 team state title...on the course, personal bests include a low-round of 68 as she became the first girl from Montana to make the cut at the Trusted Choice Big I National Championship where she placed 31st...carrying a perfect 4.00 grade point average, graduated in the spring at the top of her class...was a four-time academic all-state selection.
2015-16 MSUB Golf Freshmen.
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2015-16 Men’s Season Preview
BILLINGS, Mont. – With a full slate of five events scheduled for the fall of 2015, the Montana State University Billings men’s golf team officially kicks its season off this weekend with a match play event against Rocky Mountain College. The Yellowjackets will then play tournaments in Denver, hosted by Regis University, Lacey, Wash., hosted by Saint Martin’s University, and Chico, Calif., hosted by Chico State University. MSUB’s fall schedule will wrap up with the Yellowjacket Fall Invitational running Oct. 8-9 at Pryor Creek Golf Club in Huntley, Mont. “We have a lot of new faces, and the only person with playing experience coming back from last year is Parker Bradbury,” commented MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien on his young team. “We have a lot of talent, and I am very eager to get the season going and see how we play.” The 2015-16 squad features four freshmen, who will compete for playing time off the bat. High school teammates Scott Larson and Cody Sherrill (Kalispell, Mont. – Glacier HS) will be joined by Braden Luper of Twin Falls, Idaho and Billings native Austin Walter whose sister Sammy is a sophomore on MSUB’s women’s team. Taking on a leadership role for the ‘Jackets this season will be Connor Miele, a junior transfer from Saint Martin’s University who will be competing in his first season at MSUB. As a freshman during the 2012-13 season, Miele led the Saints in scoring average with a mark of 74.9 over 18 rounds. “Connor has really stepped up, he is our team captain,” O’Brien said. “He has been there for the younger players, and has come in and led by example. He has also played a major role leading the team off the course.” Also with playing experience for MSUB is Bradbury, who averaged a score of 80.9 over seven rounds with MSUB in 2014-15. Bradbury’s low round was a 74 and he had one top-10 finish as a true freshman.
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2015-16 Men’s Season Preview The ‘Jackets will also welcome back sophomore Dylan Meccage, who redshirted in 2014-15, and junior Michael Porter who transferred after two seasons at North Idaho College. “Connor Miele, Michael Porter, and Braden Luper are really some faces that are going to evolve in the first few weeks,” O’Brien said. “When we looked at our schedule and not having a lot of playing experience, we wanted to play the match play here at home against Rocky first to give our new faces some time to get comfortable. Then we will go on the road to Denver where we can get a solid tournament in against division two opponents.” MSUB finished in fifth place at last season’s GNAC Championships, and graduated senior Jake Hedge who represented the Yellowjackets at the 2015 NCAA Division II West Region Championships in Vallejo, Calif.
2015-16 MSUB Golf Sophomores.
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Player Profiles Austin Berg
Class: Sophomore Hometown: Billings, Montana Previous School: Billings West High School Major: General Studies 2014-2015: Posted third-best scoring average on team at 75.2 strokes as a true freshman…earned GNAC Golfer of the Week honors after finishing in fourth place at the Chico State InterWest Classic on Oct. 6-7…had one top-10 finish and one top-5 finish in eight events and 22 rounds…made par on six rounds…had a low-round score of 69…finished tied for 15th at the GNAC Championships. Billings West High School: Lettered four times in golf under head coach Lance Edward…all-state selection for the Golden Bears…individual and team state champion as a senior in 2014…Junior Americas Cup and Alberta Cup participant…also helped his team to a state championship as a sophomore.
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Player Profiles Parker Bradbury
Class: Sophomore Hometown: Billings, Montana Previous School: Skyview High School Major: Undecided 2014-2015: Participated in three events and played seven rounds as a true freshman…had one top-10 finish…carded a low-round score of 74…younger brother of MSUB senior Houston Bradbury. Skyview High School: Four year letterwinner in golf under Coach Ioan…fourtime all-state selection…Junior America Cup Team…team captain as a senior… Class AA state champion in 2013…third person in school history to claim AA state tournament individual title…also participated in basketball as a point guard for two years and track as a high jumper for one year.
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Player Profiles Connor Miele - CAPTAIN
Class: Junior Hometown: Everett, Washington Previous School: Saint Martin’s University Major: Business Marketing 2014-2015: Redshirted. Saint Martin’s University: Averaged a round of 74.9 for the Saints in more than 20 rounds…2013 GNAC Newcomer of the Year…low round of 71 at Chico State in 2012. The Master’s College: Two top-25 finishes in four events…placed 17th at the 2012 regional championships. Jackson High School: Four-time team captain for the Timberwolves…earned four letters in golf under head coach Jim Anderson…2010 WESCO district champion…three-time state competitor…first-team all-WESCO selection four times.
Michael Porter
Class: Junior Hometown: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Previous School: North Idaho College Major: Business Management North Idaho College: Spent his first two collegiate seasons at North Idaho College...as a freshman he was selected to the National Junior College Association of America PING All-District Team, and a season ago he was a first-team all-Northwest Athletic Conference pick...won the Bigfoot Fall Invitational with a two-round total of 138 (72-66)...in 2014-15 at the NWAC Championships, finished tied for 13th place after shooting a 148 (76-72). Coeur d’Alene High School: Was a four-year letterwinner in golf under head coach Bryan Duncan.
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Player Profiles Dylan Meccage
Class: Sophomore Hometown: Laurel, Montana Previous School: Laurel High School Major: Business Administration 2014-2015: Redshirted. Laurel High School: Earned seven letters in golf and basketball…four-time allstate and all-conference selection in golf under head coach Shawn Hackmann… two-time academic all-state honoree…third place in Class A Eastern state championships as a junior…fourth in state as a sophomore…helped the Locomotives to a third-place finish in state in basketball…two-time basketball conference champions...member of the LHS team that holds the all-time record for single-season wins.
Scott Larson
Class: Freshman Hometown: Kalispell, Montana Previous School: Glacier High School Major: Marketing Glacier High School: As a junior, scoring average checked in at 75.8...lifetime low-round score is a 67, and he helped the Wolfpack to a third-place finish at the state tournament...individually, he took seventh place at the event...also participated in tennis for GHS, and served as the team captain for golf during his senior season...was a 2013-14 all-state pick, and was voted the most improved player during 2013...high school teammate of fellow MSUB freshman Cody Sherrill.
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Player Profiles Braden Luper
Class: Freshman Hometown: Twin Falls, Idaho Previous School: Canyon Ridge High School Major: Business Management Canyon Ridge High School: Four-year letterwinner in golf...under head coach Zach Abels, he is a three-time team captain and recorded three wins as a junior... is the course record holder at the Jerome Country Club, shooting a 10-under par62 in a tournament...also logged two holes-in-one as a junior, and took third at the 2014 IGA Junior State Championship...resume includes a tie for fifth place at the 2014 Idaho High School State Championships, the title of Idaho Golf Association Juniors Player of the Year (2013), and a qualification for the 2014 Callaway Junior World Golf Championships at Torrey Pines in San Diego.
