Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets Golf 2014-15 Season
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Table of Contents 2014-15................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 2014-15 Women’s Season Preview...................................................................................................................................... 4 2014-15 Men’s Season Preview............................................................................................................................................ 6 Recap: Women’s Tournament 1, Colorado Christian Invite............................................................................................ 8 Recap: Men’s Tournament 1, Saint Martin’s Invite.......................................................................................................... 10 Recap: Women’s Tournament 2, Western New Mexico Invite....................................................................................... 13 Recap: Men’s Tournament 2, Western Washington Invite............................................................................................. 15 Preview: Women’s Tournaments 3 & 4............................................................................................................................. 17 Recap: Women’s Tournament 3, Colorado Mesa Invite................................................................................................. 19 Recap: Men’s Tournament 3, Yellowjacket Fall Invite..................................................................................................... 21 Recap: Women’s Tournament 4, Yellowjacket Fall Invite............................................................................................... 24 Hedge Named GNAC Golfer of the Week....................................................................................................................... 27 Recap: Men’s Tournament 4, Chico State Invite.............................................................................................................. 28 Berg Earns GNAC Golfer of the Week Honors............................................................................................................... 31 Women’s Spring Preview.................................................................................................................................................... 32 Men’s Spring Preview.......................................................................................................................................................... 34 Recap: Women’s Match Play vs. Rocky Mountain College............................................................................................ 36 Recap: Men’s Match Play vs. Rocky Mountain College.................................................................................................. 37 Feature Story: Senior Mariah Cleveland.......................................................................................................................... 38 Recap: Women’s Tournament 5, CSU Monterey Bay Invite........................................................................................... 44 Recap: Men’s Tournament 5, St. Vincent Healthcare Yellowjacket Spring Invite........................................................ 47 Recap: Women’s Tournament 6, St. Vincent Healthcare Yellowjacket Spring Invite.................................................. 50 Recap: Women’s Tournament 7, Western New Mexico Invite....................................................................................... 53 Walter Named GNAC Golfer of the Week....................................................................................................................... 56 Recap: Men’s Tournament 6, Western New Mexico Invitational.................................................................................. 57 Feature Story: Senior Jake Hedge...................................................................................................................................... 60 Preview: Men’s Tournament 7............................................................................................................................................ 66 Recap: Men’s Tournament 7, CSU Stanislaus Invitational............................................................................................. 68 GNAC Championships Preview - Women...................................................................................................................... 71 GNAC Championships Preview - Men............................................................................................................................ 73 Recap: Women’s Tournament 8, GNAC Championships............................................................................................... 75 Recap: Men’s Tournament 8, GNAC Championships.................................................................................................... 78 4 Earn GNAC Academic All-Conference Honors.......................................................................................................... 81 NCAA West Region Championship Preview.................................................................................................................. 82 Women’s All-GNAC Selections......................................................................................................................................... 84 Men’s All-GNAC Selections............................................................................................................................................... 86 Recap: NCAA West Region Championships................................................................................................................... 87 2014-15 Women’s Season Review...................................................................................................................................... 90 2014-15 Men’s Season Review............................................................................................................................................ 92
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2014-15 MSUB Men’s Golf Schedule Start Day Dates Event Fall Friday Sept. 19-20 Saint Martin’s Invitational Monday Sept. 22-23 Western Washington Invitational Thursday Oct. 2-3 MSUB Fall Invitational Monday Oct. 6-7 Chico State Invitational Monday Oct. 13-14 Sonoma State Invitational Spring Monday Mar. 30-31 MSUB Spring Invitational Monday Apr. 6-7 Western New Mexico Invitational Monday Apr. 13-14 Cal State Stanislaus Invitational Monday Apr. 20-21 GNAC Championships *MSUB Invitationals are played at Pryor Creek Golf Course 2014-15 MSUB Women’s Golf Schedule Start Day Dates Event Fall 2014 Monday Sept. 15-16 Colorado Christian Invitational Monday Sept. 22-23 Western New Mexico Invitational Monday Sept. 29-30 Colorado Mesa Invitational Thursday Oct. 2-3 MSUB Fall Invitational Spring 2015 Monday Mar. 23-24 Cal State Monterey Bay Invitational Monday Mar. 30-31 MSUB Spring Invitational Friday Apr. 3-4 Western New Mexico Invitational Monday Apr. 20-21 GNAC Championships *MSUB Invitationals are played at Pryor Creek Golf Course
Location Lacey, WA Bellingham, WA Billings, MT Chico, CA Sonoma, CA Billings, MT Goodyear, AZ Turlock, CA Coeur d’Alene, ID
Location Denver, CO Goodyear, AZ Grand Junction, CO Billings, MT Monterey, CA Billings, MT Goodyear, AZ Coeur d’Alene, ID
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MSUB women’s golf season preview September 8, 2014 After finishing in second place at the 2013-14 GNAC Championships, the MSUB women’s golf team kicks off its 2014-15 season at Colorado Christian next week. BILLINGS, Mont. – After a second-place finish at the 2013-14 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women’s Golf Championships, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf squad has its sights set on another strong performance this season. “We are very excited to get the season underway, as we have prepared throughout the off-season putting in a lot of dedication and time,” commented sixth-year head coach Shawn O’Brien. “With the addition of Sammy Walter and Bailee Dexter, I believe our team will have a strong chance to give Western Washington a run for its money as the Vikings have proven to be the team to beat in the GNAC.” The Yellowjackets lost a trio of seniors who participated at last season’s conference championships in Capri Ingram, Melissa Saken and BreAnna Cameron. With seven golfers returning however, the 2014-15 squad is full of experience and veteran leadership. Among the seniors back for O’Brien is three-year letterwinner and 2014-15 team captain Mariah Cleveland. As a junior, Cleveland shot an average score of 82.5 with one top-5 finish in her 14 rounds of golf. “Mariah has put in more work than any student-athlete I have coached over the last year,” said O’Brien. “I am very excited to see her play and her hard work ethic pay off.” Other key returnees for the ‘Jackets include Haley Shackelford and twin sisters Cayley and Katie Fish. Katie Fish was a second-team all-GNAC performer in 2013-14, and boasted the best scoring average on the team at 80.8. She finished in the top-10 at events on three separate occasions, and tallied a team-best low-round score of 73 over 16 rounds. 4 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
“Katie is a tremendous player and has not yet peaked on her ability to play golf,” commented O’Brien. “It will be nice to have our leader on the golf course back for another season.” Cayley Fish, the 2011-12 GNAC Freshman of the Year, is also an all-conference caliber golfer, who shot an average score of 84.4 with one top-10 finish in 10 rounds as a junior. Both Fish twins were academic all-GNAC selections, holding the top-two grade point averages in the conference at 3.93 and 3.92. “Cayley brings a tremendous amount of depth to our program,” said O’Brien. “I am again excited this season to have Cayley in the mix as she brings a lot of experience to the table. “We are also going to rely on Haley a lot this season, as she is a tremendous golfer, and I believe that she will help our team very much this year.” Two other notable returners include Carlan Campbell and Carlee Hart. Campbell provides senior leadership, while Hart will return to the greens after her first collegiate season. “Both Carlan and Carlee bring a lot of hard work and determination to succeed to our team,” said O’Brien. “Carlan is a fantastic role model for underclassmen, and Carlee has shown a strong ability to learn and strive towards success.” Making their collegiate debuts in 2014-15 will be Dexter and Walter, who will add depth to the program. Dexter intends to study biology and is a native of Townsend, Mont., where she graduated from Broadwater High School. Walter is a Billings native, whose older sister Chelsey is a starter on the MSUB volleyball team. “I am very excited about the incoming freshman class,” said O’Brien. “Both Bailee and Sammy have the ability to help our team succeed right away. Both of them do very well academically, and have the potential to have strong careers at MSUB.” MSUB’s fall slate gets underway on Sept. 15-16 at the Colorado Christian Invitational at the Raccoon Creek Golf Club in Lakewood, Colo. The Yellowjackets will host invitational tournaments in the fall (Oct. 2-3) and the spring (March 30-31), each taking place at Pryor Creek Golf Course in Huntley, Mont. Sophomore Haley Shackelford.
The 2014-15 GNAC Golf Championships are set for April 20-21 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course, with all five of the conference schools participating in the event.
“Our schedule sets us up to play a variety of different schools, allowing us to see a vast assortment of competition,” said O’Brien. “Being able to compete against schools from the RMAC, CCA, and PacWest will allow us to judge how our team will fare come April at the GNAC Championships.”
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MSUB men’s golf season preview September 15, 2014 MSUB welcomes back 2013-14 GNAC Newcomer of the Year Austin Westphal among a cast of strong returners for the 2014-15 men’s golf season. BILLINGS, Mont. – With an experienced core of senior golfers, the Montana State Billings men’s golf team is set to kick off the fall portion of its 2014-15 season in mid-September. Sixth-year head coach Shawn O’Brien welcomes back a five returners, along with six newcomers who figure to compete for rounds throughout the season. “We have a very experienced group of young men, who I believe are ready to step up to the challenge and compete at a high level this season,” said O’Brien. Among O’Brien’s top returnees is Great Northwest Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year Austin Westphal, who averaged a single-round score of 75.8 during his first season in the conference in 2013-14. A transfer from North Idaho College, Westphal competed in all 19 of the Yellowjackets’ rounds a season ago, logging one top-5 finish and a low-round score of 71. “Austin is a very reliable player, he is very consistent with his scoring,” said O’Brien. “It is always nice to have a player that consistently provides a countable score.” Three more seniors return for the ‘Jackets, including Houston Bradbury, Jake Hedge and Gage Huft. As a junior last season, Huft led the Yellowjackets with an average score of 74.7 over 19 rounds of competition. He racked up four top-10 finishes, three of which placed him in the top-5, and tallied a low-round score of 70 on the season. A three-year letterwinner for the Yellowjackets, Huft is expected to assume a major leadership role in his final collegiate season.
