MSUB women close out team win at spring invite

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Tuesday, March 28, 2017 MSUB women close out team win at spring invite

MSUB’s women’s golf team snags the team title at the Yellowjacket Spring Invite, with a pair of consistent rounds at Lake Hills Golf Club.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Posting just a two-stroke differential between rounds at the Yellowjacket Spring Invitational, host Montana State University Billings cruised to a women’s golf team victory on Tuesday afternoon at Lake Hills Golf Club.

The Yellowjackets led the pack of seven teams after shooting a 308 on Monday, and backed it up with a 310 to win the event by 38 strokes with a final score of 618. “Our consistency was amazing, and for them to all be within a few strokes of one another shows our depth,” said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. “I think that’s what paid off, and we were able to come out with the top score in the tournament.”

All five of MSUB’s women finished in the top-10, and junior Sammy Walter was the top finisher in a tie for second place with a 154 (77-77). Walter had the second-most pars among the tournament field with 23, and she also had a pair of birdies throughout her consistent play on the par-72, 6,119-yard layout.

Senior Haley Shackelford also finished in the top-5, as she tied for fourth place with a two-round total of 155 (78-77). Shackelford was steady with 19 pars and three birdies, and her 77 tied her lowest single round of the spring season. “We played to what I thought was our potential, and from here we are just going to get better,” said Shackelford, who played in her final-career home tournament. “This tournament really built our confidence up, playing on our home course and making some good shots.”

Junior Bailee Dexter and sophomore Kortney McNeil tied for sixth place, each posting a score of 156. Dexter was the team’s most improved player between rounds, cutting off four strokes and moving from an 80 on Monday to a 76 on Tuesday. Dexter played the front-nine at 1-under-par 35 on Tuesday, using a pair of birdies to help lower her score. She led the Yellowjackets with four total birdies in the tournament.

McNeil was one of the six players among the field with more than 20 pars in the 36 holes, finishing with 21 and also posting a pair of birdies at the event.

Completing the field for the Yellowjackets was sophomore Shealyn Hafer, Senior Haley Shackelford played her final career home who tied for ninth place with a score of 159 (77-82). Hafer had 19 pars including four in-a-row on holes 7-through-10 on Tuesday. event and finished tied for fourth on Tuesday.

MSUB held off second-place Rocky Mountain College handily, as the Battlin’ Bears finished the tournament with a team score of 656 (326-330). Claiming the top individual honor was Gina Kowolchuk of the University of Great Falls, as she had the best individual round at 74 on Tuesday and totaled a 151 (77-74).

THE BUZZ: Shackelford was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day. UP NEXT: The ‘Jackets have one more tournament before the 2017 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships, and will head to Goodyear, Ariz., next week for the Western New Mexico University Invite. The 36-hole event will be played at Palm Valley Golf Club.

Yellowjacket Spring Invitational Lake Hills Golf Course | Billings, Montana Final Results | March 28, 2017 Team – 1. MSU Billings, 618 (308-310). Individuals – 1. Gina Kowolchuk, Great Falls, 151 (77-74); T2. Sammy Walter, MSUB, 154 (77-77); T4. Haley Shackelford, MSUB, 155 (78-77); T6. Bailee Dexter, MSUB, 156 (80-76); T6. Kortney McNeil, MSUB, 156 (76-80); T9. Shealyn Hafer, MSUB, 159 (77-82).

--@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--