Cody Sherrill
Class: Freshman Hometown: Kalispell, Montana Previous School: Glacier High School Major: Education Glacier High School: Two-sport athlete, playing basketball for the last three seasons in addition to golf...four-time all-state selection in golf...team captain for the Wolfpack the last three seasons...was picked as the Freshman of the Year, and has twice been named the Player of the Year...as a sophomore, led his team to the state title, after a team runner-up finish during his freshman campaign...low tournament round is a 67, and he won the Flathead Valley Invite...high school teammate of fellow Yellowjacket freshman Scott Larson.
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Player Profiles Austin Walter
Class: Freshman Hometown: Billings, Montana Previous School: Billings Senior High School Major: Business Billings Senior High School: Will become the third in his family to begin his career as a Yellowjacket...oldest sister Chelsey completed four-year career on the MSUB volleyball team in 2014, and other sister Sammy is a sophomore on the Yellowjackets’ golf squad this season...earned four letters in golf under head coach Terry Caekaert...three-time all-state selection...logged a tournament lowround score of 68 and his best-ever high school tournament finish was second place...intends to pursue a degree in business at MSUB.
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2014-15 Women’s Season Review
BILLINGS, Mont. – Remaining towards the top of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team set a new program record for team scoring average at 324.44 and finished in second place at the conference championships for the second year in a row. “Our women had a fantastic year, finishing runner-up at the conference tournament,” commented MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “I could not be more proud of Mariah for the way she led this team and finished her college career.” Mariah Cleveland, a senior captain for the ‘Jackets, earned second-team all-GNAC honors after posting a scoring average of 82.19 on the season. Cleveland finished tied for 10th place at the conference tournament, and tied for the fifth-lowest single round in MSUB history when she shot a 73 at the MSUB Fall Invitational on Oct 3, 2014. On the season Cleveland finished in the top-10 three times, including a season-best fifth-place finish at the Yellowjackets’ fall tournament. “It will be very difficult losing Mariah, but we have some underclassmen who will step up and fill her shoes,” O’Brien said. “Carlan also had an opportunity to play this spring and went out on a high note.” Carlan Campbell, MSUB’s other senior this season, competed in six rounds for the Yellowjackets and averaged a score of 88.2. She had one top-10 finish and a low-round score of 81 on the season, and was an academic all-conference pick for the second year in a row. Behind the solid play of two freshmen and a sophomore, the Yellowjackets caught a glimpse of what lies in store for the future of the program. Freshman Sammy Walter led the team in scoring average with an 81.2 on the season, and was a second-team all-GNAC selection. She took home GNAC Golfer of the Week honors after finishing in third place at MSUB’s spring tournament and finishing in 19th among a field of more than 100 golfers less than a week later at the Western New Mexico Invitational.
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2014-15 Women’s Season Review Walter’s season average of 81.17 was the sixth-best mark ever recorded at MSUB, and she had three top-10 finishes and a low-round score of 76. Bailee Dexter, another true freshman, saved her best round for last as she was MSUB’s top finisher at the GNAC Championships in sixth place with a 157. Dexter finished the season averaging a score of 82.8, finished in the top-10 three times, and had a low-round score of 75 while competing in all 16 rounds for the Yellowjackets. “I was very pleased with the way that Bailee and Sammy played, coming in and competing as true freshmen,” O’Brien said. “They positively motivated each other, and had success all at the same time.” Next season, MSUB will turn to Haley Shackelford for leadership as the sophomore was a second-team allGNAC selection after averaging a score of 82.2 on the year. Shackelford had three top-10 finishes and tied for first place at MSUB’s fall tournament. She played in every round for the ‘Jackets throughout the season, and finished in ninth place at the GNAC Championships. “Haley played very consistently throughout the year, and it was enjoyable to be able to rely on her to post quality scores,” O’Brien said. Shackelford was also an academic all-GNAC selection in her first year of eligibility for the honor. The Yellowjackets won both of their invitational tournaments, and posted the second-best two-round team total in MSUB history with a 622 at the spring event. MSUB also twice fired a team round of 309, which is the fourth-best mark in program history. MSUB has now finished in second at the conference tournament for two straight seasons, finishing just 14 strokes behind Western Washington at this season’s event. “Having all three underclassmen back, along with adding three fantastic recruits, we are going to be very talented next season,” said O’Brien.
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2014-15 Men’s Season Review
BILLINGS, Mont. – Highlighting the 2014-15 Montana State University Billings men’s golf season was a new program record for team scoring average, as the Yellowjackets averaged a score of 297.70 which was the thirdbest mark in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. “Our men had a productive season,” said MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “We got off to a fantastic start in the fall, and were ranked very high in the region. Our team continued to work hard this spring and we had some great rounds. Our consistency lacked a little bit, therefore we just missed going to the regionals.” The Yellowjackets won both of the invitational tournaments that they hosted during the season and also placed fourth at the 16-team Chico State InterWest Classic from Oct. 6-7, 2014. Senior Jake Hedge represented MSUB at the 2015 NCAA Division II West Region Championships, as he competed as an individual after posting the fourth-best mark in the conference and the lowest ever in MSUB history at 73.00. Hedge was a first-team all-GNAC selection, and his two-round total of 139 at the St. Vincent Healthcare Yellowjacket Spring Invitational was the second-lowest in MSUB history. Hedge also had the seventh-best tworound total in MSUB history (143) and the ninth-best three-round total (211) throughout the season. The senior won the MSUB Fall Invitational in playoff fashion, had a low-round score of 68, and had four top10 finishes including three in the top-5. Hedge was also selected to the GNAC academic all-conference squad. “Our goal at the beginning of the season was to make postseason play, and Jake did that for us,” O’Brien said. “I am proud of him for representing our team at the regional championships.” Also finishing strong as a senior was Austin Westphal, who was a second-team all-GNAC selection after winning the conference’s Newcomer of the Year award in 2013-14. Westphal averaged a score of 74.91, which is the ninth-best in MSUB history.
