MSUB men set for GNAC Championships next week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Friday, April 15, 2016 MSUB men set for GNAC Championships next week

MSUB’s men’s golf team heads west for the GNAC Championships, running Monday and Tuesday at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in Idaho.

BILLINGS, Mont. – The final event of the season awaits the Montana State University Billings men’s golf team, as the Yellowjackets prepare for the 2015-16 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships running early next week at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in Idaho.

The three-round event is set for Monday and Tuesday, with two rounds being played on the opening day and the final round following the next day. Famous for its one-of-a-kind floating green, the CDA Resort features a 6,803-yard, par-71 layout. The 200-acre course features views of Lake Coeur d’Alene from each of the 18 holes, and the 14th hole sports an island green 218 yards from the tee box that requires a ride on the “Putter” boat to reach.

“We have shown times where we can be extremely good, and we have a chance to be a tough team at the tournament,” head coach Kevin Woodin commented. “There is going to be some good golf, and the course is always in meticulous shape. This league is going to produce some really good golfers, and it’s going to take great golf to win the team championship.”

The Yellowjackets enter next week’s event with a team scoring average of 303.9, with the team’s best three-round total of the year coming in September, 2015, with an 884 (302-291-291) at the Saint Martin’s Invitational.

MSUB is being led this season by junior transfer Michael Porter, who holds a scoring average of 74.7. A Coeur d’Alene native, Porter will enter next week’s championships with prior experience on the course.

“It’s going to be a totally different course for me playing from the tips, but it’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Porter, who last played the course in high school. “I’m going to have family there and some friends will come and watch. Our potential as a team is there, but we just haven’t put three good rounds together. Hopefully we are saving it up for conference.”

Porter is coming off his top performance of the year, as he fired a team-season low single round of 67 at the Western New Mexico Invitational on April 5 in Goodyear, Ariz. Over 18 total rounds this year, Porter has a pair of top-5 finishes and has made par or better in five rounds to lead the ‘Jackets.

“I’ve been hitting the ball pretty well all year, but my putting had let me down the last couple of tournaments,” said Porter. “I finally got my putting going at Palm Valley, and that was the key to me going low.”

Fellow junior Connor Miele, who is also in his Junior Michael Porter leads the Yellowjackets with a first season of scoring average of 74.7 entering Monday’s GNAC competition for the Championships.

‘Jackets, is second on the team with a scoring average of 75.5 over his 18 rounds. His six par rounds or better lead the team, and he posted a season-low score of 70 at the SMU Invitational in the fall. His three-round total of 212 (71-70-71) at the event was the best of the year, as he finished 1-under-par and tied for second place.

Complementing the pair of upperclassmen this season are three freshmen who have all stood out for the ‘Jackets.

Braden Luper enters the championships with a scoring average of 77.8, and is the only other Yellowjacket to break the mark of 70 as he shot a 69 at MSUB’s Fall Invitational in October. Luper tied for fifth at the event with a total of 145 (76-69), and has played two rounds at par or better this season.

Scott Larson, who started his collegiate career with a hole-in-one on his first-ever swing in September, has played in all 18 rounds for the ‘Jackets

Freshman Scott Larson drained a hole-in-one on his first-ever collegiate swing in the fall.

and holds a scoring average of 78.2. Larson’s season-best round of 71 came at MSUB’s Fall Invitational, as he tied for seventh overall with a 148 (77-71).

Posting two of his best single rounds over the last few tournaments, freshman Austin Walter will enter next week’s championships with an average of 79.3. Walter posted a season-low 74 at the Cal Baptist Invite to open the spring, and followed by besting the mark with a 73 the next week at MSUB’s home tournament. The freshman from Billings has competed in 15 rounds total in his first collegiate season.

GNAC Championships – Men’s Course Records Coeur d’Alene Resort | Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 54-Hole Total – 205, Bret Thompson, Simon Fraser, 68-67-70 (April 20-21, 2015) Single Round – 65, Craig Crawford, Western Washington (April 23, 2012) 54-Hole Total, Team – 837, Simon Fraser, 277-281-279 (April 20-21, 2015) Single Round, Team – 274, Western Washington (April 20, 2010)

The Coeur d’Alene Resort is famous for its floating green, located on the 14th hole 218 yards from the men’s tee boxes.

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