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“Gage is a tremendous golfer who has the ability to post very low scores,” O’Brien commented regarding his top returner. “Gage will take on a big leadership role this season, as we will look for him to carry our team. He, along with some of his teammates, are going to have the ability to make a run at the GNAC Championships.” Another transfer who had an immediate impact for MSUB last season was Hedge, who logged a pair of top-10 finishes and a low-round score of 67 through his 11 rounds as a junior in 2013-14. “Jake has the ability to be one of the top golfers in our region,” said O’Brien. “He has worked very hard over the off-season to be where he was at while he attended the University of Wyoming. Finishing in the top-5 at the Montana State Amateur tournament this summer, shows that his golf game is where it needs to be as he carries over into our season.” The Yellowjackets’ lone returning sophomore, Tanner Berg is back after a solid freshman campaign. In his debut college season, Berg averaged a score of 75.4 over five rounds with a low-round score of 70. O’Brien and the ‘Jackets bid farewell to several key seniors, including Brad Harrelson and new assistant coach Marcus Drange. Both played in all 19 rounds as seniors and were key contributors in 2013-14. A talented class of five freshmen and one transfer have the ‘Jackets restocked and provide significant depth for the program to build upon. Two of O’Brien’s new players are the younger siblings of current Yellowjacket golfers, with Austin Berg and Parker Bradbury joining the squad alongside their older brothers. Dalton Hagadone, Dylan Meccage and Ty Pickel also figure to land in the mix early on, and transfer Connor Miele adds further depth as well. “We were very happy to have signed six new players, all who have the ability to help our program,” O’Brien said on the group of newcomers. “The first couple of weeks will be very interesting, as any one of them will have the opportunity to contribute within our top-5. With three former high school state champions in Austin, Parker and Ty, I am excited for their history of success to carry over into their careers as Yellowjackets.”
Freshman Austin Berg.
MSUB begins its 2014-15 schedule at the Saint Martin’s Invitational in Lacey, Wash., from Sept. 19-20. The Yellowjackets will host invitational tournaments in the fall (Oct. 2-3) and the spring (March 30-31), each taking place at Pryor Creek Golf Course in Huntley, Mont.
The 2014-15 GNAC Golf Championships are set for April 20-21 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course, with all five of the conference schools participating in the event. “I believe that this year’s group could possibly have the best season in program history,” O’Brien said. “We have key leadership, stability, and talent moving forward.”
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Tournament 1 - Women Colorado Christian Invitational T-6th of 13
MSUB women tie for 6th in first tournament of 2014-15 season September 16, 2014 Katie Fish is the top finisher for the MSUB women’s golf team with a two-round score of 161, and the ‘Jackets finish tied for sixth among 13 teams at the Colorado Christian Invite. LAKEWOOD, Colo. - Posting a two-round total of 648, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf squad posted a sixth-place finish in its first tournament of the 2014-15 season Tuesday afternoon at the Colorado Christian Invitational. Katie Fish was the top individual finisher for the Yellowjackets, shooting a two-round total of 161 (77-84) at the 6,054-yard, par-72 Raccoon Creek Golf Course. Fish tied for 21st overall, and sophomore Haley Shackelford was close behind in 23rd with a score of 162 (83-79). “We had a couple of girls play well each day,” commented head coach Shawn O’Brien. “If we can develop a little more consistency then we will be good as a team.” In her collegiate debut, freshman Sammy Walter posted a score of 164 (86-78), improving eight strokes with her second round en-route to the 27th-place finish. Senior Mariah Cleveland checked in with a score of 168 (87-81), and freshman Bailee Dexter rounded out the Yellowjackets’ five with a mark of 169 (80-89). Metro State University took home the team title at the tournament with a score of 615 (311-304), and Hee-Leina Kim of Colorado State-Pueblo grabbed medalist honors with a two-round total of 140 (67-73). As a team, the ‘Jackets improved four strokes upon their first-round score of 326, shooting a 322 on the final day to close out the tournament. “This was our first tournament of the season and we are a bit inexperienced as a group,” O’Brien said. “I am hopeful we will learn from this tournament and play to our potential next week in Arizona.” NEXT UP: MSUB heads to Goodyear, Ariz., for the Western New Mexico Invitational next week. First round play kicks off on Sept. 22, with the final round set for the following day.
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RMAC #1 RMAC #1 Tournament Course Information Course # Name 1 Raccoon Creek Golf Course: Raccoon Creek GC Round 1 Round 2 Score Score Finish Team 1 Metro State University 311 304 2 Regis 320 308 3 Colorado State-Pueblo 317 316 4 Adams State College 325 312 5 Colorado - CO Springs 327 314 T6 Colorado Mesa 329 319 T6 Montana State-Billings 326 322 8 Western New Mexico 330 328 9 Colorado Christian Univ 342 339 10 Black Hills State 341 358 11 Chadron State Coll 364 342 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 12 361 371 13 Ft. Lewis University 391 337
Par 72
Yardage Rating 6054 67.3
Total 615 628 633 637 641 648 648 658 681 699 706 732 728
Freshman Sammy Walter.
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Tournament 1 - Men Saint Martin’s Invitational 7th of 14
MSUB men finish 7th at Saint Martin’s Invite September 20, 2014 Including a 3-under round of 68, MSUB senior Jake Hedge finishes in the top-10 at the Saint Martin’s Invite and helps the Yellowjackets to a 7th-place team finish in its first tourney of 2014-15. LACEY, Wash. – Senior Jake Hedge finished tied for ninth place and Montana State Billings landed a seventh-place team finish in its first tournament of the season Saturday at the Saint Martin’s Invitational at Olympia Country & Golf Club. “This tournament was a fair start to the season, as we proved that we can compete with the majority of top teams in the west region,” said head coach Shawn O’Brien. “We got off to a great start Friday, and unfortunately didn’t play to our best today, allowing a few teams to finish ahead of us.” Shooting a 68 in the first round of the tournament, Hedge followed up with rounds of 72 and 71 to complete a three-round total of 211. Hedge’s round of 68 was two strokes above the lowest of the tournament, a 66 logged by Western Washington’s Mark Strickland. Checking in at No. 25 for the ‘Jackets was Austin Westphal, who finished with a 6-over 219 (74-72-73). Tying for 32nd place was Gage Huft at 221 (72-75-74), and Tanner Berg was close behind at 222 (77-70-75). 10 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
Rounding out MSUB’s team of five was Austin Berg, who posted a score of 236 (78-77-81) for a tie for 64th. “We have a really solid team this year and it’s nice to finally put three solid rounds together, and get into a good spot going into Bellingham,” commented senior Gage Huft. Western Washington took home the team title, finishing with a three-round total of 838 (282-272-284) among the field of 14 teams. Simon Fraser was close behind in second place with a team total of 844 (282-277-285). Tying for medalist honors were Evan Holmes of British Columbia and Anthony Allen of Western Washington, who each finished with a 6-under 207 at the 6,180-yard, par-71 course. All five Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s golf teams participated at the event, as host Saint Martin’s finished just behind MSUB in eighth place with an 875 (299-289-287). Reigning GNAC champion Northwest Nazarene checked in at No. 10 in the tournament, finishing with a score of 904 (296-301-37). “I am excited for Monday and Tuesday, as we take on a similar field at Western Washington,” O’Brien said. “Jake had a great start to the season and it will be fun to watch him play next week at Western Washington.” AHEAD: MSUB continues on to Bellingham, Wash., next week for the Western Washington Invitational set for Monday and Tuesday.
Senior Austin Westphal.
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Tournament 2 - Women Western New Mexico Invitational 13th of 16
‘Jackets wrap up WNMU Invitational in 13th place September 23, 2014 Three birdies in a four-hole stretch highlight a strong performance by Katie Fish, and the MSUB women’s golf team completes the Western New Mexico Invitational in 13th place. AVONDALE, Ariz. – On her way to making par on the front nine, Montana State University Billings women’s golf senior Katie Fish notched three birdies in a four-hole stretch in Round 2 to help the Yellowjackets to a 13th-place finish at the Western New Mexico Invitational Tuesday at Coldwater Golf Club. MSUB fired a 313 in Round 2, combining with its 311 in Round 1 for a tournament total of 624. Tied for 31st place overall, Fish logged rounds of 76 and 77 for a two-round total of 153 at the event. The spread between the Yellowjackets’ middle three golfers was minimal, as Mariah Cleveland and Bailee Dexter each shot a 158 and Cayley Fish shot a 159. Cleveland took two strokes off of her first-round total of 80 with a 78 in Round 2. Dexter contributed rounds of 78 and 80, and Cayley Fish had marks of 77 and 82. Rounding out the field for MSUB was Haley Shackelford, who had a 168. Shackelford showed dramatic improvement upon her first round, turning a 90 on Day 1 into a strong 78 on Day 2. Winning the team title was Cal Baptist, which shot a two-round total of 587 (296-291). Fellow Great Northwest Athletic Conference school Western Washington finished in fourth place as a team, shooting a 602 (297-305). Individually, Hee-Leina Kim of Colorado State-Pueblo shot an 11-under 133 (66-67) to run away with medalist honors on the 5,839-yard, par-72 course. AHEAD: The Yellowjackets return to the greens next week, heading to Grand Junction, Colo., for the Colorado Mesa Invitational. First round action is set for Sept. 29 at Brookcliff Country Club, with the final round to take place the morning of Sept. 30.