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2014-15 Men’s Season Review Westphal finished in eighth place at each of MSUB’s invitational tournaments, and had a low-round score of 72 which he carded three separate times. “I was extremely happy to see Austin go out on a high note and have a fantastic spring,” O’Brien said. Another senior and one of MSUB’s top golfers was Gage Huft, who departed the program after the fall semester as he graduated and set out to pursue his career. Through 11 rounds, Huft averaged a score of 74.5 and tied Hedge for first place at MSUB’s fall invitational. “Gage accepted a great job and left us after the semester,” O’Brien said. “He finished his career playing very well in the fall and I am excited for the career opportunity he has chosen to pursue.” Houston Bradbury highlighted his senior campaign with a third-place finish at the Yellowjackets’ spring tournament, shooting an even-par 144 (73-71). On the year he averaged a score of 78.5 and had a pair of top-10 finishes in 13 rounds played. He was also an academic all-conference selection. “Houston had an opportunity to finish his career this spring and he gave us a couple of great rounds,” said O’Brien. “It will be tough to lose four players who all played in our top-five this season, however we are very young with a lot of potential. The future will be bright.” Leading the charge of new faces for MSUB this season was freshman Austin Berg, who notched the 12th-best scoring average in MSUB history at 75.23. The highlight of Berg’s season came at the Chico State InterWest Classic, when he finished in fourth place after shooting a 2-under par 214. Berg made par in six rounds throughout the year, and had a low-round score of 69 while competing in all 22 rounds for the ‘Jackets. Ty Pickel, Parker Bradbury and Dalton Hagadone each also saw action as freshmen this season, as all competed in at least five rounds for the Yellowjackets. “I am excited for next season, as we have brought in a couple of great recruits,” O’Brien said. “Redshirt Connor Miele will be able to play, and we have Austin Berg returning after he had a fantastic first year. I think those guys will help lead our team next year, along with a handful of other players.”
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MSU Billings Golf Record Book MEN
2009-10 Team
NCAA Regional Qualifier 2004-05 Nicholas Larson 2005-06 Nicholas Larson 2012-13 Gage Huft 2014-15 Jake Hedge 2004-05 2005-06
All-Pac West Chris McConnell Zach Abels Chris Haas Nicholas Larson
All-Pac West Academic 2004-05 Julie Clifford Amanda Rabenberg
1st 2nd 1st
Academic All-GNAC 2008-09 Travis Gates 2009-10 Travis Gates 2010-11 Travis Gates Kyle Armstrong 2011-12 Jacob Letman Chris Rasmussen 2012-13 Houston Bradbury Eric Gravbrot Gage Huft Jacob Letman 2013-14 Gage Huft Jacob Letman 2014-15 Houston Bradbury Jake Hedge 2007-08 2008-09 2011-12 2012-13 2014-15
All-GNAC Tyler Nicholas Jason Kinsey Jeff Allen Travis Gates Marcus Drange Eric Gravbrot Gage Huft Eric Gravbrot Jake Hedge Austin Westphal
All-Heartland Conference 2006-07 Amy Nordeen 2nd Academic All-RMAC 2007-08 Amy Nordeen Nicole Salsbery 2008-09 Amy Nordeen Lindsay Erickson 2009-10 Amy Nordeen Kalli Stanhope Libby Rutz 2008-09 2009-10
1st 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd
GNAC Freshman of the Year 2010-11 Brad Harrelson 2011-12 Eric Gravbrot GNAC Newcomer of the Year 2011-12 Marcus Drange 2013-14 Austin Westphal WOMEN NCAA Championship Qualifier 2008-09 Kalli Stanhope NCAA Regional Qualifier 2008-09 Team
All-Pac West 2004-05 Haley Montalban (2) 1st Amanda Rabenberg 2nd
All-RMAC Amy Nordeen Kalli Stanhope Lindsay Erickson Kalli Stanhope Amy Nordeen Erin Heaney Liz Tikriti
HM 1st 2nd 1st 1st 2nd 1st
2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Kalli Stanhope 1st Erin Heaney 2nd Melissa Saken 2nd Cayley Fish 2nd Katie Fish 2nd BreAnna Cameron 2nd Katie Fish 2nd Capri Ingram 2nd Melissa Saken 2nd Mariah Cleveland 2nd Haley Shackelford 2nd Sammy Walter 2nd
GNAC Freshman of the Year 2010-11 Melissa Saken 2011-12 Cayley Fish RMAC Coach of the Year 2009-10 Shawn O’Brien GNAC Coach of the Year 2012-13 Shawn O’Brien
2nd 1st 2nd 2nd 3rd
Academic All-GNAC 2010-11 Kalli Stanhope Lindsay Erickson Elizabeth Tikriti 2011-12 BreAnna Cameron Lindsay Erickson Melissa Saken Kalli Stanhope 2012-13 Mariah Cleveland Cayley Fish Katie Fish Capri Ingram Melissa Saken 2013-14 BreAnna Cameron Carlan Campbell Cayley Fish Katie Fish Melissa Saken 2014-15 Carlan Campbell Haley Shackelford 2010-11 2011-12
All-GNAC Kalli Stanhope Melissa Saken Elizabeth Tikriti Cayley Fish
1st 2nd 2nd 1st
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MSU Billings Golf Record Book Men Individual
Single Round Gage Huft - Oredigger Invite 64 Eric Gravbrot - MSUB Triangular 64 Jake Harr - Rocky Mountain Invite 65 Nicholas Larson - Rocky Mountain Invite 66 Brad Harrelson - Saint Martin’s Invite 66 Marcus Drange - MSUB Triangular 66 Gage Huft - St. Martin’s Invite 66 Brad Harrelson - Western Washington Invite 66 Matt Stansberry - Rocky Mountain Invite 67 Jacob Letman - MSUB/Carroll Dual 67 Gage Huft - Yellowjacket Fall Invite 67 Jake Hedge - Rider Cup 67
12-13 12-13 08-09 05-06 10-11 12-13 12-13 13-14 08-09 10-11 12-13 13-14
Two Rounds Gage Huft - MSUB Triangular 135 Jake Hedge - MSUB Spring Invite 139 Gage Huft - Yellowjacket Fall Invite 140 Brad Harrelson - MSUB Triangular 140 Marcus Drange - MSUB Triangular 141 Tyler Nicholas - GNAC Championships 142 Jake Hedge - Yellowjacket Fall Invite 143 Gage Huft - Yellowjacket Fall Invite 143 Wyatt Nielson - MSUB Triangular 144 Houston Bradbury - MSUB Sp. Invite 144 Eric Gravbrot - St. Martin’s Invite 145 Eric Gravbrot - MSUB/Miles City Dual 145 Gage Huft - MSUB/Miles City Dual 145 Brad Harrelson - MSUB/Miles City Dual 145
