MSUB Women's Golf 9/29/15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Tuesday, September 29, 2015 MSUB women tie for 7th at NCAA National Preview Tournament

Competing among a 20-team field with top opponents from across Division II, MSUB’s women’s golf team finishes in the upper half tied for seventh place with a two-round total of 610.

AURORA, Colo. – After setting a new program record for single round team score on Monday, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team finished the NCAA Division II National Championship Preview in a tie for seventh place with a two-round total of 610 at CommonGround Golf Course on Tuesday.

“I am very proud of the way our women played yesterday and today,” commented MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien.

“Each and every one of them should feel proud and excited for the opportunity they were given, and the results they produced. We beat some quality regionally- and nationally-ranked teams this week, showing that we can compete at a very high level. Anytime you can show up at a tournament of this magnitude and finish seventh, it is going to be good for our program.”

The Yellowjackets’ Kortney McNeil was a top-10 finisher at the event, shooting a 75 on Day 2 after a 71 in the first round for a two-round total of 146 to tie for eighth place. Fellow freshman Anna DeMars finished in the top-20, as she tied for 14th with a two-round score of 149 (73-76).

“I am very excited for Kortney as she finished in the top 10 and for Anna who finished in the top 20,” O’Brien said. “Both of our freshmen had fantastic tournaments and should be very proud of themselves.”

Bailee Dexter tied for 35th place with a score of 155 (74-81), and Haley Shackelford was close behind shooting a 160 (79-81). Sophomore Sammy Walter completed the field for MSUB with a 164 (80-84).

McNeil had five birdies throughout her two rounds, including four on the first day as she came within one stroke of tying the MSUB individual single round record of 70 held by Kalli Stanhope. McNeil’s success was in part attributed to her consistency on the greens, as she did not putt more than twice on any of the 36 holes she played.

Sophomore Bailee Dexter.

DeMars had four birdies of her own in the second round, finding the cup on her third stroke of the first hole with a 10-foot downhill putt that broke left to right. Perhaps her best hole of the tournament came on the 498-yard, par-5 third hole on Day 2. After setting herself up nicely in the fairway out of the tee box, DeMars drilled her 3-hybrid 220 yards onto the green and rolled the ball to within three feet of the pin for an easy tap-in eagle putt.

Shackelford also saved a stroke on a par-5, as she drained an 8-foot putt on her fourth stroke on the 500-yard 11th hole.

On the 14th hole, Shackelford’s aim was true out of the box as she drove the green 169 yards away and dropped a 6foot putt from straight on for another birdie.

Dexter had a pair of birdies on Day 1 and added one more on the second to contribute to the Yellowjackets’ finish.

Walter finished the tournament with a pair of birdies, both coming in her first round on Monday. McNeil was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day for MSUB. Tarleton State won the team title at the event, shooting a two-round total of 588 (289-299) to claim the crown.

Augustana College’s Sierra Langlie shot an impressive 69 on Day 2 to help her claim the individual medalist honors with a two-round score of 142 after a 73 in Round 1.

“We are going to enjoy this result for the next day or so, knowing that we are playing at Dixie State next week with a lot of the same teams,” O’Brien said. “That means that we have little opportunity to let off the gas. We began the season with a young and inexperienced team, which had a ton of potential, and which is now showing its potential as the season progresses.”

UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets will head to St. George, Utah to compete in a tournament hosted by Dixie State University at Sand Hollow Resort running Oct. 5-6.

NCAA Division II National Championship Preview Tournament – Final Results CommonGround Golf Course – Auroroa, CO Team – 1. Tarleton State, 588 (289-299); T7. MSU Billings, 610 (297-313). Individual – 1. Sierra Langlie, Augustana, 142 (73-69); T8. Kortney McNeil, MSUB, 146 (71-75); T14. Anna DeMars, MSUB, 149 (73-76); T35. Bailee Dexter, MSUB, 155 (74-81); 60. Haley Shackelford, MSUB, 160 (79-81); T70. Sammy Walter, MSUB, 164 (80-84).

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