Walter leads MSUB women on Day 1 at MSU Invite

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Monday, April 11, 2016 Walter leads MSUB women on Day 1 at MSU Invite

Sammy Walter posts the top score for MSUB’s women’s golf team on Day 1 of the Montana State Invite at Golf Club of Estrella in Arizona.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Posting a 6-over-par 78 in Round 1 of the Montana State University Invite on Monday, Montana State University Billings sophomore Sammy Walter had the top performance for the Yellowjackets at the Golf Club of Estrella.

Walter followed with a mark of 80 in the second round, and is tied for 42nd place after the first day of action with a tworound total of 158. “Today was the first time we have played 36 holes in one day, but our women handled that very well,” said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. “This is a very challenging course, but it is a beautiful facility and we had some tough competition against these Division One schools.”

MSUB shot a team score of 665 and is in 16th place, finishing with rounds of 328 and 337 on the opening day. The Yellowjackets are the lone NCAA Division II school among the field, as they are competing against 16 Division I opponents.

Bailee Dexter is tied for 75th with rounds of 84 and 82 for a 166, and Haley Shackelford is tied for 83rd with a 171 (8487). Anna DeMars is tied for 87th with a 172 (82-90), and Kortney McNeil completed the field of five for the ‘Jackets in 97th place with a 182 (94-88). Shealyn Hafer is competing as an individual in the tournament, and is tied with Dexter after posting a 166 on the first day with rounds of 82 and 84.

Walter had four birdies overall on the day, and played the back nine at 1-over-par in Round 1 and the front nine at 2-over par in Round 2.

“Sammy played very well today,” Woodin said. “She really drove the ball well and kept herself out of trouble, and had a really consistent round. She was able to avoid big scores.”

Dexter followed Walter’s lead, as the two were the only players from MSUB to only have one hole above a double-bogey on the day. “Bailee had a very solid day, especially with her short game,” said Woodin on the sophomore. “I saw her go up-and-down several times, and she competed hard to keep her momentum going.”

Hafer matched Walter’s total of four birdies in her two rounds as well, as she played consistently throughout the day. “Shea played as well as anybody for us,” commented Woodin. “She rarely missed a fairway the entire day. Other than a couple of holes, she played her best golf of the season.”

Leading the field after the first day of competition are Seattle University and the University of Wyoming, who are tied for first after each shooting a 600. Kala Keltz of Northern Colorado is the individual leader, as she shot a two-round score of 142 (71-71) on the par-72, 6,305-yard course layout.

Freshman Shealyn Hafer tied for the team high with four birdies on the first day of action at the MSU Invitational Monday.

The third and final round will begin Tuesday morning, as the Yellowjackets prepare for their final round before next week’s Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships at the Coeur d’Alene

Resort in Idaho.

“Tomorrow I’d like to see us move up a couple of spots as a team, and a nice goal would be to beat our first-round score from today,” Woodin said. “If we can improve on our ratio of double-bogeys to birdies, then we have a good chance to move up.”

Montana State Invitational – Rounds 1 & 2 Results Golf Club of Estrella | Goodyear, AZ | April 11, 2016 Team – T1. Seattle University, 600 (291-309); T1. University of Wyoming, 600 (295-305); 16. MSU Billings, 665 (328-337).

Individual – 1. Kala Keltz, Northern Colorado, 142 (71-71); T42. Sammy Walter, MSUB, 158 (78-80); T75. Bailee Dexter, MSUB, 166 (84-82); T75. Shealyn Hafer, MSUB, 166 (82-84); T83. Haley Shackelford, MSUB, 171 (84-87); T87. Anna DeMars, MSUB, 172 (82-90); 97. Kortney McNeil, MSUB, 182 (94-88).

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