12-13 14-15 12-13 12-13 12-13 07-08 14-15 14-15 12-13 14-15 11-12 11-12 11-12 11-12
Three Rounds Nicholas Larson - Rocky Mountain Invite 205 05-06 Jake Harr - Rocky Mountain Invite 206 08-09 Gage Huft - St. Martin’s Invite 207 12-13 Nicholas Larson - Kickingbird Classic 208 05-06 Chris McConnell - Pac West Championships 209 04-05 Jeff Allen - Rocky Mountain Invite 209 08-09 Eric Gravbrot - Oredigger Invite 209 12-13 Chris Richter - Rocky Mountain Invite 210 09-10 Matt Stansberg - Rocky Mountain Invite 211 08-09 Jake Hedge - Saint Martin’s Invite 211 14-15 Zach Abels - Rocky Mountain Invite 212 05-06 Travis Gates - Rocky Mountain Invite 212 08-09 Brad Harrelson - WWU Invite 212 13-14 Brad Harrelson - RMC Invite 212 13-14
Season Average Jake Hedge Nicholas Larson Gage Huft Eric Gravbrot Gage Huft Chris McConnell Gage Huft Tanner Berg Austin Westphal Tyler Nicholas Marcus Drange Austin Berg Eric Gravbrot Tanner Berg Nicholas Larson Brad Harrelson Austin Westphal Jeff Allen Preston Richards Marcus Drange
73.00 73.95 74.10 74.40 74.45 74.52 74.70 74.80 74.91 75.00 75.00 75.23 75.30 75.40 75.50 75.67 75.76 75.88 75.90 75.95
14-15 05-06 12-13 11-12 14-15 04-05 13-14 14-15 14-15 09-10 11-12 14-15 12-13 13-14 04-05 13-14 13-14 08-09 11-12 13-14
2014-15 Senior Houston Bradbury. @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBGolf | 2015 Media Guide | 39
MSU Billings Golf Record Book Women Individual
Men’s Team Single Round Rocky Mountain Invite MSUB Triangular Rocky Mountain Invite Rocky Mountain Invite Oredigger Invite Pac West Championships Rider Cup Rocky Mountain Invite Rocky Mountain Invite MSUB/Miles City Dual WWU Invite
271 271 278 280 280 281 282 283 286 286 286
Two Rounds MSUB Triangular MSUB Fall Invite MSUB/Carroll Dual MSUB Fall Invite MSUB Spring Invite MSUB/Miles City Dual Yellowjacket Fall Invite UNC Invitational WWU Fall Invite St. Martin’s Invite GNAC Championships Bob Wirtz Invitational Yellowjacket Spring Invite
562 12-13 568 13-14 574 10-11 584 14-15 584 14-15 585 11-12 594 12-13 595 03-04 595 11-12 601 11-12 603 07-08 603 08-09 604 11-12
Three Rounds Rocky Mountain Invite Oredigger Invite Pac West Championships Rocky Mountain Invite Rocky Mountain Invite Carroll College Invitational Western Washington Invitational Saint Martin’s Invitational Family Motors Invitational St. Martin’s Invite GNAC Championships WWU Invite Kickingbird Classic Grand Canyon Fall Invite
834 08-09 857 12-13 865 04-05 868 13-14 869 05-06 870 09-10 870 14-15 873 14-15 881 04-05 883 12-13 889 07-08 891 13-14 892 05-06 893 11-12
Season Average
08-09 12-13 13-14 08-09 12-13 04-05 13-14 08-09 05-06 11-12 13-14
297.70 14-15 299.80 11-12 300.33 04-05 301.11 13-14 301.50 12-13 304.41 08-09 308.58 05-06 313.00 09-10 315.13 03-04 315.30 10-11 316.25 06-07 320.00 07-08
Single Round Kalli Stanhope - Rocky Mountain Invite 70 11-12 Kalli Stanhope - Rocky Mountain Invite 72 08-09 Kalli Stanhope - Rocky Mountain Invite 72 11-12 Kalli Stanhope - CSU Pueblo Invite 72 11-12 Haley Montalban - Rocky Mountain Invite 73 04-05 Katie Fish - Yellowjacket Fall Invite 73 13-14 Mariah Cleveland - MSUB Fall Invite 73 14-15 Amy Nordeen - Rocky Mountain Invite 74 08-09 Kalli Stanhope - Nebraska Kearney Invite 74 10-11 Kalli Stanhope - Yellowjacket Spring Invite 74 10-11 Capri Ingram - Yellowjacket Fall Invite 74 13-14 Melissa Saken - Western New Mexico Invite 74 13-14
Two Rounds Kalli Stanhope - CSU Pueblo Invite 149 Kalli Stanhope - Yellowjacket Spring Invite 151 Katie Fish - Yellowjacket Fall Invite 152 Capri Ingram - Yellowjacket Fall Invite 153 Melissa Saken - Western New Mexico Invite 153 Katie Fish - WNMU Invite 153 Haley Shackelford - MSUB Fall Invite 153 Kalli Stanhope - RMAC Championships 154 Sammy Walter - MSUB Spring Invite 154 Sammy Walter - WNMU Invite 154 Mariah Cleveland - Yellowjacket Fall Invite 155 Haley Shackelford - MSUB Sp. Invite 155 Amy Nordeen - RMAC Championships 156 Katie Fish - Yellowjacket Fall Invite 156 Katie Fish - MSUB Fall Invite 156 Bailee Dexter - MSUB Spring Invite 156 Kalli Stanhope - Adams State Invitational 157 Melissa Saken - Yellowjacket Spring Invite 157 Melissa Saken - Yellowjacket Fall Invite 157 Capri Ingram - Western New Mexico Invite 157 Mariah Cleveland - MSUB Sp. Invite 157 Bailee Dexter - GNAC Championships 157 Erin Heaney - Colorado Christian Invite 158 Cayley Fish - Yellowjacket Spring Invite 158 Katie Fish - Yellowjacket Spring Invite 158 Melissa Saken - GNAC Championships 158 BreAnna Cameron - Yellowjacket Fall Invite 158 Mariah Cleveland - WNMU Invite 158 Mariah Cleveland - MSUB Fall Invite 158 Bailee Dexter - WNMU Invite 158
40 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBGolf | 2015 Media Guide
11-12 11-12 13-14 13-14 13-14 14-15 14-15 09-10 14-15 14-15 13-14 14-15 09-10 12-13 14-15 14-15 09-10 11-12 13-14 13-14 14-15 14-15 11-12 11-12 12-13 12-13 13-14 14-15 14-15 14-15
MSU Billings Golf Record Book
Three Rounds Kalli Stanhope - Rocky Mountain Invite 219 Kalli Stanhope - Rocky Mountain Invite 227 Haley Montalban - Pac West Championships 231 Amy Nordeen - Rocky Mountain Invite 232 Cayley Fish - Rocky Mountain Invite 232 Katie Fish - Rocky Mountain Invite 233 Haley Montalban - Rocky Mountain Invite 234 Elizabeth Tikriti - Rocky Mountain Invite 234 Erin Heaney - Rocky Mountain Invite 235 Capri Ingram - Rocky Mountain Invite 235 Elizabeth Tikriti - Rocky Mountain Invite 236 Melissa Saken - Rocky Mountain Invite 236 Cayley Fish - Rocky Mountain Invite 237 Mariah Cleveland - Rocky Mountain Invite 237
Season Average Kalli Stanhope Kalli Stanhope Katie Fish Katie Fish Kalli Stanhope Sammy Walter Capri Ingram Elizabeth Tikriti Melissa Saken Erin Heaney Melissa Saken Kalli Stanhope Cayley Fish Amy Nordeen Elizabeth Tikriti Mariah Cleveland Haley Shackelford Mariah Cleveland
