Yellowjacket men finish 3rd at Beaver-‘Jacket Invite

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Saturday, March 11, 2017 Yellowjacket men finish 3rd at Beaver-‘Jacket Invite

MSUB’s men’s golf team has a strong showing among a field of nine, finishing in third place at the Beaver-‘Jacket Invite over the weekend in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – Playing three consistent rounds all within five strokes, the Montana State University Billings men’s golf team finished the Beaver-‘Jacket Invite in third place at Aliante Golf Club on Saturday.

The Yellowjackets had a team score of 903 (302-298-303) on the par-72, 7,022-yard course, finishing 12 strokes back of tournament champion Westminster College (891, 299-302-290) and 10 back of second-place Fort Lewis College (893, 298-296-299).

“The conditions were a little more difficult today. We didn’t play quite as well, and we had a hard time getting some early momentum,” said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. “The guys gained a lot of experience and this was a step in the right direction from where we were a few weeks ago. We feel encouraged for rest of the spring.”

MSUB was led by senior Michael Porter, who finished the three-round event in a tie for sixth place with a score of 222 (75-73-74). Porter had back-to-back rounds of 37 on Saturday, and his final round included seven birdies. One of his top shots of the day was a 90-yard wedge shot on Hole 10 that he planted within a foot. Porter followed with a two-putt on the par-5 11th hole, and was kept above par only by a pair of triple bogeys on holes one and 17.

“Michael putted very well and played great today except for a couple bad swings,” Woodin said. “Overall he had a great tournament for us.”

Freshman Caleb Stetzner finished just out of the top-10, with a score of 224 (72-77-75) for a tie for 12th place. “I was proud of Caleb’s round,” Woodin said. “He didn’t hit the ball as well as he usually does, but he grinded it out.” On the 16th hole, Stetzner hit his wedge within four feet for a solid birdie.

Garrett Woodin ended the tournament in 18th place, shooting a threeround total of 228 (77-71-79).

Senior Michael Porter finished tied for sixth at the Beaver-Jacket Invite over the weekend.

Saving his best round for last, senior Connor Miele rallied on the final day and shot a 3-over-par 75 to finish in a tie for 20th with a score of 229 (7777-75). Miele was two-under on the front, and had three birdies including a 25-footer on Hole 1. The senior needed just 27 putts to get through the 18 holes.

Completing the field of five for MSUB was sophomore Austin Walter, who played consistently throughout the weekend and finished in 38th place with a score of 238 (79-79-80).

Also competing for the Yellowjackets as an unattached individual was Scott Larson, who finished the tournament in a tie for 43rd place with a score of 244 (88-75-81).

Tyler Hand of Westminster captured medalist honors, and was the only player to finish the tournament below par at a 2under 214 (75-70-69). He held off Parker Klitzke of Augustana by three strokes, as the latter shot a 217 (77-69-71).

Beaver-‘Jacket Invite Aliante Golf Club | Las Vegas, Nevada Final Results | March 11, 2017 Team – 1. Westminster College, 891 (299-302-290); 3. MSU Billings, 903 (302-298-303). Individual – 1. Tyler Hand, Westminster, 214 (75-70-69); T6. Michael Porter, MSUB, 222 (75-73-74); T12. Caleb Stetzner, MSUB, 224 (72-77-75); T18. Garrett Woodin, MSUB, 228 (78-71-79); T20. Connor Miele, MSUB, 229 (77-77-75); 38. Austin Walter, MSUB, 238 (79-79-80); T43. Scott Larson, IND, 244 (88-75-81).

--@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--