MSUB Men's Golf 9/15/2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Yellowjacket men wrap up RMAC #1 tourney in 9th place

The MSUB men’s golf team finishes the RMAC #1 tournament in ninth place among the field of 12 teams in the first tournament of the year for the Yellowjackets.

THORNTON, Colo. – Completing the third and final round of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference #1 tournament on Tuesday, the Montana State University Billings men’s golf team wound up in ninth place among the field of 12 teams in the event held at Heritage Todd Creek Golf Club.

MSUB finished with a team score of 925 (299-315-311) over the three-round event, edging 10th-place Fort Lewis by a single stroke and finishing 11 strokes behind Westminster and South Dakota Mines in seventh place.

“The course was long and the greens were a real challenge today,” commented MSUB assistant coach Rhett Hightower.

“It was very exciting to watch Scott’s first swing of his collegiate experience hit a hole-in-one. The men fought hard and hit the ball well, but sometimes putts do not fall. I look forward to our season and hope to see some great scores in Olympia this week.”

Playing in his first tournament with the Yellowjackets, junior Michael Porter led the squad with a three-round score of 225 (70-79-76). Porter tied for 19th place as an individual at the event, and carded eight birdies among the 54 holes that he played on the weekend.

Junior Connor Miele finished in a tie for 35th place, shooting a three-round total of 230 (73-81-76). Miele also had eight birdies in the tournament, playing his best round on Day 1 with a 1-over par 73.

A day after draining a hole-in-one on his very first collegiate swing, freshman Scott Larson finished the tournament in a tie for 40th place with a score of 233 (78-74-81). Larson aced the 192-yard, par-3 11th hole in Round 1, and added six birdies throughout his performance for the Yellowjackets.

Freshman Braden Luper and sophomore Parker Bradbury each tied for 60th place and rounded out the five-player field for MSUB. Luper shot a 243 (84-81-78), and showed steady improvement across his rounds as he decreased his score each time through the course. Bradbury also finished with a 243 (78-82-83) with his best round coming first with a 6over par 78.

University of Colorado Colorado Springs won the team title at the event, shooting a 9-over par 873 (288-287-298) as a team. UCCS edged second-place Western New Mexico University by six strokes, as the Mustangs finished with an 879 (285-298-296).

UCCS’s Colin Prater won individual medalist honors, finishing the three-round event with a 2-under par 214 (75-69-70).

He held off Neil Tillman of Colorado State University-Pueblo by a single stroke, as Tillman finished with a 215 (66-73-76).

Larson was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day for MSUB after his incredible, career-opening hole-inone for the Yellowjackets.

AHEAD: The Yellowjackets head straight to Lacey, Wash., for the Saint Martin’s University Invitational, which begins on Friday at the Olympia Country Club.

RMAC #1 Tournament – Heritage Todd Creek Golf Club – Thornton, CO Results Team – 1. University of Colorado Colorado Springs, 873 (288-287-298); 9. Montana State University Billings, 925 (299315-311). Individual – 1. Colin Prater, UCCS, 214 (75-69-70); T19. Michael Porter, MSUB, 225 (70-79-76); T35. Connor Miele, MSUB, 230 (73-81-76); T40. Scott Larson, MSUB, 233 (78-74-81); T60. Braden Luper, MSUB, 243 (84-81-78); T60.

Parker Bradbury, MSUB, 243 (78-82-83).

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