FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Friday, September 16, 2016 MSUB women roll to match play win over Rocky at Leslie Spalding Cup
Sweeping both alternate shot matches, and taking 3 of 5 singles play contests, MSUB’s women’s golf team takes care of business on Friday and defeats Rocky 12-3 overall in the Leslie Spalding Cup. BILLINGS, Mont. – After building a strong lead on Thursday afternoon, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team finished strong on Friday at Peter Yegen Golf Club and defeated Rocky Mountain College 12-3 in the 2016 Leslie Spalding Cup sponsored by Domino’s. The two-day event, which started on Thursday at Lake Hills Golf Club, featured different variations of match play golf, including alternate shot, 4-ball, and straight-up singles matches. The Yellowjackets won all four of their team competitions, and took 7 of 10 singles-play matchups in their debut event of the 2016-17 season. Playing as a team of five golfers, MSUB split up on Thursday with Kortney McNeil and Shealyn Hafer defeating RMC’s Hayden Flohr and Nellie Enderby 1-up in 4-ball play. The tandem of Bailee Dexter and Haley Shackelford also posted a victory on the first day of competition, defeating the Bears’ Eryn Ellis and Morgan O’Neil 4 and 3 as the ‘Jackets swept the team portion of the competition.
“Both Kortney and Bailee went 2-0 in singles play and 2-0 in team play,” said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. “Kortney gutted out a win Friday, and Bailee kept the ball in play and was very consistent from tee-to-green. She didn’t make any major mistakes.” On the back-nine at Lake Hills on Thursday, McNeil, Dexter, Hafer, and Sammy Walter all won their matchups for MSUB. The Bears’ Morgan O’Neil earned her team’s lone point, as she and Shackelford halved their holes. “Haley and Shea competed hard both days and played a lot of quality shots,” said Woodin. “Sammy had some unbelievable shots, holing out for eagle on Thursday from 90 yards. She also made a 30-foot eagle putt, and chipped in on another hole.” Changing locations for the second portion of match play on Friday, MSUB again had success in the team portion of the event. Shackelford and McNeil formed MSUB’s first team Friday, halving with RMC’s Flohr and Rylie Carmichael. Dexter and Walter combined to defeat O’Neil and Enderby 2-up in the opening nine holes which were played as an alternate shot competition. In singles play on Friday, the Bears made it close as both Ellis and Carmichael won their matchups against Hafer and Shackelford, respectively. McNeil, Walter, and Dexter posted wins however, securing the title for the second straight year and keeping the cup in MSUB’s possession. MSUB’s Dexter was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day. NEXT UP: MSUB plays its first official tournament of the season next week, heading to Goodyear, Ariz., for the Western New Mexico Invitational running Monday and Tuesday. Live statistics will be available for the event through Golfstat. “I am excited to see how our women perform in Phoenix this coming week,” Woodin said. “The tournament has a great field of Division Two women’s teams, so it represents a great challenge for them.” 2016 LESLIE SPALDING CUP FINAL RESULTS Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016 4 Ball Women’s Matches: Kortney McNeil/Shealyn Hafer (MSUB) defeated Hayden Flohr/Nellie Enderby (RMC), 1 up Bailee Dexter/Haley Shackelford (MSUB) defeated Eryn Ellis/Morgan O’Neil (RMC), 4 & 3 Singles Women’s Matches: Kortney McNeil (MSUB) defeated Hayden Flohr (RMC), 1 up Bailee Dexter (MSUB) defeated Eryn Ellis (RMC), 2 & 1 Shea Hafer (MSUB) defeated Nellie Enderby (RMC), 2 & 1 Morgan O’Neil (RMC) and Haley Shackelford (MSUB), halved Sammy Walter (MSUB) defeated Emily Aga (RMC), 5 & 4 and 3 & 2 Friday, Sept. 16, 2016 Alternate Shot Matches: Bailee Dexter/Sammy Walter (MSUB) defeated Morgan O'Neil/Nellie Enderby (RMC), 2 up Kortney McNeil/Haley Shackelford (MSUB) halved Hayden Flohr/Rylie Carmichael (RMC) Singles Matches: Eryn Ellis (RMC) defeated Shealyn Hafer (MSUB), 2 up
Kortney McNeil (MSUB) defeated Hayden Flohr (RMC), 1 up Rylie Carmichael (RMC) defeated Haley Shackeford (RMC), 2 & 1 Sammy Walter (MSUB) defeated Nellie Enderby (RMC), 3 & 2 Bailee Dexter (MSUB) defeated Morgan O’Neil (RMC), 3 & 2 OVERALL (Both days combined) = MSUB 12, RMC 3 (MSUB RETAINS THE SPALDING CUP) --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--