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WNMU Fall Intercollegiate Dates: 09/22-09/23, 2014 Round: 2
FINAL RESULTS
* Individual
Par-Yardage: 72-5846
FINQ 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 16
Top 20 Teams California Baptist U Point Loma Nazarene Colorado Mesa Univ. Western Washington U Sonoma State U. St. Mary's U. (TX) Adams State Univ. Colorado St. -Pueblo Colorado-CO Springs Western New Mexico Embry Riddle - AZ Chico State Montana St. Billings Whittier College Regis University Colorado Christian U
FINQ Top 20 Players 1 Hee-Leina Kim 2 Allison Howarth Marvi Monsalve 4 Lauren Kruszewski Mariah Fuller 6 Jenn Paul Kelly Contreras Natalie Park 9 Tina Yang Sarah Rotter 11 Taylor Walters Alexis Hayes Hannah Gregg 14 Alex Darwin Leslie Guzman Sara Swaney Ileana Macdonald 18 Mary Driscol Julie Sanchez Kristen Hansen Naomi Yamada
Scores 296 291 300 300 299 302 297 305 295 308 293 310 298 310 302 311 311 305 306 313 306 313 305 315 311 313 308 320 311 326 324 325 School CSU-Pueblo StMU-TX CBU EmbRidd-AZ PtLoma Naz Western WA StMU-TX CBU CBU Sonoma St. CO Mesa Sonoma St. Sonoma St. UCCS Adams St. CO Mesa Chico St. W New Mex. CSU-Pueblo Western WA CO Mesa
COLLEGIATE SCORING SYSTEM
Scores 66 67 68 75 75 68 69 75 71 73 71 75 74 72 72 74 72 75 73 74 75 73 73 75 74 74 75 74 72 77 74 75 77 72 75 75 77 73 74 76 73 77
587 600 601 602 603 603 608 613 616 619 619 620 624 628 637 649 133 143 143 144 144 146 146 146 147 147 148 148 148 149 149 149 149 150 150 150 150
GOLFSTAT.COM
COPYRIGHT Š, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, GOLFSTAT Bloomington, IL
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Tournament 2 - Men Western Washington Invitational 6th of 11
MSUB men finish WWU Invite in 6th place September 24, 2014 Improving one spot upon its Day 1 position, the MSUB men’s golf team finishes the WWU Invitational in sixth place with a three-round score of 870 (290-293-287). BILLINGS, Mont. – The Yellowjackets saved their best round for last, as the Montana State University Billings men’s golf team stroked a 287 in the final round of the Western Washington Invitational Tuesday to finish in sixth place at the Bellingham Golf and Country Club. Sitting in seventh place after the first two rounds of play, three ‘Jackets turned in par rounds or better on the final day of the event. “I am very happy with today’s performance,” said head coach Shawn O’Brien. “We met the goals and expectations we set at the beginning of the tournament.” Leading the way for MSUB was Jake Hedge, who finished tied for 18th place with a three-round total of 215 (72-73-70). Hedge, who was also the Yellowjackets’ top finisher at the Saint Martin’s Invitational last week, shot the team’s best score in Round 3 with a 2-under 70. Just one stroke behind Hedge was fellow senior Gage Huft, who carded a 216 (72-70-74) to finish in 20th place. A 217 by Austin Berg separated MSUB’s top-three golfers by just three strokes, as he checked in with a 1-under 71 in the first and third rounds and a 75 in the second. Tanner Berg finished tied for 38th place with a 222 (75-75-72), and Austin Westphal tied for 51st with a 228 (75-76-77). Five of the 11 teams competing were Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponents, with Simon Fraser being the top conference finisher tied for second at 849 (281-286-282), and host Western Washington finishing fourth with an 852 (282-289-281). Taking home the team title was British Columbia, which finished with a score of 829 (280-273-276). UBC’s Evan Holmes won medalist honors, finishing with a 14-under 202 (68-66-68) to help UBC defend its title at the WWU Invite. “This was a very strong field and we beat the teams we needed to so we can better our chances at the postseason,” O’Brien said. AHEAD: The Yellowjackets get set to host their fall invitational tournament, scheduled for Oct. 2-3 at Pryor Creek Golf Course.
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WWU Invitational
Bellingham Golf and Country Club Bellingham, WA Dates: Sep 22 - Sep 23
Start
Finish
Player
1 T15 2 3 T5 T5 T5 T18 T5 4 T9 T9 T15 T18 T22 T15 T9 T18 T22 T9 T9 T9 T18 T28 T22 T22 T22 T35 T39 T28 T28 T35 T22 T28 T28 T33 T39 T44 T39 T44 T49 T49 T39 T44
1 T2 T2 T2 5 6 7 8 T9 T9 T9 T9 T13 T13 T13 T13 T13 T18 T18 20 T21 T21 T21 T21 T21 T26 T26 T26 T29 T29 T29 T29 T33 T33 T33 T33 37 T38 T38 T40 T40 T40 T43 T43
Evan Holmes Jack Wood Conner Kozak Michael Mencaccy Chris Crisologo Jahaan Nargussi Dane Nelson Mark Strickland Hayden Christensen Anthony Allen Austin Spicer Nate Ollis * Kevin Vigna Tony Ko Brennan Emory Kyle Schrader Scott Secord Anthony Manguray Jake Hedge Gage Huft Bret Thompson Kyle Lindor Connor Magnuson Austin Berg Alan Tolusso * Kevin Cullen * Tyler Leeworthy Kenny You Kyeton Littel Connor Day Andrew Raab Donny Hopoi Conner Graves Brian Moon Cody Wass Patrick Whealdon Keynan Fanslow Tanner Berg Ryan Baumgart Nick Matsushima James Coon Ian Briske Matthew Hedges Justin McAfee
T44
T43 John Mlikotic
Team
Scores
British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia CSU-Stanislaus Simon Fraser Univ. CSU-Stanislaus Dixie State College Western Washington Dixie State College Western Washington St. Martin's University British Columbia Simon Fraser Univ. Simon Fraser Univ. Western Washington Western Washington British Columbia CSU-Stanislaus Montana State-Billings, U. of Montana State-Billings, U. of Simon Fraser Univ. Western Washington (B) Northwest Nazarene Montana State-Billings, U. of Simon Fraser Univ. St. Martin's University CSU-Stanislaus Dixie State College Hawaii-Hilo CSU-Stanislaus St. Martin's University Dixie State College Hawaii-Hilo Western Washington (B) Dixie State College St. Martin's University Northwest Nazarene Montana State-Billings, U. of St. Martin's University Hawaii-Hilo Hawaii-Hilo Northwest Nazarene St. Martin's University Northwest Nazarene
68 75 65 69 67 72 70 71 72 71 72 71 72 72 73 68 73 73 72 72 73 70 71 71 75 71 72 74 72 72 74 75 74 70 73 72 72 75 75 75 76 76 73 76
66 68 70 67 74 69 71 73 69 69 70 71 71 72 72 75 69 71 73 70 69 72 73 75 70 74 73 74 77 74 72 73 71 76 73 75 77 75 74 75 75 75 76 74
68 64 72 71 67 69 70 68 72 73 71 71 71 70 69 71 72 71 70 74 75 75 73 71 72 73 73 70 70 73 73 71 75 74 74 73 72 72 73 73 72 72 75 74
202 207 207 207 208 210 211 212 213 213 213 213 214 214 214 214 214 215 215 216 217 217 217 217 217 218 218 218 219 219 219 219 220 220 220 220 221 222 222 223 223 223 224 224
-14 -9 -9 -9 -8 -6 -5 -4 -3 -3 -3 -3 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -1 -1 E +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +3 +3 +3 +3 +4 +4 +4 +4 +5 +6 +6 +7 +7 +7 +8 +8
Simon Fraser Univ.
70
80 74
224
+8
GOLFSTAT COLLEGIATE SCORING SYSTEM
Mark Laesch - COPYRIGHT © 2014,|All2014-15 Rights Reserved, Golfstat 16 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com Season Book
Yellowjacket women wrap up fall schedule with two tournaments next week September 27, 2014 The MSUB women’s golf team heads to Grand Junction, Colo., for the Colorado Mesa Invitational, before hosting the Yellowjacket Fall Invite next week to wrap up its fall schedule. BILLINGS, Mont. – With half of the fall portion of its schedule completed, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team will participate in the Colorado Mesa Invitational next week with first round play scheduled for Monday at Brookcliff Country Club in Grand Junction, Colo. Two days later, MSUB will host the Yellowjacket Fall Invitational, at Pryor Creek Golf Course to close out the fall season. “Our women played well last week, hopefully we will continue to use that momentum in Colorado,” said head coach Shawn O’Brien. “Everyone is hitting the ball very well, and if our putting presents itself like we want it to, I think we will do very well.” Katie Fish has begun her senior season as a Yellowjacket strongly, being the top finisher for the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team in each of its first two tournaments of the 2014-15 season. Through four rounds, Fish is averaging a score of 78.5 and has posted the lowest round of the season for the ‘Jackets at 76. MSUB’s field of five has been highly consistent so far throughout the first two tournaments, with only four strokes separating the entire field of Yellowjacket golfers.
