FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Tuesday, September 20, 2016 MSUB women post 14th-place finish at opening fall tournament
Posting back-to-back team scores of 316 on Monday and Tuesday, MSUB’s women’s golf team finishes in 14th place at the WNMU Invite and is led by a top-20 finish from junior Bailee Dexter. GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Mirroring its performance from the opening round on Monday, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team shot a 316 as a team in the final round of the Western New Mexico Invitational at Golf Club of Estrella on Tuesday. The Yellowjackets finished in 14th place among the field of 20 teams, shooting a two-round total of 632 (316-316). “Overall, I am really proud of the team and how they stayed really patient throughout the tournament,” commented MSUB assistant coach Jeff Allen. “They never gave up at any point in their rounds.” Leading the team and posting a top-20 finish was junior Bailee Dexter, who tied for 19th place with a two-round total of 151 (76-75). Dexter saved one stroke off of her first-round score of 76, as she carded a 3-over-par 75 on Day 2 of the event. Putting together a very clean round, Dexter played 15 holes at even-par, and had just three bogeys in her second round.
Fellow junior Sammy Walter matched Dexter with a score of 75 as well, and finished the tournament tied for 27th place with a two-round total of 152 (77-75). Walter had a pair of birdies on Tuesday, and again highlighted her strength out of the tee box as she played the four par-5 holes at 2-under-par. “We had some great play out of Bailee and Sammy,” Allen said. “We had consistent play as a team, shooting the same score again today. They played really solid and this was a good first tournament for the fall. I look for all of them to take away a lot of positives from the week and carry that through for the rest of the fall season.” Finishing in a tie for 63rd place, sophomore Shealyn Hafer posted a two-round total of 159 (78-81). On Tuesday, Hafer made par on 7 of 9 holes on the front nine, and added five pars on the back side. Saving one stroke between rounds, sophomore Kortney McNeil posted an 85 on Tuesday and finished in a tie for 88th place with a two-round total of 171 (86-85). McNeil’s lone birdie on Tuesday came on the par-4, 309-yard first hole, and she also played six holes at par in the round. Senior Haley Shackelford matched McNeil in the tournament, also tying for 88th place with a 171 (85-86). Posting a birdie on the par-4, 308-yard ninth hole, Shackelford also had six pars on her scorecard on Tuesday. Cutting off 10 strokes from its Day 1 score and running away with the team title, Tarleton State University finished atop the tournament standings with a two-round score of 584 (297-287). California Baptist and Regis University tied in a distant second place, with each school scoring at 599. Western Washington University, the other Great Northwest Athletic Conference school competing, finished in 10th place with a two-round total of 612 (305-307). Mary Weinstein of Regis and Laura Scrivner of Cal Baptist tied for medalist honors, as each player finished with a tworound score of 141. Scrivner was one of just two players in the tournament to break the mark of 70, as her second-round score of 69 helped carry her to a share of the title. THE BUZZ: Walter was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…Dexter topped her personal best score for a two-round event with her 151, as it previously stood at 155…Walter tied her career-low round with the 75, and also set a new personal mark for a two-round score as she beat her old low of 154…Hafer’s 159 was her lowest two-round score in her career. COMING UP: MSUB’s next tournament is at home in Billings, as the ‘Jackets will compete in Rocky Mountain College’s invitational on Oct. 3-4 at Peter Yegen Golf Club. Western New Mexico University Invitational Golf Club of Estrella | Goodyear, AZ Final Results | September 20, 2016 Team – 1. Tarleton State, 584 (297-287); 14. MSU Billings, 632 (316-316). Individual – T1. Laura Scrivner, Cal Baptist, 141 (72-69); T1. Mary Weinstein, Regis, 141 (70-71); T19. Bailee Dexter, MSUB, 151 (76-75); T27. Sammy Walter, MSUB, 152 (77-75); T63. Shealyn Hafer, MSUB, 159 (78-81); T88. Kortney McNeil, MSUB, 171 (86-85); T88. Haley Shackelford, MSUB, 171 (85-86).
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