Stetzner finishes 17th, ‘Jacket men wind up in 12th at WWU Invite

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Tuesday, September 27, 2016 Stetzner finishes 17th, ‘Jacket men wind up in 12th at WWU Invite

Freshman Caleb Stetzner leads the MSUB men’s golf team, finishing in 17th place at the Western Washington Invite and helping the team to a 12th-place finish after Tuesday’s final round.

BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Caleb Stetzner finished his strong performance at the Western Washington University Invitational with a 3-over-par 75 on Tuesday, and took 17th place overall at the three-round event at Bellingham Golf and Country Club.

The freshman’s finish was highlighted by a 4-under-par 68 in his second round, the best individual mark of the season for any Yellowjacket. The team wound up in 12th place, with a team score of 896 (300-294-302). “I was proud of our guys, and they played hard,” said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. “The course seemed to play a little bit harder today than it did yesterday, but I was happy with the score as a team and it was a good trip overall.”

Stetzner’s three-round total of 216 (73-68-75) was even-par overall, and he finished the tournament strongly by playing the back nine at one-under his last time through the course. Stetzner carded a pair of birdies in his final round, and finished the tournament with just one double bogey in 54 total holes played.

Senior Michael Porter finished the tournament in 44th place, shooting a three-round total of 223 (74-75-74). Porter was extremely consistent through the three rounds, carding just two double bogeys overall. Like Stetzner, he finished the tournament strong and played the back nine at one-under his final time through the course on Tuesday. Porter was also selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day. Fellow senior Connor Miele was next on the leaderboard for the ‘Jackets, as he finished in a tie for 58th place with a three-round score of 228 (74-76-78). After seven birdies on Day 1 of the tournament, Miele carded five more on Tuesday to help counter-balance a pair of double-bogeys and a triple bogey.

Matching his 3-over-par 75 from his second round, sophomore Austin Walter posted the same score on Tuesday and finished the tournament in a tie for 69th place with a 231 (81-75-75). Walter’s third round was highlighted by birdies on holes six and 16, a pair of par-4s that he was able to save a stroke on.

Rounding out the field of five for MSUB was freshman Garret Woodin, who finished in 92nd place with a score of 244 (79-83-82). Woodin added two more birdies to his total on Tuesday, and had five overall in the event.

Winning the team title was the University of British Columbia, which shot a three-round score of 858 (287-282-289). UBC held off second-place Chico State by two strokes, as the Wildcats finished with a score of 860 (281-290-289).

Individually, Chris Crisologo of Simon Fraser University won medalist honors, as he shot a three-round total of 211 (6969-73). He beat out four players who tied for second place with a score of 212, by just one stroke.

“We are ahead of where we were last spring, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the fall,” Woodin said. “Our next tournament on Sunday at the Rocky Invitational will be a good test for us before we head to Portland.”

UP NEXT: The ‘Jackets return to Billings to compete in the Rocky Mountain College Invite, which will run on Sunday and Monday at Yegen Golf Club. MSUB’s women’s team will also participate in the two-round event.

Western Washington University Invitational Bellingham Golf & Country Club | Bellingham, WA Final Results | Sept. 27, 2016 Team – 1. University of British Columbia, 858 (287-282-289); 12. MSU Billings, 895 (300-294-302). Individual – 1. Chris Crisologo, SFU, 211 (69-69-73); T17. Caleb Stetzner, MSUB, 216 (73-68-75); T44. Michael Porter, MSUB, 223 (74-75-74); T58. Connor Miele, MSUB, 228 (74-76-78); T69. Austin Walter, MSUB, 231 (81-75-75); 92. Garret Woodin, MSUB, 245 (79-83-83).

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