‘Jacket women in 6th after Day 1 at Mustang Invite

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Monday, April 10, 2017 ‘Jacket women in 6th after Day 1 at Mustang Invite

Posting its lowest single round of the 2016-17 season thus far with a 303 on Monday, MSUB’s women’s golf team is tied for sixth among a field of 19 teams at the WNMU Mustang Invitational.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Firing its lowest round of the 2016-17 season with a 303 on Monday, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team played its way to a tie for sixth place in the opening round of the Western New Mexico University Mustang Invitational at Palm Valley Golf Club.

Among a competitive field of 19 NCAA Division II teams, MSUB’s women are just 12 strokes off the leaders in California Baptist University (291). “I was very pleased with our round today, and we played very consistent golf throughout our team,” said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. “I was very happy that we had eight birdies compared to five double bogeys or worse, and that was one thing we had as a goal today. The conditions were great today, and the winds were minimal which made for optimal scoring.”

MSUB was led on Monday by junior Bailee Dexter, who is currently tied for 16th place after shooting a 2-over-par 74 at the par-72, 5,900-yard course. Dexter played the front-nine at even-par, saving a stroke with a birdie on the par-4, 355-yard fourth hole. “Bailee had a very consistent day, and she really hit the ball well and kept it in play,” Woodin said.

Just behind Dexter with a 75 was sophomore Kortney McNeil, who will enter Tuesday’s final round in a tie for 23rd place. McNeil was one of three Yellowjackets to have multiple birdies on Monday, as she saved strokes on the par-4, 295-yard first hole and the par-4, 355-yard eighth hole. The birdies helped McNeil to a 1-over-par 37 on the front nine, and she played a tight back-nine with just two bogeys to keep her score low.

“Kortney was very good today, and she drove the ball especially well,” said Woodin.

Sammy Walter led the ‘Jackets with three birdies Monday, two of which came on consecutive holes on the back-nine. Walter responded to a double-bogey on the par-4, 350-yard 14th hole immediately, as she birdied the next two holes to get both strokes back. Walter’s second birdie, on the 16th hole, came thanks to a downhill, 20-foot breaking putt that she drained. The junior played an even-par 36 on the back-nine, and is currently in a tie for 30th place.

Sophomore Shealyn Hafer played the par-3 holes at 1Also breaking 80 on Monday was sophomore Shealyn Hafer, who carded under-par on Monday. a 78 and is in a tie for 41st place. Hafer made the most of the four par-3 holes, playing them at 1-under par on the day. Her scorecard featured a pair of red numbers on the front-nine, as she birdied the 140-yard third hole and the 135-yard seventh hole. “I was proud of Shealyn, who kept battling after a tough start,” said Woodin. “She finally got into a rhythm, and finished strong over the last 12 or 13 holes.”

In a tie for 73rd place after the opening round is senior Haley Shackelford, who finished the day with an 82. “Haley kept the ball in play, and I look for her to do much better tomorrow,” Woodin said.

CBU holds a four-stroke lead in the tournament, with West Texas A&M University and St. Edward’s University tied for second place after each shooting a 295. SEU’s Isabel Morales is the individual leader, shooting a 3-under-par 69 as she was the only player to break 70 on Monday.

Also competing in the event from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference are Western Washington University (fourth place, 297), Concordia University (10th place, 308), and Saint Martin’s University (16th place, 320). “This is a very competitive field, and to get our lowest team score of the year at this quality course is very encouraging as we wind down our season,” Woodin said.

THE BUZZ: Dexter was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…it was Dexter’s third-career 74, the lowest single-round total of her career…McNeil was one stroke off her personal best for the 2016-17 season.

AHEAD: The second and final round is set for Tuesday morning, and it will be the Yellowjackets’ final time through the course before the 2016-17 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships on April 24-25 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in Idaho.

Western New Mexico University Mustang Invitational Palm Valley Golf Club | Goodyear, Arizona Round 1 Results | April 10, 2017 Team – 1. Cal Baptist, 291; T6. MSU Billings, 303. Individual – 1. Isabel Morales, St. Edward’s, 69; T16. Bailee Dexter, MSUB, 74; T23. Kortney McNeil, MSUB, 75; T30. Sammy Walter, MSUB, 76; T41. Shealyn Hafer, MSUB, 78; T73. Haley Shackelford, MSUB, 82.

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