78.00 78.60 78.63 80.75 81.05 81.17 81.31 81.40 81.40 81.60 81.69 81.71 81.90 82.00 82.10 82.19 82.19 82.50
Four Rounds Kalli Stanhope - NCAA Championships 348 Women’s Team Single Round Yellowjacket Fall Invite Rocky Mountain Invite Rocky Mountain Invite MSUB Fall Invite MSUB Spring Invite Yellowjacket Spring Invite Rocky Mountain Invite Western New Mexico Invite Rocky Mountain Invite Yellowjacket Spring Invite Western New Mexico Invite MSUB Spring Invite Colorado Christian Invite Rocky Mountain Invite Nebraska-Kearney Invite Rocky Mountain Invite MSUB Fall Invite RMAC Championships
11-12 08-09 04-05 08-09 13-14 13-14 06-07 11-12 11-12 13-14 09-10 11-12 11-12 13-14 11-12 10-11 14-15 13-14 09-10 14-15 13-14 10-11 11-12 11-12 13-14 08-09 11-12 09-10 11-12 14-15 14-15 13-14 08-09
298 13-14 301 11-12 305 11-12 309 14-15 309 14-15 311 10-11 311 13-14 311 14-15 312 08-09 312 10-11 313 14-15 313 14-15 315 11-12 315 13-14 316 10-11 317 08-09 317 14-15 318 09-10
Two Rounds Yellowjacket Fall Invite MSUB Spring Invite Yellowjacket Spring Invite Western New Mexico Invite MSUB Fall Invite RMAC Championships Colorado Christian Invite GNAC Championships CSU Pueblo Invite Regis Invitational Regis Invitational Western New Mexico Invite Maverick Invitational Yellowjacket Spring Invite Western New Mexico Invite Colorado Christian Invite WNMU Invite Yellowjacket Spring Invite Nebraska Kearney Invite
616 13-14 622 14-15 623 10-11 624 14-15 626 14-15 638 09-10 641 11-12 641 14-15 643 11-12 646 09-10 646 12-13 647 13-14 648 10-11 648 12-13 648 13-14 648 14-15 648 14-15 650 11-12 654 10-11
Three Rounds Rocky Mountain Invite Rocky Mountain Invite Rocky Mountain Invite Rocky Mountain Invite UHH Dennis Rose Invite Rocky Mountain Invite Carroll College Invite NCAA Central Regionals Rocky Mountain Invitational Pac West Championships Rocky Mountain Invite
931 948 952 971 980 989 1010 1028 1036 1039 1043
Season Average
11-12 13-14 08-09 09-10 11-12 06-07 11-12 08-09 04-05 04-05 07-08
324.44 14-15 324.75 13-14 326.00 11-12 330.10 10-11 332.10 12-13 334.73 09-10 337.67 08-09 358.47 06-07 361.13 04-05 364.61 05-06 364.62 07-08
@MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBGolf | 2015 Media Guide | 41
MSU Billings Golf Record Book MEN TOP 10 FINISHES
FIRST Jeff Allen - Carroll College Invitational (9/22/09) Jeff Allen - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/21/10) Jacob Letman - MSUB/Carroll Dual (10/17/10) Brad Harrelson - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/18/11) Brad Harrelson - MSUB/RMC Dual (4/15/11) Brad Harrelson - MSUB/Miles City Dual (10/25/11) Eric Gravbrot - MSUB/Miles City Dual (10/25/11) Gage Huft - MSUB/Miles City Dual (10/25/11) Gage Huft - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/21/12) Gage Huft - MSUB Triangular (10/16/12) Gage Huft - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/15/13) Gage Huft - St. Martin’s Invite (4/9/13) Jake Hedge - Rider Cup (4/4/14) Jake Hedge - MSUB Fall Invite (10/3/14) Gage Huft - MSUB Fall Invite (10/3/14)
SECOND Nicholas Larson - Rocky Mountain Invitational (9/27/05) Jake Harr - Rocky Mountain Invitational (9/29/08) Kyle Armstrong - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/18/11) P.J. Thomas - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/9/11) Eric Gravbrot - Carroll Invite (9/20/11) Brad Harrelson - MSUB Triangular (10/16/12) Brad Harrelson - Rocky Mountain Invite (9/30/13) Marcus Drange - Rider Cup (4/4/14) Jake Hedge - MSUB Spring Invite (3/31/15)
THIRD Kevin Davis - Border Battle Invitational (3/2/03) Chris McConnell - Pac West Championship (4/23/05) Tyler Nicholas - GNAC Championships (4/22/08) Jacob Letman - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/8/10) Mac Keating - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/18/11) Jacob Letman - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/18/11) Ryan Graham - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/9/11) Marcus Drange - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/21/12) Brad Harrelson - WWU Invite (9/24/13) Houston Bradbury - MSUB Spring Invite (3/31/15)
FOURTH Nicholas Larson - Kickingbird Classic (3/28/06) Tyler Nicholas - Hampton Inn Classic (10/6/07) Jeff Allen - Rocky Mountain Invitational (9/29/08) Travis Gates - Bob Wirtz Invitational (4/7/09) Jeff Allen - GNAC Championships (4/21/09) Jake Harr - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/21/10) Kyle Armstrong - MSUB/Carroll Dual (10/17/10) Travis Gates - MSUB/RMC Dual (4/15/11) Eric Gravbrot - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/9/11) Houston Bradbury - MSUB/Miles City Dual (10/25/11) Marcus Drange - MSUB Spring Invite (3/16/12) Eric Gravbrot - MSUB Spring Invite (3/16/12) Marcus Drange - MSUB Triangular (10/16/12) Tanner Berg - MSUB Fall Invite (10/3/14) Austin Berg - Chico State Invite (10/7/15)
FIFTH Chris Haas - Northern Colorado Invitational (4/26/04) Chris McConnell - Northern Colorado Invite (4/26/04) Nathan Redfern - Rocky Mountain Invitational (9/26/06) Michael Konrad - CSM Spring Invitational (3/31/08) Marcus Drange - MSUB/Miles City Dual (10/25/11) Wyatt Nielson - MSUB Triangular (10/16/12) Gage Huft - Rocky Mountain Invite (9/30/13) Tanner Berg - Rider Cup (4/4/14) Gage Huft - Rider Cup (4/4/14) Jake Hedge - GNAC Championships (4/21/15)
SIXTH Chris Haas - UNC Invitational (4/9/03) Jaosn Kinsey - GNAC Championships (4/22/08) Chris Richter - Rocky Mountain Invitational (9/28/09) Travis Gates - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/8/10) Brad Harrelson - MSUB/Carroll Dual (10/17/10) Houston Bradbury - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/15/13)
