MSUB Men's Golf Recap 10/9/15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Friday, October 9, 2015 MSUB men claim Yellowjacket Fall Invite team title

Three Yellowjackets finish in the top-5 and the MSUB men’s golf team claims the team title at the 2015 Yellowjacket Fall Invitational on Friday at Pryor Creek Golf Club.

HUNTLEY, Mont. – Connor Miele, Michael Porter, and Braden Luper all finished in the top-5 for the Montana State University Billings men’s golf team Friday, as the Yellowjackets won their fall invitational with a two-round score of 578 at Pryor Creek Golf Club.

MSUB claimed the title with rounds of 293 on Thursday and 285 on Friday, fending off second-place North Idaho College which finished with a 588.

“Everybody stepped up at different times and played well,” commented MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “We played good golf, and it was a total team effort. It is nice shooting 3-under par this last round, so we can go into the offseason with a little momentum and knowing we have had some success.”

Miele was the top player for the Yellowjackets, finishing with a 1-under-par 143 in the tournament with rounds of 72 and 71. The junior captain paced his team with eight birdies, and also had 22 pars over the 36-hole event.

“It was a lot of fun, and we ended up clinching it as a team,” Miele said. “Starting when we were in Denver, we have learned how to play as a unit. Today was nice, shooting 3-under as a team, and that showed what we are capable of in the spring.

Porter and Luper tied for fifth place, each finishing with a score of 145. Luper was the top player in the second round, and was one of only two players among the entire field to break 70 in either round as he shot a 69 on Day 2 after a 76 on Day 1.

Porter carded a 71 in the first round and finished with a 74 in the second to reach his final score. Both players had six birdies and 23 pars among their 36 holes played.

Freshman Scott Larson tied for seventh place in the tournament, and showed drastic improvement between rounds as he cut off six strokes to finish with a 148 (77-71). Larson led the Yellowjackets with 24 pars throughout the tournament.

Rounding out the field of five for MSUB was sophomore Parker Bradbury, who tied for 11th place with a 153 (74-79).

Bradbury had five birdies and 21 pars in his two rounds.

Also competing for the Yellowjackets was freshman Austin Walter, who tied for 13th place with a two-round score of 154 (76-78).

Sean Benson of Montana Tech took home medalist honors, as he followed his 68 in Round 1 with a 73 in Round 2 for a 141 total. He just managed to hold off Luke Logan of North Idaho College, who shot a 142 (72-70) and came within one stroke of the overall champion.

Jackson Shaver of NIC also finished in the top-5 at the tournament, checking in fourth with a 144 (74-70) and competing as an individual.

“I’m excited for us to get into the weight room and work on some things in the offseason as far as our short game goes,” O’Brien said. “If we work hard I think we are going to be really good in the spring, and we are just looking to put everything together and see where that leads us.”

NEXT UP: The Yellowjacket Fall Invite was the final tournament of 2015 for MSUB, which will resume play in the spring of 2016 at the Yellowjacket Spring Invite in March.

Yellowjacket Fall Invitational – Final Results Pryor Creek Golf Club – Huntley, Mont.

Team – 1. MSU Billings, 578 (293-285). Individual – 1. Sean Benson, Montana Tech, 602 (302-300); 3. Connor Miele, MSUB, 143 (72-71); T5. Michael Porter, MSUB, 145 (71-74); T5. Braden Luper, MSUB, 145 (76-69); T7. Scott Larson, MSUB, 148 (77-71); T11. Parker Bradbury, MSUB, 153 (74-79); T13. Austin Walter, MSUB (IND), 154 (76-78).

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