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Playing in her first tournament of the season last week, senior Cayley Fish shot a 159 at the Western New Mexico Invitational. Senior Mariah Cleveland has played well over four rounds this year, averaging an 81.5 with a lowround mark of 78. Freshmen Bailee Dexter and Sammy Walter have made an impact for the ‘Jackets already, averaging scores of 81.8 and 82.0 on the young season so far. Haley Shackelford joins the two in posting a low-round mark of 78 in her four rounds this season. As a team, the Yellowjackets are averaging a score of 318.0 over four rounds, posting a low mark of 311 in the first round of the WNMU Invite last week. The Yellowjacket Fall Invitational is one of two tournaments hosted throughout the year by the MSUB golf teams, and the two-round women’s event will kick off on Oct. 2 with the final round following the next day. “We are very excited to host the tournament next week, as it will be nice to play here in town,” O’Brien said. “We have been on the road a lot which makes sleeping in your own bed feel even better. I feel our team has prepared very well this past week and we are ready to play to our fullest potential.” Colorado Mesa Invitational (Brookcliff Country Club, Grand Junction, CO) Freshman Bailee Dexter. Records 36-Hole Total – 153, Kalli Stanhope, 75-78 (Sept. 20-21, 2010) Single Round – 74, Kalli Stanhope (Sept. 20, 2010) 36-Hole Total, Team – 648, MSUB, 326-322 (Sept. 20-21, 2010) Single Round, Team – 322, MSUB (Sept. 21, 2010) 2014-15 Results Colorado Christian Invitational (Sept. 15-16, Raccoon Creek GC, Lakeland, CO) TEAM – 1. Metro State, 615 (311-304) 6-T. Montana State Billings, 648 (326-322). INDIVIDUAL – 1. Hee-Leina Kim, Colorado State-Pueblo, 140 (67-73) 21-T. Katie Fish, MSUB, 161 (77-84) 23. Haley Shackelford, MSUB, 162 (83-79) 27-T. Sammy Walter, MSUB 164 (86-78) 37-T. Mariah Cleveland, MSUB 168 (87-81) 40. Bailee Dexter, MSUB, 169 (80-89). Western New Mexico Invitational (Sept. 22-23, Coldwater GC, Avondale, AZ) TEAM – 1. Cal Baptist, 587 (296-291) 13. Montana State Billings, 624 (311-313). INDIVIDUAL – 1. Hee-Leina Kim, Colorado State-Pueblo, 133 (66-67) 31-T. Katie Fish, MSUB 153 (76-77) 46-T. Mariah Cleveland, MSUB 158 (80-78) 46-T. Bailee Dexter, MSUB, 158 (78-80) 50-T. Cayley Fish, MSUB, 159 (77-82) 74-T. Haley Shackelford, MSUB, 168 (90-78).
18 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
Tournament 3 - Women Colorado Mesa Invitational 9th of 17
Women finish 9th at Colorado Mesa Invitational September 30, 2014 Katie Fish leads the way for MSUB, finishing in 13th place with a two-round score of 159, and the ‘Jackets completed the two-day event in ninth place with a 662 (332-330). BILLINGS, Mont. – Improving two strokes upon its first-round total, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team shot a 330 on the final day of the Colorado Mesa Invitational to finish in ninth place among the 17-team field with a score of 662 at the Brookcliff Country Club on Tuesday. MSUB was tied for seventh after the first round of the tournament, firing a 332 on Day 1 Monday. Senior Katie Fish was the top finisher for MSUB at the event, tying for 13th place with a two-round total of 159 (78-81). Haley Shackelford finished tied for 35th with a score of 167 (82-85), and Cayley Fish was next for the ‘Jackets with a 169 (89-80). Bailee Dexter shaved two strokes off of her first round total of 86, finishing with an 84 for a two-round total of 170. Rounding out the field of five for MSUB was senior Mariah Cleveland, who finished with a 172 after back-to-back rounds of 86. Winning medalist honors was Haley Dunn of Dixie State, who finished the tournament with a 5-over par 149 (74-75). The effort helped her squad to the overall team title, as DSU shot a 629 (312-317) at the par-72, 5,962-yard course. AHEAD: MSUB will host its fall Invitational this week in its final competition of the fall portion of the 2014-15 season. The two-round women’s tournament is scheduled for Thursday and Friday at Pryor Creek Golf Course in Huntley, Mont.
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RMAC #2
Bookcliff Country Club Grand Junction, CO White Dates: Sep 29 - Sep 30
1
1 3 5 4 2 T7 6 10 T7 9 11 13 12 14 15 16 17
2 Team
1 2 3 4 5 T6 T6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Scores
Dixie State College Metro State University Angelo State Western New Mexico Colorado Mesa Adams State College Colorado - CO Springs Colorado State-Pueblo Montana State-Billings Dominican (CA) Regis Colorado Christian Univ Black Hills State Chadron State Coll S. Dakota Sch of Mines & Tech OK Panhandle State Ft. Lewis University
312 320 326 321 314 332 330 334 332 333 341 350 349 360 371 391 398
317 314 309 322 330 318 320 321 330 334 328 339 357 354 373 394 409
GOLFSTAT COLLEGIATE SCORING SYSTEM
629 634 635 643 644 650 650 655 662 667 669 689 706 714 744 785 807
+53 +58 +59 +67 +68 +74 +74 +79 +86 +91 +93 +113 +130 +138 +168 +209 +231
Mark Laesch - COPYRIGHT © 2014,| All2014-15 Rights Reserved, Golfstat 20 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com Season Book
Tournament 3 - Men MSUB Yellowjacket Fall Invitational 1st of 5
Hedge wins individual title in playoff fashion, MSUB men take team award October 3, 2014 On the third time through a playoff hole, Jake Hedge makes eagle to break a three-way tie for first and win medalist honors at the 2014 MSUB Yellowjacket Fall Invitational. HUNTLEY, Mont. – Turning in their final scorecards, Jake Hedge and Gage Huft of Montana State University Billings and Hunter Anderson of Rocky Mountain College were all tied for first-place with a 1-under 143 at the Yellowjacket Fall Invitational at Pryor Creek Golf Club on Friday. The three ventured to the 18th tee boxes to settle the draw with a playoff hole, and all three players made par on their first two attempts. Hedge finally broke the tie the third time through the hole, making eagle to take home medalist honors at the 6,460-yard, par-72 course. “It was a very exciting finish to the tournament, watching Gage and Jake play in a playoff hole for individual medalist honors,” said head coach Shawn O’Brien. “A lot of different individuals stepped up throughout the tournament and posted good scores.” Hedge shot a 69 in Round 1 before a 74 in Round 2, and his first-round score was tied for the lowest of the tournament. The MSUB men took the overall team title, posting a score of 584 (290-294) over the two-round event among the field of eight teams.
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Finishing tied for first, Huft shot a 74 in the first round and then matched Hedge’s mark with a 69 in Round 2. Anderson of Rocky Mountain College also finished tied for first, with scores of 70 and 73 for his 143 total. Checking in tied for fourth, Tanner Berg also finished in the top-5 for the ‘Jackets. Berg shot a 3-over 147 (72-75) on the tournament. Tying for eighth place were Austin Westphal and Parker Bradbury, who each shot scores of 151. Bradbury, who was competing on MSUB’s second team, was the highest finisher within his group of five Yellowjackets. Bradbury’s brother Houston Bradbury was next down the list finishing in 10th place, shooting a 153 (76-77). Austin Berg tied for 14th for the ‘Jackets with a 155 (76-79), and Dylan Meccage checked in tied for 20th with a 157 (79-78). Finishing tied for 25th was Ty Pickel who shot a 161 (7487), and rounding out the field for MSUB was Dalton Hagadone with a 171 (83-88). Earning all-tournament honors were Hedge, Huft and Anderson, as well as Tanner Berg of MSUB and Colin Gunstream of Carroll College. Gunstream finished tied for fourth and led all players in the tournament with 26 par holes. “I am excited to continue the success in California next week,” O’Brien said. “As always, it is nice to beat cross-town rival Rocky Mountain College, as they have a very good team this year.” NEXT UP: MSUB gets set for the Chico State Invitational, beginning next week at Butte Creek Country Club in Chico, Calif. The tournament will be the last off the fall for the Yellowjacket men, who resume play in 2015 with the Yellowjacket Spring Invitational in late March. Freshman Dalton Hagadone.
