GNAC Championships preview: MSUB men’s golf

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Thursday, April 20, 2017 GNAC Championships preview: MSUB men’s golf

MSUB’s men’s golf team heads into the GNAC Championships next week currently holding the third-best team scoring average in school history at 300.2 strokes per round.

BILLINGS, Mont. – The third-best scoring team in Montana State University Billings men’s golf history is set for its final event of the 2016-17 season, as the Yellowjackets will compete in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships presented by the Coeur d’Alene Resort on Monday and Tuesday.

Entering the event with a team scoring average of 300.2 strokes per round, the ‘Jackets are in the midst of a competitive GNAC field in which less than five strokes separate the top-five teams. “We have had a good year overall, and we have some momentum as we head to conference,” said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. “The experience our players have is going to play a great factor in where we place, and I know our seniors Connor and Michael will be excited. The key will be just making sure they stay relaxed, and being able to deal with some nerves.”

The 2017 GNAC Championships will be played in the three-round, 54-hole format, at the par-71, 6,803-yard course layout, which features the world-famous floating green on the par-3, 218-yard floating green 14th hole. The first two rounds will be played Monday starting at 7:30 a.m., with the third and final round scheduled to tee off at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.

MSUB’s three veterans each have experience on the course, with seniors Connor Miele and Michael Porter, and sophomore Austin Walter each competing in the event a year ago. Miele was the team’s top finisher at the GNAC Championships in 2016, shooting a 6-over-par 219 (72-70-77) and tying for 14th place. So far this year, the senior is third on the squad with a scoring average of 76.30, and owns the team’s best three-round total of 206 (68-6870). “I don’t think golf gets more pure than it was at Coeur d’Alene last year, and hopefully the conditions are like that again this year,” said Miele. “We know what to expect, and it’s going to be good golf. For it being my last college event, it’s going to be a total thrill this week.”

Porter is No. 2 on the team this year with a scoring average of 74.65, and has been under the 80 mark in all but one round in his senior season. Porter took 21st at last year’s GNAC Championships, tallying a final score of 222 (76-75-71). He was the only Yellowjacket to finish at 76 or better in all three rounds.

Walter is MSUB’s other golfer with experience on the course, as he Senior Connor Miele will lead the ‘Jackets into the GNAC Championships in his final collegiate tournament. took 25th place as a freshman with a score of 230 (80-75-75). The Billings native carries a 76.75 scoring average this season, and owns the team’s best single-round score with a stellar 65 last October. Walter is coming off a 225 in his last tournament, and has been at 80 just twice in nine rounds this spring.

Though MSUB’s two freshmen, Caleb Stetzner and Garrett Woodin, will each be making their first appearance at the CDA Resort, the duo has been perhaps the most steady among the team this season. Stetzner leads the team and ranks fourth in the GNAC with a season scoring average of 73.5. He has carded nothing worse than a 77 in his debut college season, and has season lows of 67 in a single round and 209 in a three-round event.

Woodin has had a breakout spring, with just one round at 80 among the 12 that he has played since the end of February.

Overall the freshman is averaging 76.35 strokes per round, but is down to 74.67 over his last four events which have seen progressively lower cumulative scoring totals.

Western Washington University is the reigning GNAC champion, after shooting a conference record team score of 837 (276-279-282) at last year’s event. The ‘Jackets finished in sixth place as a team at the GNAC Championships last year, with a three-round total of 897 (303-296-298).

GNAC Championships at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Conference Records 54-Hole Total – 203, Brett Johnson, WWU, 64-73-66 (GNAC, Apr. 18-19, 2016) Single Round – 64, Brett Johnson, WWU (Apr. 18, 2016) 54-Hole Total, Team – 837, Simon Fraser, 277-281-279 (GNAC, Apr. 20-21, 2015); 837, Western Washington, 276-279282 (GNAC, Apr. 18-19, 2016) Single Round, Team – 274, Western Washington (Apr. 20, 2010) MSUB Individual History (Current players) Year Name Score Rnd. 1 2016 Connor Miele 219 72 2016 Michael Porter 222 76 2016 Austin Walter 230 80

Rnd. 2 70 75 75

Rnd. 3 77 71 75

Place T14th 21st 25th

MSUB Team History (Best marks in Bold) Year Score Rnd. 1 Rnd. 2 Rnd. 3 Place Top Finisher Score Rnd. 1 2016 897 303 296 298 6th/6 Connor Miele 219 72 2015 894 301 293 300 5th/5 Jake Hedge 218 77 2014 919 309 296 314 5th/5 Gage Huft 222 75 2013 905 306 298 301 4th/5 Gage Huft 223 74 2012 908 294 306 308 4th/5 Preston Richards 224 70 2011 964 329 316 319 5th/5 Mac Keating 237 85 2010 927 312 304 311 4th/4 Kyle Armstrong 226 75 2009 889 306 287 296 3rd/4 Jeff Allen 219 80 2008 603 297 306 -3rd/4 Tyler Nicholas 142 72 *Note: 2008 Championships held at Indian Canyon in Spokane, Wash. (2-round event).

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Rnd. 2 70 70 74 74 79 74 77 69 70

Rnd. 3 77 71 73 75 75 78 74 70 --

Place T14th T5th 8th T8th T11th 13th 9th 4th 3rd