SEVENTH Zach Abels - Pac West Championship (4/23/05) Zach Abels - Rocky Mountain Invitational (9/27/05) Zach Abels - CSM/Regis Invitational (4/3/06) Nicholas Larson - Heartland Championship (4/18/06) Tyler Nicholas - CSM Spring Invitational (3/31/08) Travis Gates - MSUB/Carroll Dual (10/17/10) Jacob Letman - MSUB/Miles City Dual (10/25/11) Eric Gravbrot - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/21/12) Eric Gravbrot - Oredigger Invite (9/25/12)
EIGHTH Chris McConnell - UNC Invitational (4/9/03) Chris Haas - CSM/Regis Invitational (4/22/03) Nicholas Larson - Buzzini Invitational (4/11/06) Jake Harr - GNAC Championships (4/21/09) Tyler Nicholas - North Idaho Invitational (10/5/09) Kyle Armstrong - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/21/10) Gage Huft - GNAC Championships (4/23/13) Gage Huft - GNAC Championships (4/21/14) Austin Westphal - MSUB Fall Invite (10/3/14) Austin Westphal - MSUB Spring Invite (3/31/15)
42 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBGolf | 2015 Media Guide
MSU Billings Golf Record Book
NINTH Nicholas Larson - Buzzini Invitational (4/12/05) Mike Watson - Hampton Inn Classic (10/6/07) Jeff Dalton - GNAC Championships (4/21/09) Kyle Armstrong - GNAC Championships (4/20/10) Kyle Armstrong - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/8/10) Chris Rasmussen - MSUB/RMC Dual (4/15/11) Preston Richards - MSUB Spring Invite (3/16/12) Jacob Letman - Rocky Mountain Invite (9/30/13) Brad Harrelson - Rider Cup (4/4/14) Austin Westphal - Rider Cup (4/4/14) Jake Hedge - SMU Invite (9/20/14)
TENTH Chris McConnell - Border Battle Invitational (3/2/03) Chris McConnell - CSM/Regis Invitational (4/22/03) Chris Haas - Pac West Championship (4/23/05) Matt Stansberg - Rocky Mountain Invitational (9/29/08) Eric Gravbrot - St. Martin’s Invite (9/27/11) Clark Swan - MSUB/Miles City Dual (10/25/11) Brad Harrelson - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/21/12) Wyatt Nielson - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/21/12) Eric Gravbrot - GNAC Championships (4/23/13)
2014-15 Senior Austin Westphal.
WOMEN TOP 10 FINISHES
FIRST Kalli Stanhope - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/8/10) Kalli Stanhope - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/18/11) Melissa Saken - CSU Pueblo Invite (3/27/11) Kalli Stanhope - Rocky Mountain Invite (9/26/11) Kalli Stanhope - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/16/12) Kalli Stanhope - CSU Pueblo Invite (3/25/12) Haley Shackelford - MSUB Fall Invite (10/3/14)
SECOND Haley Montalban - Pac West Championship (4/23/05) Kalli Stanhope - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/9/11) Melissa Saken - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/16/12) Katie Fish - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/21/12) Katie Fish - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/13/13) Katie Fish - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/20/14)
THIRD Haley Montalban - Rocky Mountain Invitational (9/26/06) Kalli Stanhope - RMAC #2 (9/23/08) Kalli Stanhope - Rocky Mountain Invitational (9/29/08) Kalli Stanhope - Adams State Invite (9/15/09) Erin Heaney - CSU Pueblo Invitational (9/22/09) Kalli Stanhope - RMAC Championships (4/20/10) Elizabeth Tikriti - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/8/10) Kalli Stanhope - Nebraska Kearney Invite (10/5/10) Erin Heaney - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/9/11) Cayley Fish - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/16/12) Katie Fish - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/15/13) Melissa Saken - GNAC Championships (4/23/13) Capri Ingram - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/13/13) Capri Ingram - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/20/14) Melissa Saken - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/20/14) Sammy Walter - MSUB Spring Invite (3/31/15)
FOURTH Haley Montalban - Rocky Mountain Invitational (9/27/05) Emily Maag - Regis Invitational (10/10/06) Amy Nordeen - Eagle Invitational (9/16/08) Kalli Stanhope - Maverick Invitational (9/21/10) Elizabeth Tikriti - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/18/11) Cayley Fish - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/21/12) Capri Ingram - GNAC Championships (4/21/14) Katie Fish - MSUB Fall Invite (10/4/14) Haley Shackelford - MSUB Spring Invite (3/31/15)
FIFTH Elizabeth Tikriti - RMC Invitational (9/28/09) Amy Nordeen - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/20/10) Melissa Saken - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/18/11) Melissa Saken - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/15/13) Mariah Cleveland - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/13/13) BreAnna Cameron - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/20/14) Mariah Cleveland - MSUB Fall Invite (10/4/14)
SIXTH Amy Nordeen - RMAC #2 (9/23/08)
@MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBGolf | 2015 Media Guide | 43
MSU Billings Golf Record Book
Amy Nordeen - RMAC Championships (4/20/10) Kalli Stanhope - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/20/10) Erin Heaney - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/18/11) Katie Fish - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/16/12) Melissa Saken - GNAC Championships (4/24/12) BreAnna Cameron - Maverick Invite (4/16/13) Cayley Fish - Rocky Mountain Invie 9/30/13) Cayley Fish - MSUB Fall Invite (10/4/14) Bailee Dexter - MSUB Spring Invite (3/31/15) Bailee Dexter - GNAC Championships (4/21/15)
