Porter posts top-30 finish at WNMU Invite

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Tuesday, April 5, 2016 Porter posts top-30 finish at WNMU Invite

After opening the tournament with a 67 in Round 1, junior Michael Porter finishes strong in the top-30 to lead the MSUB men’s golf team.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Michael Porter followed a 67 on Day 1 at the Western New Mexico University Invitational with two rounds of 75 for a three-round total of 1-over-par 217 to lead the Montana State University Billings men’s golf team at Palm Valley Golf Club Tuesday.

Porter finished in the top third among the field of 100 players, and the Yellowjackets took 19th place with a three-round score of 904 (284-310-310).

“It was a good tournament for Michael, and he definitely improved from his California trip,” said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin referring to Porter’s performance at the Cal Baptist Invitational two weeks ago. “Today he started slow, but he hung in there and got back to three-over. He finished with a very respectable score today and overall in the tournament.”

Junior Connor Miele started strongly on Day 2 as well, playing his first nine holes even and finishing with a 2-over-par 74.

Miele finished in a tie for 63rd place with a three-round total of 224 (71-79-74). “Connor played a good round of golf,

and he had many putts on the edges,” Woodin said. “He kept grinding, and I thought he managed his game well around the course. He executed some good up-and-downs to keep his strong round going.”

Freshman Scott Larson saved his best round for last, as he finished the tournament with three birdies in the third round for a 2-over-par 74.

Larson finished in 82nd place overall with a three-round total of 228 (7579-74). “Scot had a good round today,” said Woodin. “He was able to limit his mistakes out there, made a few birdies, and had a respectable round.”

Larson was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day. Freshmen Braden Luper and Austin Walter completed the field of five golfers for MSUB, posting scores of 90 and 87, respectively, in their final round Tuesday. Luper took 94th place with a three-round total of 238 (7177-90), and Walter was right behind in 95th with a total of 241 (75-79-87).

“I felt that the course was playing a bit more difficult today,” Woodin commented on the par-72, 7,015-yard layout. “The pins were placed in more difficult locations, and that made it more challenging to get birdie putts.”

Freshman Scott Larson had his best round of the week his third time through, shooting a 2-over-par 74 at Palm Valley Golf Club on Tuesday.

BYU-Hawaii took home the team title at the event, posting a three-round score of 845 (277-282-286). The Seasiders’ Brent Grant tied for first place with Simon Fraser University’s Chris Crisologo, as both players finished with 13-under-par scores of 203.

The Clan was the top-finishing GNAC team at the 19-team event, posting a team score of 862 (289-286-287), and finishing in eighth place. Western Washington University also competed, finishing in a tie for 11th with a score of 873 (287-287-299).

“Overall, it was a good learning experience for our players,” Woodin said. “We are going to have to play better in a few weeks at the GNAC Championships in Coeur d’Alene. We just had too many double (bogeys) or worse, and we need to limit those in order to compete at a high level.”

NEXT UP: MSUB heads to the GNAC Championships set for April 18-19 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in Idaho.

2016 Western New Mexico University Invitational – Final Results Palm Valley Golf Club | Goodyear, AZ | April 4-5, 2016 Team – 1. BYU-Hawaii, 845 (277-282-286); 19. MSU Billings, 904 (284-310-310). Individual – T1. Brent Grant, BYUH, 203 (65-69-69); T1. Chris Crisologo, Simon Fraser, 203 (69-67-67); T30. Michael Porter, MSUB, 217 (67-75-75); T63. Connor Miele, MSUB, 224 (71-79-74); 82. Scott Larson, MSUB, 228 (75-79-74); 94. Braden Luper, MSUB, 238 (71-77-90); 95.

Austin Walter, MSUB, 241 (75-79-87).

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