FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Tuesday, October 11, 2016 Walter ties for first and ties school record, ‘Jacket women finish fifth at WWU Invite
Sammy Walter ties for first place at the Western Washington Invite, helping the MSUB women’s golf team to a tie for fifth place in its final tournament of the fall. BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Sammy Walter followed a personal-best round of 72 on Monday with a 1-over-par 74 on Tuesday, and played her way to a tie for first place at the Western Washington University Invitational to lead the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team at the Bellingham Golf and Country Club. Walter tied the University of British Columbia’s Kat Kennedy for the top spot at the event, after shooting an even-par 146 (72-72) during her two rounds. “Sammy led the team to a tie for fifth with her individual win, and she shot lights out both days for a two-day total of even par,” commented MSUB assistant coach Rhett Hightower. “We will return to Billings in high spirits, but know there is more work to do to finish strong for our spring season leading into conference.” Walter had the third-most birdies among the field of competitors with seven, and she made par 23 times en route to her lowest-career two-round score. She also tied the MSUB school record for a two-round total, matching teammate Kortney McNeil’s mark that she set last season.
Finishing in a tie for 23rd place was sophomore Shealyn Hafer, who wound up with a two-round total of 158 (80-78). Hafer tied Walter with 23 pars, helping her cut off two strokes between her rounds. McNeil finished three strokes behind Hafer, with a two-round score of 161 (77-84) for a tie for 35th place. Bailee Dexter finished in a tie for 52nd place with a two-round total of 165 (84-81), and senior Haley Shackelford finished tied for 60th with a 169 (80-89). Simon Fraser University won the team title at the event, shooting a tworound score of 608 (303-305). The Clan comfortably edged second-place British Columbia, which finished with a 613 (307-306). SFU’s Belinda Lin took third place with a 149 (75-74), as she was three strokes behind the tournament champions. THE BUZZ: Walter was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…Kennedy won the tiebreaker by virtue of a lower second-round score…Walter’s first-place finish was the first for a Yellowjacket since McNeil won the Yellowjacket Fall Invite on Oct. 9, 2015. NEXT UP: MSUB opens its spring season at the Beaver-Jacket Invite on March 10-11 at Aliante Golf Club in Las Vegas. It will be one of four spring tournaments for the ‘Jackets before the GNAC Championships at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on April 24-25, 2017. Junior Sammy Walter poses after tying for first place at the WWU Invitational on Tuesday.
Western Washington University Invitational Bellingham Golf & Country Club | Bellingham, WA Final Results | October 11, 2016 Team – 1. Simon Fraser University, 608 (303-305); T5. MSU Billings, 626 (309-317). Individual – T1. Kat Kennedy, UBC, 146 (75-71); T1. Sammy Walter, MSUB, 146 (72-74); T23. Shealyn Hafer, MSUB, 158 (80-78); T35. Kortney McNeil, MSUB, 161 (77-84); T52. Bailee Dexter, MSUB, 165 (84-81); T60. Haley Shackelford, MSUB, 169 (80-89). --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--