22 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
MSUB Yellowjacket Fall Invite Pryor Creek Golf Course Huntley, MT 6,460 yards, par-72 Dates: Oct 02 - Oct 03
Start
T6 T2 1 T2 T12 4 5 T8 T20 T12 T20 24 T12 T12 T20 T27 T20 T12 T12 T25 T31 T25 T27 T39 T8 T31 T6 T12 T8 T12 T27 T31 T34 30 T34 T37 T34 43 T41 T37 T39 T41 44 T8
Finish
Player
T1 T1 T1 T4 T4 T4 7 T8 T8 10 T11 T11 T11 T14 T14 T16 T16 T16 T16 T20 T20 T20 T23 T23 T25 T25 T25 28 T29 T29 T29 32 33 34 35 36 T37 T37 T39 T39 41 T42 T42 -
Team
Gage Huft Hunter Anderson Jake Hedge Daniel Thompsett Colin Gunstream Tanner Berg Connor Hausauer Austin Westphal Parker Bradbury Houston Bradbury Cooper Simpson Jordy Donoven Eli Bowen Austin Berg Taylor Noble Colton Rudie * Tyler Ordahl Nathan Cachia Jeron Laurenti Dylan Meccage Chace Daskalos Michael Lavin Patrick McGowan Dane Martinson Isaac Bliek Andy Boyer Ty Pickel Philip Holten Matt Stiegel Justin Galiher Anthony Wood Walker Hoolehan Robbie Harding Drew Pitt Austin Egan Jake McKinney Dalton Hagadone Chase Farrell Ryan Ellis Justin Burk Cory Felde Greg Jones * Boyd Sinclair Fredrik Savestrand
Montana State-Billings, U. of Rocky Mountain Coll. Montana State-Billings, U. of Rocky Mountain Coll. Carroll College MT Montana State-Billings, U. of Carroll College MT Montana State-Billings, U. of Montana State-Billings, U. of (B) Montana State-Billings, U. of (B) Rocky Mountain Coll. Rocky Mountain Coll. (B) Rocky Mountain Coll. Montana State-Billings, U. of Rocky Mountain Coll. Carroll College MT (B) Rocky Mountain Coll. (B) Rocky Mountain Coll. (B) South Dakota Tech Montana State-Billings, U. of (B) Carroll College MT Carroll College MT (B) Central Wyoming Miles CC South Dakota Tech Carroll College MT (B) Montana State-Billings, U. of (B) Rocky Mountain Coll. (B) South Dakota Tech Carroll College MT Carroll College MT (B) South Dakota Tech Central Wyoming South Dakota Tech Carroll College MT Miles CC Montana State-Billings, U. of (B) Carroll College MT (B) Central Wyoming Central Wyoming Carroll College MT (B) Carroll College MT (B) Miles CC Rocky Mountain Coll. (B)
GOLFSTAT COLLEGIATE SCORING SYSTEM
Scores
74 70 69 70 76 72 73 75 77 76 77 78 76 76 77 80 77 76 76 79 82 79 80 85 75 82 74 76 75 76 80 82 83 81 83 84 83 88 86 84 85 86 89 75
69 73 74 77 71 75 76 76 74 77 77 76 78 79 78 76 79 80 80 78 75 78 79 74 86 79 87 86 88 87 83 82 82 85 84 84 88 83 87 89 92 94 91 W
143 143 143 147 147 147 149 151 151 153 154 154 154 155 155 156 156 156 156 157 157 157 159 159 161 161 161 162 163 163 163 164 165 166 167 168 171 171 173 173 177 180 180 -
-1 -1 -1 +3 +3 +3 +5 +7 +7 +9 +10 +10 +10 +11 +11 +12 +12 +12 +12 +13 +13 +13 +15 +15 +17 +17 +17 +18 +19 +19 +19 +20 +21 +22 +23 +24 +27 +27 +29 +29 +33 +36 +36 -
Mark Laesch - COPYRIGHT © 2014, All Rights Reserved, Golfstat | 2014-15 Season Book | 23 @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com
Tournament 4 - Women MSUB Yellowjacket Fall Invitational 1st of 5
MSUB women secure team title at Yellowjacket Fall Invitational October 3, 2014 Haley Shackelford ties for first place and the MSUB women’s golf team places four golfers in the top-6 to win the team title at the 2014 Yellowjacket Fall Invitational. HUNTLEY, Mont. – Finishing with a score of 153 (75-78) Montana State University Billings sophomore Haley Shackelford tied for first place at the Yellowjacket Fall Invitational Friday at Pryor Creek Golf Club. Jackie Mee of Carroll College took home medalist honors by way of a playoff hole against Shackelford, after shooting a 153 (78-75) through the two rounds of the tournament on the 6,278-yard, par-72 course. Shackelford finished with four birdies, which was the second-most among the entire field of players. Overall, MSUB finished with a team score of 626 (317-309) to win the team title among the four-team field by 48 points ahead of the next-closest team. “Our women played extraordinary,” said MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “Haley tied for first which was awesome to see, and Mariah (Cleveland) shot a tournament-best and personal-best 73 today. I couldn’t be more happy and proud of our team for the way they played this tournament. I don’t remember the last time a team ran away with the title as we did today. It was a great feeling.” 24 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
Katie Fish finished in fourth place for MSUB, shooting a 156 (76-80), and Mariah Cleveland was two strokes behind in fifth with a 158 (85-73). Cleveland’s round of 73 was the lowest of the tournament and was also the lowest of the season so far for the ‘Jackets. Her five birdies on the tournament were the most by any player. Cayley Fish finished in sixth place with a 159 (81-78), and freshman Sammy Walter was in eighth with a 163 (8677). Walter, who was competing as an individual, improved nine strokes upon her first round score to break into the top-10. Walter also had the most par rounds of any Yellowjacket, totaling 21 over the two-day event. Fellow freshman Bailee Dexter, who also made a significant improvement between rounds, was close behind with a 167 (87-80). Carlan Campbell rounded out the top-10 with a 168 (81-87) for the Yellowjackets. Joining Mee and Shackelford on the all-tournament team were Kyla Clancy of Rocky Mountain College, and Katie Fish and Cleveland of MSUB. Clancy finished in third place overall with a score of 155 (75-80), helping her team to a second-place finish at 674 (338-336). AHEAD: The tournament wrapped up the fall portion of the schedule for the MSUB women, who return to the greens in March at the Cal State Monterey Bay Invitational.
Senior Mariah Cleveland.
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MSUB Yellowjacket Fall Invite Pryor Creek Golf Course Huntley, MT Women's 6,278-yard, par-72 Dates: Oct 02 - Oct 03
Start
4 T1 T1 3 8 T5 7 9 10 T5 T11 T11 T13 T13 T19 T17 T13 16 T19 T19 T17 T22 25 T22 T22
Finish
Player
T1 T1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 T14 T14 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Jackie Mee Haley Shackelford Kyla Clancy Katie Fish Mariah Cleveland Cayley Fish McKenzie Webinger Sammy Walter * Bailee Dexter Carlan Campbell * Rachel Miles Chere Anderson Rachelle Navarro Sarina Myers McKenna Levesque Kristen Day * Kara Osterback Elle Milohov Gabrielle jones * Mackenzie Redman Paxton Castle * Annie Olsen Courtnee Zuehlsdorff Abi Forseth Jordan Sparby
Team
Carroll College MT Montana State-Billings Rocky Mountain Coll. Montana State-Billings Montana State-Billings Montana State-Billings Rocky Mountain Coll. Montana State-Billings Montana State-Billings Montana State-Billings Carroll College MT Rocky Mountain Coll. Carroll College MT Rocky Mountain Coll. Rocky Mountain Coll. Central Wyoming Carroll College MT Miles CC Carroll College MT Carroll College MT Rocky Mountain Coll. Miles CC Miles CC Miles CC Miles CC
GOLFSTAT COLLEGIATE SCORING SYSTEM
Scores
78 75 75 76 85 81 82 86 87 81 88 88 93 93 98 97 93 96 98 98 97 111 115 111 111
75 78 80 80 73 78 80 77 80 87 85 87 88 94 89 91 96 99 105 114 116 111 109 115 119
Mark Laesch - COPYRIGHT © 2014,| All2014-15 Rights Reserved, Golfstat 26 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com Season Book
153 153 155 156 158 159 162 163 167 168 173 175 181 187 187 188 189 195 203 212 213 222 224 226 230
+9 +9 +11 +12 +14 +15 +18 +19 +23 +24 +29 +31 +37 +43 +43 +44 +45 +51 +59 +68 +69 +78 +80 +82 +86
After winning Yellowjacket Fall Invite, Hedge named GNAC Golfer of the Week October 6, 2014 MSUB’s Jake Hedge is tabbed GNAC Golfer of the Week after winning a three-player playoff round to capture medalist honors at last week’s Yellowjacket Fall Invitational. PORTLAND, Ore. – Jake Hedge played the 18th hole a total of five times at Pryor Creek Golf Club last week, but it wasn’t until the fifth that he claimed medalist honors at the Yellowjacket Fall Invitational after a three-person playoff. Hedge made eagle on the third time through the playoff hole, and has been selected as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s Golfer of the Week as announced by the conference office Monday. “It’s great to see Jake rewarded for his hard work with this honor,” said MSUB golf head coach Shawn O’Brien. Hedge, teammate Gage Huft and Hunter Anderson of Rocky Mountain College were each tied for first place after two rounds of golf on Friday evening. Each player made par on the playoff 18th hole twice, before Hedge ended the tournament with an eagle on the third time through the hole. On the tournament, Hedge shot a 69 and a 74, finishing with a 1-under par 143 on the 6,460-yard, par-72 course. Hedge’s round of 69 was tied for the lowest on the tournament. His effort helped MSUB to the team title at the event, as the Yellowjackets finished with a 584 (290-294) to top the eight-team field. The conference honor is the first of the season for Hedge and the MSUB men’s golf team. @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 27
Tournament 4 - Men Chico State Invitational 4th of 15
Berg helps MSUB men to 4th-place finish at Chico State Invitational October 7, 2014 MSUB freshman Austin Berg finishes in fourth place with a 2-under par 214, helping the men’s golf team to a fourth-place finish at the Chico State Invitational Tuesday. CHICO, Calif. – After turning in a pair of excellent rounds on Day 1 of the Chico State Invitational, Montana State University Billings men’s golf freshman Austin Berg finished strong in the final round of the tournament Tuesday to take fourth place and help his team to a fourth-place finish at Butte Creek Country Club. Berg held a 3-under par score of 141 (69-72) after Day 1 of the event, and finished with a 73 in the final round to bring his total to 214. Berg’s 12 birdies were the second-most by an individual in the tournament. “Austin had an exceptional tournament,” said MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “Any time a freshman can step up and post good scores like he did this week, it is going to help our team performance.” The effort helped MSUB to a top-5 finish among the field of 15 teams, as the ‘Jackets finished with a team score of 895 (293-296-306). “Although we did not play our best golf today, I’m proud of our overall performance,” said O’Brien. “Our goal was to get as many head-to-head victories against regional opponents as possible and by finishing in fourth place we accomplished that goal.” Senior Jake Hedge tied for 12th place in the tournament, firing a 221 (75-71-75) over his three rounds. Austin Westphal finished tied for 30th, shooting a three-round total of 229 (75-74-80) for the ‘Jackets.
