FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Sunday, October 2, 2016 ‘Jacket men break school record with 269 in opening round of RMC Invite
Austin Walter comes within one stroke of MSUB’s single-round record with a 65, and MSUB’s top-five golfers all break the 70 mark as the ‘Jackets put together the best single round in school history on Sunday at Yegen Golf Club. BILLINGS, Mont. – Austin Walter led a quintet of Montana State University Billings men’s golfers who scored below 70 on Sunday at Peter Yegen Golf Club, as the Yellowjackets broke the program record for a team single-round score with a 269 in the opening round of the Rocky Mountain College Invitational. The ‘Jackets backed the record round up with a score of 284 their second time through the course, and they currently hold a five-stroke lead in first place with one round left to play. “I was really excited for our guys, they really came out and fought today,” said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. “There were a lot of birdies early and they fed off of one another. For a while, it seemed like everyone was making birdie on every hole. Any time you can break a school record, that’s something they can remember forever.” Walter came within one stroke of tying MSUB’s school record, as the sophomore carded a 6-under-par 65 at the par-71, 6,617-yard course. He followed with a 75 in his second round, giving him a two-round score of 140. “Austin has been
very close to shooting under par this year, so today it was nice he was able to avoid a big score,” Woodin said. “His iron play was excellent, and that really helped him go low in his first round.” Walter’s 65 included six birdies and an eagle, and just two bogeys. The eagle came on the par-5 seventh hole, when he chipped in from just off the green. The sophomore had six pars and three birdies on the back nine his first time through the course. Walter added two more birdies in his second round of the day, and played the front nine at 1over-par. Senior Connor Miele led the team overall, posting a two-round total of 136 with back-to-back rounds of 3-under-par 68. Miele finished with 10 birdies on the day, and had only one bogey in his opening round of play. Finishing strong in Round 2, the senior carded above par on just 3 of 36 holes played throughout the day. “Connor was outstanding and was very consistent throughout the day,” said Woodin. “To shoot 68 twice was very impressive.” Caleb Stetzner finished the day with a total of 139, backing up his stellar 67 in Round 1 with a 1-over-par 72 in the second round. A pair of eagles for Stetzner on the back nine helped him finish with a 2under-par 33 his first time through the course. On the front, he had seven pars and two birdies for a 2-under-par 34. Connor Miele led the Yellowjackets with back-to-back
The true freshman had five more birdies in Round 2, again playing the rounds of 68 on Sunday. front nine below par with a 35. “Caleb is just really steady all the time,” Woodin commented. “He hits a lot of greens in regulation, and I look for him to have another great day tomorrow.” Garrett Woodin completed the day with a 141, including rounds of 2-under-par 69 and 1-over-par 72. The freshman had nine total birdies on the day, and had only one double bogey in his 36 holes. Senior Michael Porter matched Woodin’s score in each round, also finishing with a 141 (69-72). Porter finished the day with seven birdies, and posted a score above par just four times in 36 holes. Also competing for the ‘Jackets as individuals were sophomores Scott Larson and Dylan Meccage. Larson finished the day with a 148, shooting a 75 in Round 1 and cutting off a pair of strokes with a 73 in his second round. Playing consistently throughout the day, Larson carded just one double bogey. Meccage fired a 76 in his opening round, and finished up with a 75 for a two-round total of 151. RMC’s Colton Murphy is tied with Lewis-Clark State’s Chris Lien for the individual lead after Day 1, and Murphy was the only player to surpass Walter as he carded a 64 in his second round. Lien posted rounds of 66 and 67 for a two-round total of 133, while Murphy added a 69 to his 64 to reach the same total. Miele is currently in third place, sitting three strokes behind the leaders. “Scoring was a little more difficult in the second round, but we hung in there and overall had a great day,” Woodin said.
THE BUZZ: Walter was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…the Billings native tied Jake Harr for the third-lowest single round in school history…Gage Huft and Eric Gravbrot each shot a 64 during the 2012-13 season and share the MSUB record...Meccage made his collegiate debut with his two rounds for the ‘Jackets…Lewis-Clark State is in second place with a 558 (274-284) in the opening two rounds. UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets wrap up the RMC Invite on Monday with the third and final round. Action kicks off at 9 a.m., with live results available through BirdieFire here. Rocky Mountain College Invitational Peter Yegen Golf Club | Billings, MT Rounds 1 & 2 Results | October 2, 2016 Team – 1. MSU Billings, 553 (269-284). Individual – T1. Colton Murphy, RMC, 133 (69-64); T1. Chris Lien, LCSC, 133 (6667); 3. Connor Miele, MSUB, 136 (68-68); T4. Caleb Stetzner, MSUB, 139 (67-72); 7. Austin Walter, MSUB, 140 (65-75); T8. Garrett Woodin, MSUB, 141 (69-72); T8. Michael Porter, MSUB, 141 (69-72); T30. Dylan Meccage, MSUB (Ind.), 151 (76-75); T35. Scott Larson, MSUB (Ind.), 152 (75-77). --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--