FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Monday, March 27, 2017 ‘Jacket women lead after 1st round of Spring invite
All five of MSUB’s women’s golfers are in the top-10 and the team holds an 18-stroke lead entering Tuesday’s final round of play. BILLINGS, Mont. – Placing all five of its competitors in the top-10 on Monday, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team shot a 308 and leads the Yellowjacket Spring Invitational being played at Lake Hills Golf Club. The ‘Jackets are in first place among the field of seven teams on the par-72, 6,119-yard course layout, with the final round scheduled for Tuesday morning. “I was pleased with our performance today, and I thought we played very consistently throughout our lineup,” said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. “It was nice to be at our home course, and I felt that our putting improved from our previous tournament. The course was in great condition, but there were a lot of tricky pins. Overall our women kept the ball in play, and hit a good percentage of greens.”
Sophomore Kortney McNeil leads the Yellowjackets and is No. 2 overall among the field, after shooting a 4-over-par 76 on Monday. McNeil’s 13 pars were the most among the tournament field, and she also carded a birdie thanks to driving the green on the par-4, 348-yard 16th hole. McNeil came close to a second birdie two holes earlier, when her chip from just off the green on the par-3 14th hole bounced into the pin and landed three feet away. Junior Sammy Walter and sophomore Shealyn Hafer are tied for third place, finishing just one stroke behind McNeil and each shooting a 77. Walter made par on a dozen holes Monday, and Hafer got up-anddown on 11 holes. Hafer saved a stroke with a birdie on the par-5, 511-yard 13th hole, while Walter cut back on her total score with a birdie on the par-4, 348yard 16th hole. Senior Haley Shackelford kicked off her final home tournament with a score of 78, and is currently in seventh place. Shackelford had 10 pars on Day 1, and matched Hafer with a birdie on the lengthy 13th hole.
Junior Bailee Dexter was the lone Yellowjacket with multiple birdies on Monday.
Junior Bailee Dexter was the lone ‘Jacket to record multiple birdies, and is currently in 10th place after notching an 80 in Round 1. Dexter saved strokes on both the par-4, 379-yard 15th hole, and on the par-3, 154yard fourth hole.
Minot State University’s Miriam Dumes leads the pack with a 3-over-par 75 on Day 1, as she tied for the tournamenthigh with four birdies while adding seven pars. Rocky Mountain College is in second place in the team standings, after shooting a score of 326 on Monday. THE BUZZ: McNeil was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day. COMING UP: The second and final round will kick off at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, as the Yellowjacket women will try to protect their lead with 18 holes left to play. Yellowjacket Spring Invite Lake Hills Golf Club | Billings, Montana Round 1 Results | March 27, 2017 Team – 1. MSU Billings, 308. Individuals – 1. Miriam Dumes, Minot State, 75; 2. Kortney McNeil, MSUB, 76; T3. Shealyn Hafer, MSUB, 77; T3. Sammy Walter, MSUB, 77; 7. Haley Shackelford, MSUB, 78; 10. Bailee Dexter, MSUB, 80.
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