28 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
Ten strokes behind Westphal was Gage Huft, who carded a 239 (74-83-82) on the tournament, and Tanner Berg recovered after withdrawing from the first round to shoot scores of 79 and 78 in his final two rounds of play. Winning medalist honors was Adam Stone of Cal State East Bay, who stormed to the top of the leaderboard with a tournament-low round of 66 on the final day. Stone finished with a score of 206 (71-69-66), winning the title by three strokes over Day 1 leader Alistair Docherty of Chico State (209, 71-68-70). Dochtery’s teammate Justin Wiles was the only other player ahead of Austin Berg, with a 213 (75-68-70), as Chico State captured the team title with a three-round score of 865 (297-284-284) at the 6,990-yard, par-72 course. Dixie State finished in second place with a team score of 875 (293-293-289), and Sonoma State was third with a mark of 882 (295-293-294).
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InterWest Wildcat Classic
Butte Creek Country Club Chico, CA InterWest Wildcat Classic - Butte Creek Country Club and InterWest Wildcat Classic - Butte Creek Country Club Dates: Oct 06 - Oct 07
finish 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
top 20 schools Chico State Dixie State College Sonoma State Montana State-Billings, U. of Cal State East Bay Academy of Art University Dominican (CA) CSU-San Bernardino William Jessup U. CSU-Dominguez Hills Northwest Nazarene Holy Names University Notre Dame De Namur Simpson University Hope International
finish top 20 players 1 Adam Stone 2 Alistair Docherty 3 Justin Wiles 4 Austin Berg 5 Lee Gearhart T6 Hayden Christensen T6 Pedro Oviedo T6 Kenny You T9 Taylor Hood T9 Kenny Maroney T9 Gustavo Romero T12 Jake Hedge T12 Dylan Neal T12 Dane Nelson T15 Eric Ash T15 Forbes Collins T15 Mark Milton 18 Ryan Saldana T19 Clarence DeVera T19 Ryan Roodzant *
297 293 295 293 311 300 306 311 303 301 311 320 311 324 326
scores 284 284 293 289 293 294 296 306 297 293 306 299 296 304 299 297 309 304 314 310 315 303 313 297 310 329 313 316 326 316
school Cal State East Bay Chico State Chico State Montana State-Billings, U. of Chico State Dixie State College Holy Names University Dixie State College CSU-San Bernardino Sonoma State Academy of Art University Montana State-Billings, U. of William Jessup U. Dixie State College Sonoma State Dominican (CA) Dominican (CA) CSU-Dominguez Hills Hope International Chico State
GOLFSTAT COLLEGIATE SCORING SYSTEM
71 71 75 69 74 69 72 72 72 73 75 75 71 78 73 78 75 72 74 75
865 +1 875 +11 882 +18 895 +31 901 +37 905 +41 906 +42 907 +43 916 +52 925 +61 929 +65 930 +66 950 +86 953 +89 968 +104 69 68 68 72 71 76 75 74 73 73 72 71 77 73 69 73 74 74 76 78
scores 66 206 -10 70 209 -7 70 213 -3 73 214 -2 70 215 -1 72 217 +1 70 217 +1 71 217 +1 74 219 +3 73 219 +3 72 219 +3 75 221 +5 73 221 +5 70 221 +5 80 222 +6 71 222 +6 73 222 +6 77 223 +7 74 224 +8 71 224 +8
Mark Laesch - COPYRIGHT © 2014,| All2014-15 Rights Reserved, Golfstat 30 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com Season Book
Berg’s top-5 finish earns GNAC Golfer of the Week honors October 9, 2014 Finishing in fourth place at the Chico State Invitational earlier this week, MSUB men’s golf freshman Austin Berg earns GNAC Golfer of the Week honors by shooting a 2-under par 214. PORTLAND, Ore. – Leading the Montana State University Billings men’s golf team to a fourth-place finish at the Chico State InterWest Classic earlier this week, Yellowjacket freshman Austin Berg has been selected as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week announced by the conference office on Thursdy. Berg finished in fourth place individually, carding a 2-under par 214 on the tournament with rounds of 69, 72, and 73. Berg also had a dozen birdies at the event, marking the second-highest total by an individual. The freshman’s effort helped MSUB to the fourth-place finish among the field of 15 teams, as MSUB shot a score of 895 (293-296-306). Berg is the second MSUB men’s golfer in-a-row to collect the GNAC award, as senior Jake Hedge was picked for the honor last week after winning the Yellowjacket Fall Invitational in dramatic playoff fashion. MSUB wrapped up its fall schedule with the California tournament, and will return to the greens in March to kick off the 2015 portion of its schedule with the Yellowjacket Spring Invite.
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Spring preview: Yellowjacket women return to greens next week March 12, 2015 After working out indoors over the winter, the MSUB women’s golf team will return to the course next week, kicking off their spring season with a dual match against Rocky Mountain College. BILLINGS, Mont. – After logging eight rounds in the fall, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team sits in second place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, with an average score of 320.0. The Yellowjackets will look to five key returners in the spring as they prepare to make another run towards the conference championships, set for April 20-21 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in Idaho. Last year, the MSUB women finished as the runners-up at the championships. “We have a young team this spring and a lot of them will be counted on, and the main focus for us is to build,” said MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “Mariah Cleveland is going to be our senior captain this spring and she is going to have an opportunity to lead by example.” A senior captain on the team in the spring, Cleveland is coming off her best career round as a Yellowjacket. In MSUB’s fall invitational, Cleveland logged a 73 in her final round for her personal best. Overall through the fall season her average sits at 82 strokes per round. The ‘Jackets also saw promise out of some of their younger players, with sophomore Haley Shackelford and freshmen Sammy Walter and Bailee Dexter having an impact right away.
32 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
Shackelford is MSUB’s leading returner heading into the spring, having posted an average score of 81.3 in the fall. She tied for first place at MSUB’s fall tournament, posting rounds of 75 and 78 to lead the Yellowjackets. “Haley being a sophomore really led our team and will probably play our number one for the spring,” O’Brien said. “She has come out, been really consistent, and had some low rounds which is great to see from an underclassman.” Breaking in during their first semester as student-athletes, Walter and Dexter were key for the ‘Jackets with scoring averages of 81.8 and 83.0, respectively. Dexter competed in all four events for MSUB in the fall, logging a low round of 78 and one top-10 finish. Walter also had a top-10 finished, and turned in a low-round score of 77. “Sammy and Bailee have done a great job as true freshmen coming in and getting to play in the fall,” said O’Brien. “Both had their moments at times and the more that they play the better they will become.” Senior Carlan Campbell will also factor into the rotation this spring, after competing in two events in the fall and posting a scoring average of 84.0. The Yellowjackets’ spring season will start with a two-day dual match against Rocky Mountain College that will run March 16-17. Monday’s action will take place at Pryor Creek Golf Club in Huntley, Mont., and the teams will then move to Peter Yegen Golf Club in Billings on Tuesday. MSUB’s first major tournament of the spring is set for March 23-24 in Seaside, Calif., at the Cal State Monterey Bay Invitational. The Yellowjackets will have their first look at top regional opponents at the Otter Invitational, one of three tournaments on tap this spring.
Freshman Sammy Walter.
“It’s definitely a great opportunity for this team to be able to go to Monterey Bay,” Cleveland said. “Seeing competition like that motivates our team.” The ‘Jackets will then return home to host the St. Vincent Healthcare Yellowjacket Spring Invitational, set for March 30-31 at Pryor Creek Golf Club. Back on the road the following week, the ‘Jackets will have their final test before the conference championships as they participate in the Western New Mexico Invitational at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Ariz., from March 3-4. “All the tournaments that we play in the spring are nice in that they have strong fields and the quality is top notch,” O’Brien said.
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Spring preview: MSUB men meet Battlin’ Bears in dual match next week March 12, 2015 With a dual match against Rocky Mountain College set to kick off the spring season, the MSUB men’s golf team is back in action next week. BILLINGS, Mont. – Two strong performances to close out the fall set up the Montana State University Billings men’s golf team for a promising spring, as the Yellowjackets won their Fall Invitational tournament and placed fourth out of 15 teams at the Chico State Invitational on Oct. 7, 2014. With the spring schedule set to kick off next week, the ‘Jackets will begin with a dual match against Rocky Mountain College on Monday and Tuesday before hosting the St. Vincent Healthcare Yellowjacket Invitational at Pryor Creek Golf Club from March 30-31. “We are excited about the opportunity to get out and play next week, and it will be some good competition early in the spring,” commented MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “When we can get out and play this time of year we need to take advantage of it.” Monday’s round will be played at MSUB’s home course, Pryor Creek Golf Club in Huntley, Mont., before the teams finish up on Tuesday at Peter Yegen Golf Club in Billings. After hosting their spring invitational tournament, the ‘Jackets are scheduled to play in the Western New Mexico Invitational from April 6-7 at Palm Valley Golf Course in Goodyear, Ariz., before heading to Turlock, Calif., for the Cal State Stanislaus Invitational at Turlock Country Club from April 13-14.