SEVENTH Lindsay Erickson - Warrior Invitational (3/17/09) Kalli Stanhope - NCAA Central Regional (5/6/09) Lindsay Erickson - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/8/10) BreAnna Cameron - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/18/11) Cayley Fish - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/9/11) Capri Ingram - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/16/12) Melissa Saken - CSU Pueblo Invite (3/25/12) Cayley Fish - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/15/13) Katie Fish - Maverick Invite (4/16/13) Melissa Saken - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/13/13) Katie Fish - Rocky Mountain Invite (9/30/13) BreAnna Cameron - GNAC Championships (4/21/14) Mariah Cleveland - MSUB Spring Invite (3/31/15)
EIGHTH Lindsay Erickson - Eagle Invitational (9/16/08) Kalli Stanhope - Eagle Invitational (9/16/08) Amy Nordeen - Rocky Mountain Invitational (9/29/08) Amy Nordeen - Adams State Invite (9/15/09) Melissa Saken - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/8/10) Elizabeth Tikriti - GNAC Championships (4/19/11) BreAnna Cameron - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/21/12) Capri Ingram - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/21/12) BreAnna Cameron - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/15/13) Sammy Walter - MSUB Fall Invite (10/4/14)
NINTH Haley Montalban - Maverick Classic (10/18/05) Haley Montalban - Regis Invitational (10/10/06) Amy Nordeen - RMAC Championships (4/19/09) Kalli Stanhope - Regis Invitational (10/6/09) Erin Heaney - RMAC Championships (4/20/10) Capri Ingram - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/18/11) Elizabeth Tikriti - CSU Pueblo Invite (3/27/11) Cayley Fish - Carroll College Invite (9/20/11) Erin Heaney - GNAC Championships (4/24/12) Kalli Stanhope - GNAC Championships (4/24/12) Capri Ingram - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/15/13) BreAnna Cameron - GNAC Championships (4/23/13) BreAnna Cameron - Yellowjacket Fall Invite (9/13/13) Bailee Dexter - MSUB Fall Invite (10/4/14) Haley Shackelford - GNAC (4/21/15)
TENTH Amanda Rabenberg - Pac West Championship (4/23/05) Amy Nordeen - Heartland Conference (4/17/07) Kalli Stanhope - RMAC Championships (4/19/09) Kalli Stanhope - CSU Pueblo Invitational (9/22/09) Erin Heaney - Yellowjacket Spring Invite (3/20/10) Melissa Saken - Maverick Invitational (9/21/10) Kalli Stanhope - CSU Pueblo Invite (3/27/11) Cayley Fish - GNAC Championships (4/23/13) Capri Ingram - Rocky Mountain Invite (9/30/13) Carlan Campbell - MSUB Fall Invite (10/4/14) Mariah Cleveland - GNAC (4/21/15) Sammy Walter - GNAC (4/21/15)
2014-15 Senior Mariah Cleveland.
44 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBGolf | 2015 Media Guide
Pryor Creek Golf Club
@MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBGolf | 2015 Media Guide | 45
MSUB Hall of Fame
Name Sport/Affiliation Ind. Year Natalie Bills Women’s Volleyball 2015 Alira Carpenter Women’s Basketball 2015 Dr. Megan (Plank) Holden Women’s Soccer 2014 Dr. Jim Elliot Service & Distinction 2014 Heidi Lehman Women’s Tennis 2014 Pryor Orser Coach (MBB) 2014 Jeff Andresen Gymnastics 2013 Theresa Campbell Softball 2013 Alicia Cazemier Volleyball 2013 Markus Hallgrimson Men’s Basketball 2013 Ally Stroup Women’s Soccer 2013 Michelle (Lieber) Rodgers Women’s Basketball 2012 Jeff Aumend Coach (Softball) 2012 Gary Monahan Football 2012 Cameron Munoz Men’s Basketball 2012 Joey (Ehnes) Egan Softball 2011 Robyn (Milne) Blindwoman Women’s Basketball 2011 Mike Mullowney Football 2011 Dennis Whitmore Service & Distinction 2011 Margot (Merrill) Johnson Women’s Soccer 2010 Natalie Visger Women’s Basketball 2010 Dominic Washington Men’s Basketball 2010 Henry “Charley” Williams Football 2010 Greg Anderson Gymnastics 2009 Mike Conroy Coach (MBB) 2009 Gina Langer Volleyball 2009 Roy McPipe Men’s Basketball 2009 1998-99 Women’s Basketball Team 2009 Abby (Farmer) Wright Women’s Soccer 2008 Codi (Schmitz) Austreim Women’s Basketball 2008 Bart Bauer Men’s Basketball 2008 John Kramer Gymnastics 2008 Jamie Stevens Men’s Basketball 2008 Titus Warmsley Men’s Basketball 2008 Jeff Andrade Men’s Basketball 2007 Hal Halvorson Gymnastics 2007 Kamee Love Softball 2007 1986-87 Men’s Basketball Team 2007 Alicia (Cahill) Hutzenbiler Women’s Basketball 2006 Iona (Fortier) Stookey Volleyball 2006 Ted Anderson Coach (WBB) 2006 Mark Hamilton Men’s Basketball 2006 Ray C. Shaffer Men’s Basketball 2006 Lori (Fries) Henrickson Women’s Basketball 2005 Amy (Winslow) Pfeifle Women’s Basketball 2005 Robert Anderson Gymnastics 2005 Robert Barber Men’s Volleyball 2005 Fred Harrison Men’s Basketball 2005 Frank McCarthy Coach (WBB) 2005 Michelle (Taylor) Lipp Cross Country 2004 Dr. Rick Billstein Baseball 2004 Cal Crawley Gymnastics 2004 Megan Dickerson Women’s Basketball 2004 Dr. Ronald Sexton Baseball 2004 Heather (Reiter) Elkin Women’s Basketball 2003 Wayne Beddow Baseball 2003 Bob Deming Baseball 2003 David S. Harness Gymnastics 2003 Rishay Vollertsen Men’s Volleyball 2003 Deb (Dianda) Bradburn Women’s Basketball 2002 Brandy (Hamblin) Hansen Women’s Basketball 2002 Curt Brott Men’s Basketball 2002 Dave Klarich Tennis 2002 Brent Montague Men’s Basketball 2002 Bob Uffelman Wrestling 2002 Tera (Silvius) Morton Women’s Basketball 2001 Gary Gray Men’s Volleyball 2001 Jim Haugen Service & Distinction 2001 Dan Korber Football 2001 Leo Lapito Gymnastics 2001 Harold Miller Men’s Basketball 2001 Colleen (Day) Wiechman Women’s Basketball 2000 Dave Blair Men’s Volleyball 2000 Don James Service & Distinction 2000