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Holding the second-best scoring average in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, senior Jake Hedge fired six par rounds and a low score of 68 in the fall while averaging 71.8 strokes per round to lead the team. Hedge earned GNAC Golfer of the Week honors for Sept. 29 – Oct 5, after winning the Yellowjackets’ fall tournament and helping MSUB to the team victory. “We are excited to be back out there and to get going again on a familiar course,” Hedge said looking ahead to next week’s dual match. “I try not to think too much about scores, but just about helping the team as much as possible and setting a good example for the other guys.” Austin Westphal, the reigning GNAC Newcomer of the Year, finished the fall with an average of 75.2 and a low round score of 72 through his first four events of the season. “We are definitely going to rely on our upperclassmen to carry us this spring, as they did in the fall,” O’Brien said. “Jake has played outstanding and Austin has been very consistent, and we will probably rely on Houston Bradbury as well.” Fitting into the mix along with MSUB’s upperclassmen, freshman Austin Berg had an outstanding debut by averaging 74.7 strokes and earning medalist honors at the Chico State Invite. Berg was selected as the GNAC Golfer of the Week after the strong performance, as he placed fourth overall at the tournament with a 2-under par 214 over three rounds. Senior Austin Westphal. to do the same as what Jake has done in terms of level of play.”
“Austin has had a fantastic season and has played very consistent throughout the fall,” O’Brien said. “We are going to look to him
With a team average of 292.9 through the fall, the Yellowjackets are the second-ranked team in the GNAC behind Simon Fraser (289.8). The conference championships will be played at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in Idaho from April 20-21. “We are excited about the conference championships, and our goal is definitely to be a contender,” O’Brien commented. “We have a very strong conference and we are ranked ninth in the region right now on Golfstat, and our main goal is to make sure we stay in the top-10.”
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Yellowjacket women collect 3-1 match play win over Rocky March 16, 2015 Facing Rocky Mountain College in a non-counting match play contest Monday, the MSUB women’s golf team picked up a 3-1 victory. HUNTLEY, Mont. – Facing cross-town rival Rocky Mountain College in a match play on Monday, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team picked up a 3-1 victory over the Battlin’ Bears at Pryor Creek Golf Club. “Our women played very well today,” commented MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “I was very pleased with our tee shots and approach shots. This was a good day for our women, and I hope we continue this success into next week.” Freshmen Bailee Dexter and Sammy Walter beat opponents McKenna Levesque and Makenzie Wasson, respectively. Dexter played strong from the start with a 5-and-4 victory, and Walter followed suit with a 4-and-3 win. Senior Mariah Cleveland held tough against Chere Anderson, picking up a 3-and-2 win for the ‘Jackets. Playing their schools’ respective No. 1 spots, Kyla Clancy of RMC edged Haley Shackelford 2-and-1 as their match came down to the 17th hole. “Bailee and Sammy played extremely well and confidently,” O’Brien said. “Mariah fought hard through her rounds and pulled away at the end giving us the winning point. Haley faced a very strong opponent and stepped up to the challenge, bringing the match all the way to the end.” Dexter was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day. The ‘Jackets are next in action next week, as they head to Seaside, Calif., for the Cal State Monterey Bay Invitational. The tournament is scheduled to run March 23-24 at the Black Horse Golf Club. MSUB will then return home to host its St. Vincent Healthcare Spring Invitational running March 30-31 at Pryor Creek Golf Club. “Our goal was to prepare for this upcoming weekend, when we travel to California to start our spring season,” O’Brien said. Women’s Singles Match Play – MSU Billings 3, Rocky Mountain College 1 Kyla Clancy (RMC) def. Haley Shackelford (MSUB) (Up 2 with 1 Hole to Play) Mariah Cleveland (MSUB) def. Chere Anderson (RMC) (Up 3 with 2 holes to play) Bailee Dexter (MSUB) def. McKenna Levesque (RMC) (Up 5 with 4 holes to play)
Sammy Walter (MSUB) def. Makenzie Wasson (RMC) (Up 4 with 3 holes to play) 36 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
MSUB falls to Rocky men in match play Monday March 16, 2015 Three individual matches go the distance but Rocky edges MSUB in men’s golf match play, winning five and drawing the sixth to defeat the Yellowjackets on Monday. HUNTLEY, Mont. – Three of the six matches between the Montana State University Billings and Rocky Mountain College men’s golf teams went the full 18 holes, but the Battlin’ Bears emerged the victor with five head-to-head wins and a draw on Monday at Pryor Creek Golf Club. “Although the outcome was not what we wanted, we played against a strong competitor today,” said MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “As a team, we scored very well, but Rocky had a great day and hit some shots and putts when they needed them.” Battling back-and-forth from the start, Houston Bradbury took Tayler Noble to the limit as the pair finished their 18 holes dead-even. The half-point was all MSUB got throughout the day, although two other matches went the full 18. Austin Westphal fell to Jordy Donoven and Austin Berg lost to Nathan Cachia, each by one hole. Tyler Ordahl picked up a 2-and-1 win over Dalton Hagadone, and Cooper Simpson rolled to a 5-and-4 win over Parker Bradbury. Playing at No. 1, Daniel Thompsett collected a 3-and-1 win over Jake Hedge. Houston Bradbury was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day for earning MSUB’s lone half-point. “A lot of pairings came down to the end, which meant that our players never gave up,” O’Brien said. “We have had to battle through some adversity losing three of our top-six players this spring, and this is going to show what kind of depth we have. Some players are going to have the opportunity to play in our top five, and when they do they will need to produce.” The ‘Jackets are next in action on March 30-31 when they host the St. Vincent Healthcare Spring Invitational which will also take place at Pryor Creek Golf Club. “Our goal for today was to get some competitive rounds in and prepare for our opening spring tournament in a couple of weeks,” O’Brien said. “I hope today’s results motivate our players, as we will see Rocky again in two weeks.” Men’s Singles Match Play – Rocky Mountain College 5.5, MSU Billings 0.5 Daniel Thompsett (RMC) def. Jake Hedge (MSUB) (Down 3 with 1 hole to play) Nathan Cachia (RMC) def. Austin Berg (MSUB) (Down 1 after 18 holes) Jordy Donoven (RMC) def. Austin Westphal (MSUB) (Down 1 after 18 holes) Houston Bradbury (MSUB) tied Tayler Noble (RMC) (Even after 18 holes) Cooper Simpson (RMC) def. Parker Bradbury (MSUB) (Down 5 with 4 holes to play) Tyler Ordahl (RMC) def. Dalton Hagadone (MSUB) (Down 2 with 1 hole to play)
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Cleveland chasing happiness on the greens, set to pursue career as athletic trainer March 17, 2015 Recently being accepted into MSUB’s master’s program for athletic training, Yellowjacket women’s golf senior Mariah Cleveland has found her passion on the course and in her work helping athletes. MSUB SPORTS – Upon the arrival of a brisk Monday afternoon, Mariah Cleveland and the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team take to the driving range at Pryor Creek Golf Club, getting off some quite literal warm-up shots before a dual match against Rocky Mountain College. A thick overcast layer teases at preventing pairings from playing, peppering the course and its inhabitants with harmless, white, Styrofoam-like pellets of half-snow, half-hail. Despite the uncooperative elements, it is business as usual with three men’s foursomes leading the pack and two women’s foursomes following suit. Cleveland is in the same group as MSUB’s Haley Shackelford, a sophomore brimming with potential and playing at the team’s No. 1 slot. As the two make their way through the course along with their counterparts from RMC, Cleveland begins to tell her own story. It’s not one that starts at Point A before being led predictably through to a picturesque ending. It’s not her soft, cheerful voice bringing it to life. Rather, she carves a complex narrative, best exemplified through the strokes she takes. Each club represents a different layer, the decision to use each made with expert care – and a little help from her yardage scope. Winding through the front nine, the trail group finally reaches the ninth tee, taking a brief reprieve as the previous group pushes its balls beneath the earth’s surface 418 yards in the distance. 38 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
After driving her tee shot to the right, Cleveland’s approach shot curls left, skipping wide of the narrow avenue to the green and displacing several thousand grains of sand as it comes to rest in a shallow bunker. It is a fitting result for a player whose self-admitted weakness is her midrange approach shot, but who thrives in her chipping game. While the club selection for her next shot is not a difficult one to make, as she draws out her 56-degree Cleveland wedge it holds somewhat of a deeper meaning. “It’s my name,” she says with a smile, a hilariously brief yet fitting comment as she keeps the mood light before striking the ball. It is with her self-titled iron that she’ll calmly step into the sand, and dig herself out of a tough situation – a perfect metaphor for what she has overcome throughout her life. GETTING UP TO PAR WITH COLLEGE GOLF A native of Laurel, Mont., Cleveland had her sights set on attending Montana State University in Bozeman, Mont., up until the spring of her senior year at Laurel High School. A two-sport standout in basketball and golf, it was the desire to pursue the latter that drew Cleveland’s attention towards MSU Billings. “I think it was about two weeks until graduation when I first contacted Shawn about potentially playing here,” Cleveland said regarding her first correspondence with MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “The school had the education program I wanted and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to play a game that I loved.” “At the time, I knew very little about Mariah, but people around the community said she had a strong work ethic, strong academics and a good attitude,” O’Brien said. “When we look at adding a student-athlete to our program, those are three really strong traits that we desire and Mariah fit all three.” The transition to college was relatively simple for Cleveland, whose father Cory is an MSUB alum. The level of competition she witnessed on the course stood out most, as stories of then-senior Kalli Stanhope making it to the NCAA National Championships as an individual in 2011 illustrated just how serious the game was. Cleveland herself was coming off of the best performances of her career, both in golf and basketball. After helping the Locomotives to their first state championship game appearance in four seasons in the winter basketball season, Cleveland placed third as an individual in the Class A golf state championships in the spring of 2011.