Name Sport/Affiliation Ind. Year Tom Osborne Men’s Basketball 2000 Greg Schamens Gymnastics 2000 Sherry (McQuinn) Breidenbach Women’s Basketball 1999 Don Blankenship Cross Country/ Track 1999 Blase Dilulo Football 1999 Pat Douglas Coach 1999 Larry Noonan Football 1999 Allen Rohrback Gymnastics 1999 Terri (Wiederrick) Hein Women’s Basketball 1998 Pete Conway Men’s Basketball 1998 James Dow Football 1998 Elwood “Woody” Hahn Service & Distinction 1998 Ron Osborne Men’s Basketball 1998 James Polich Coach (Baseball) 1998 Shelly (Altrogge) Emerson Women’s Basketball 1997 Lynn Ahrens Football 1997 Freeman Blade Men’s Basketball 1997 Jim Downs Cross Country/ Track 1997 Delmar Fried Coach 1997 Jeffrey L. Griffeth Gymnastics 1997 Bill Hill Football 1997 Russ Powers Men’s Basketball 1997 Laura Sundheim Coach 1997 Randal J. Ecker Football 1996 Gene Espeland Coach 1996 Patti Jo Eubank Women’s Basketball 1996 Dr. Richard Gruber Service & Distinction 1996 Stephanie Hannah Volleyball 1996 Darrell W. Hill Men’s Basketball 1996 Kas Ione Men’s Basketball 1996 Douglas Linehan Football 1996 Dr. Harold “Shorty” Alterowitz Coach (MBB) 1995 Thomas Downey Service & Distinction 1995 Ernie Fortney Men’s Basketball 1995 Evonne Goroski-Bird Women’s Basketball 1995 James N. Noennig Men’s Basketball 1995 Theresa O’Donnell-Ulrich Women’s Basketball 1995 Jay Shaw Coach (Gymnastics) 1995 John Patrick Smith Coach (Football) 1995 John Strange Baseball 1995 William “Wondo” Wondolowski Football 1995 Kelli (Kenyon) Stone Women’s Basketball 1994 William “Billy” Foster Men’s Basketball 1994 Reid Hagen Service & Distinction 1994 Larry Hanft Football 1994 William “Bill” Hilton Football 1994 Robert E. Lee Coach 1994 Harvey Munford Men’s Basketball 1994 John Polich Coach 1994 Deb Prevost Women’s Basketball 1994 Joe Rinella Men’s Basketball 1994 Jim Soft Men’s Basketball 1994 Oscar Wirtala Men’s Basketball 1994 Darcy Conway Women’s Basketball 1993 Dennis Maggert Football/Baseball 1993 James C. Michel Football/Baseball 1993 Gordon Real Bird Coach 1993 Vic Uffelman Wrestling 1993 Nels Christiansen Coach 1992 Larry Jordan Football/Rodeo 1992 Ron Kowalski Coach 1992 John Navasio Football 1992 Paul Carpenter Track & Field 1991 Paul Champlin Football 1991 Kelly Crisp Gymnastics 1991 Harry L. “Mike” Harkins Coach (MBB) 1991 Alice Ritzman Women’s Basketball 1991 Al Walker Men’s Basketball 1991 Oscar Bjorgum Sr. Coach (MBB) 1990 Gene Brosovich Football 1990 Ronald E. Ewing Football 1990 Richard M. Harkins Football 1990 Les Heins Men’s Basketball 1990 Loren L. Soft Football 1990 Bart Templeman Football 1990
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MSUB Athletic Department Administration
Krista Montague Director of Intercollegiate Athletics/ SWA 13th year, 3rd as AD
Denise Wynia Administrative Assistant 13th year
Brent Montague Director of Development 9th year
Michael Bazemore Director of Compliance/ Internal Operations 3rd year
Dr. Scott Harris Faculty Athletic Representative
Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications 2nd year
Birgitta Gray Assistant Director of Communications 3rd year
James Catlin Operations Coordinator 3rd year
Bekah Gasner NCAA Compliance Coordinator 3rd year
Gina Herbert Accountant 8th year
Tom Ebel Head Athletic Trainer 4th year
Lindsay Sullivan Assistant Athletic Trainer 4th year
Patrick Behre Grad. Assistant Athletic Trainer 1st year
Dr. James Elliot Team Doctor/ Orthopedic Surgeon
Nich Pertuit Head Strength & Conditioning Coach 2nd year
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MSUB Athletic Department Coaches
Lisa Axel Head Volleyball
Alex Balog Head Men’s Soccer
Rob Bishop Head Baseball
Stephen Cavallo A. Women’s Soccer
Thomas Chameraud A. Men’s Soccer
Mariah Cleveland A. Women’s Golf
Dave Coppock Head Track/XC
Marcus Drange A. Men’s Golf
Kyle Emerick A. Men’s Soccer
Jessica Hart Head Cheer
Jenny Heringer A. Women’s BBall
Rhett Hightower A. Golf
Wojtek Krakowiak Head W. Soccer
Parker Kruckenberg A. Baseball
Mandy Morales A. W. Basketball
Shawn O’Brien Head Golf
Austin Rue A. Baseball
Brad Schmit A. Men’s BBall
Jamie Stevens Head Men’s BBall
Lianne Vicchio A. Volleyball
Kevin Woodin Head W. BBall
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DII FACTS AND FIGURES
Life in the Balance Higher educa�on has las�ng importance on an individual’s future success. For this reason, the emphasis on the student‐athlete experience in Division II is a comprehen‐ sive program of learning and development in a personal se�ng. The Division II approach provides growth opportuni�es through academic achievement, learning in high‐level athle�cs compe��on and development of posi�ve societal a�tudes in service to community. The balance and integra�on of these different areas of learning opportunity provide Division II student‐athletes a path to gradua�on, while cul�va�ng a variety of skills and knowledge for life ahead. Enrollment at DII active members:
292 Ac�ve members
2.1% (6 ins�tu�ons) 15,000 and above 11.3% (33 ins�tu�ons) 7,500‐14,900
45.5 % (133 ins�tu�ons)
9
Less than 2,499
Schools in provisional year
(41.1% (120 ins�tu�ons) 2,500‐7,499
8 Schools in candidacy year two
5
4,209 Average enrollment
Schools in candidacy year one
Average number of student-athletes:
50/50 Percentage of public vs. private (ac�ve members only)
421
264
(265 men; 156 women) Schools with football
(136 men ; 128 women) Schools without football
Undergraduate enrollment:
546, 255
Median Total Expenses by Quartile
Men—(44 percent)
708,108 Women—(56 percent) Number of student-athletes:
64,109 Men—(59 percent)
44,961 Women—(41 percent) Sports sponsorship average:
6.9 Men’s
7.9
Women’s
Number of DII championships:
12 Men (7,932 par�cipants)
13
With Football
Without Football
1st Quar�le of Schools
$8,024,000
$6,814,000
2nd Quar�le of Schools
$5,976,000
$4,466,000
3rd Quar�le of Schools
$4,766,000
$3,478,000
4th Quar�le of Schools
$3,196,000
$2,432,000
Overall Median
$5,260,000
$4,014,000
Average Division II Federal Graduation Rates vs. Academic Success Rates (2003-06 Entering Cohorts) Student Body Federal Rate 48%
Student‐Athlete Federal Rate ASR 54% 71%
Women (7,981 par�cipants)
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50 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | #MSUBGolf | 2015 Media Guide