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Standing 5-foot-5 and a natural guard on the hardwood, it wasn’t until her sophomore year of high school that Cleveland picked up golf. “My dad was my biggest influence with golf and he thought it was a good opportunity for me,” said Cleveland. “In high school a lot of people play golf just for fun, but here you have awesome athletes that you get to compete with. It makes the experience that much more exciting.” One of those athletes she had grown up competing with and against was Janiel Olson, who set out to pursue her career as a basketball player at MSUB after graduating the same year as Cleveland. The two had met through their experience together with the 4-H organization selling steers as kids, and played on traveling basketball teams together up until high school. In a game between Olson’s Billings West Broncs and Cleveland’s Locomotives their senior season, a particular play remains fresh in their memories four years later. “I was on a full-blown fast-break towards the basket, and there was Mariah getting set to take a charge,” Olson remembered with a laugh. “It was too late for me to change my path so I plowed her into the bleachers. She ended up getting called for a block, and I have to admit it was the most terrible call I have ever experienced but it went my way.” Cleveland responded to her good friend’s tough-love gesture on the ensuing possession, burying a 3-pointer despite Olson’s determined hand in her face. “We just looked at each other and started laughing,” Olson said. Continuing their friendship as house mates at MSUB, Olson has drawn inspiration from Cleveland as an athlete and within her daily life as well. As the 2013-14 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year fights to recover from a torn ACL, Cleveland has been there by her side every step of the way offering support. “Mariah was one of the first people to get in touch with me and offered me help with anything she could do,” Olson said regarding her injury. “She has been such a good friend and she has truly helped me get back on the court and get my mind right.” Cleveland’s role as a friend and inspiration to Olson is one that was drawn from her own experiences through tough times. While there were times during her injury that Olson felt helpless and down, Cleveland was one who could relate directly. LIVING UNDER A VAIL Showing rapid improvement on the course, it wasn’t long before Cleveland became a major contributor for the Yellowjackets. “Mariah went from averaging around 90 to averaging around 80 in less than 12 months,” O’Brien commented. “One of the biggest things that she will leave behind is that if you work hard and buy into a system, you will be rewarded for your effort.” One would be hard-pressed to recognize Cleveland’s stroke as being just four-years in the making by her sophomore season, but while her scores were dropping, she began to struggle on and off the course mentally. What had grown into being much more than a game, golf slowly became a task, something Cleveland was required to go to regularly. Her passion began to slip, not just on the course, but within school in general. Homework assignments became incompletable, the routine of going to class seemed pointless. 40 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
“I wasn’t happy, and I just felt stuck,” she said. “I became distant, and I didn’t know what to do.” Cleveland found herself trapped in a way, unsure of herself and the experience she was having on a daily basis. By the summer after her sophomore year, one of her close friends at the time recognized the struggle Cleveland was going through and offered a refreshing opportunity that ended up helping to change her perspective. “Krista Norris and her family welcomed me to spend the summer with them in Vail, Colorado, and it was the perfect escape and something completely different than I had ever experienced,” Cleveland recalled. “I was so fortunate to be welcomed by them.” The chance to get away from her home town for a few months and forget about the stress and uncertainty she faced gave Cleveland somewhat of a fresh start. When she returned in the fall for school however, she began to feel herself slip back into the same negative routine and she lost confidence. Taking Cleveland under her wing was MSUB assistant athletic trainer Lindsay Sullivan, who slowly talked her through her struggles and helped Cleveland realign herself. “I just told her that I know it gets hard sometimes, and little-by-little she started making progress,” Sullivan said. Cleveland also sought condolence from her coach, as she felt that through her personal struggles she had let her team down. “I met with Shawn and he reassured me that I was still important to the team and that I had his support,” Cleveland said. “That spring during my junior year was one of the best of my career.” REMOVING THE TRAINING WHEELS Bouncing back in a big way as a junior, Cleveland once again found the passion for golf that she always had deep within herself. Taking to the greens continued to be her escape from everyday life, but practicing and competing was no longer a chore or something Cleveland felt she had to do. Her desire to learn and grow as a student came back in full force, as she went from being uncertain of whether or not she would complete a bachelor’s degree to recently being accepted into MSUB’s athletic training master’s program.
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In the fall of 2014 Cleveland completed an internship in the athletic training room under the supervision of Sullivan, as she uncovered the career she intends to pursue after college. “This fall Mariah really found her niche and where she belonged the most,” Sullivan said. “She was given a lot more responsibility than some people would have during her internship, and I can tell she has the same passion for athletic training that I did when I was her age.” “Lindsay has been an awesome mentor through everything and has really taught me the ropes,” Cleveland said. “Through the last six months I have truly found my passion lies with helping athletes through their careers.” In addition to the work she has done assisting MSUB’s athletic trainers, Cleveland has spent the past year as an assistant coach at Laurel High with the girls basketball team as she further broadens her early career opportunities. CHASE OF A LIFETIME From the days Cleveland struggled finding a reason to attend classes and practices, to her recent acceptance into MSUB’s post-graduate program, golf has been one of the constants throughout the path she has led. What has shone through brighter than anything else, however, have been those in her family who she is closest to. “My mom is my rock for everything,” Cleveland said regarding her mother Holly Adams. “We haven’t always had the closest relationship but in the past couple of years we have grown much tighter.” Cleveland spent her early years as an only child, but had always desired to have siblings and especially a brother. As an 11-year-old, Cleveland got her wish in the form of twin sisters, Hannah and Haylee. Incredibly, three years later she became the big sister to another set of twins, this time a brother and a sister, Lacey. Not only did Cleveland now have a little brother, but a phone call she received from her father made the siblings’ connection closer than ever. “My brother and I have a super special bond,” Cleveland said. “When he was born, my dad surprised me and asked me what I wanted to name him.” Chase James Cleveland was the verdict, and since Day 1 Cleveland has made sure she has been influential in all of her siblings’ lives. “They are all my life, they keep me going and they’re my best buds,” Cleveland said regarding her sisters and brother. “They definitely inspire me to be a good influence and role model, and I love teaching them sports. They are my world, and as they get older I want them to know that they can make it through anything, no matter what life throws at you.”
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SIGHTS, SOUNDS, LIFE LESSONS FROM THE COURSE “The most admirable thing about Mariah’s success here at MSUB is her step-by-step performance bettering herself and her teammates. A coach could not ask for a better student-athlete to come into his or her program and have such a strong contribution.” – MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien on senior Mariah Cleveland. The 14th hole at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, featuring the world-famous floating green, has cost many a golfer more than a couple of Titleists. It is the scene of the GNAC Championships, and the hole is the toughest – and most unique – ever attempted in the eyes of Cleveland. The cover protecting Cleveland’s putter bears the emblem of the Pebble Beach Golf Club, a souvenir collected during her career providing a daily reminder of her tour of one of the most famous golf courses in the United States. These are just two highlights from Cleveland’s college experience, moments she won’t soon forget, but also that she will have the chance to take in again. The Yellowjackets are headed to Seaside, Calif., this weekend to prepare for next week’s Cal State Monterey Bay Invitational, and will again have the chance to view the historic course at Pebble Beach. Come April, Cleveland will return with her team to Coeur d’Alene, Idhao, as MSUB seeks to build upon last season’s strong second-place finish at the conference championships. Awaiting her will be the ever-deceptive floating green. “I get out to practice and play as often as I can because I love the sport, and I want to help my team be as successful as we can this last spring of my senior year,” Cleveland said. “Our goal is to be one of, if not the top team at the conference tournament, and we always have great competition especially with Western Washington. With the team we have this spring, we are competitors and we aren’t going to give up. I will encourage them to keep striving, because you never know what can happen on a golf course.” As Cleveland plays in the final tournaments of her collegiate career this spring, each time she finds herself in a bunker or mishits an approach shot she’ll be reminded that it is very easy to get buried and feel stuck or trapped. With her 56-degree Cleveland wedge by her side, the golfer Mariah Cleveland has grown into will line up her next shot with the simple, honest mindset that, “it will be okay.” The person she has become lives by those words, breaking free and carrying on stronger than ever.
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Tournament 5 - Women Cal State Monterey Bay Otter Invitational 11th of 12
‘Jacket women show improvement in final round of Otter Invitational March 24, 2015 Improving its score in the second round of the Otter Invitational, the MSUB women’s golf team finishes up play on Tuesday afternoon in California. SEASIDE, Calif. – Posting a team score of 353 on the final day of the Cal State Monterey Bay Otter Invitational, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team finished competition at Black Horse Golf Course on Tuesday. “Our women hit the ball much better today,” commented MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “We played a very difficult golf course, which we found through further experience will benefit our team more.” The Yellowjackets finished the two-round event in 11th place, shooting a team score of 367 on the first day and improving to a 353 on Day 2 for a total of 720.
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Freshman Sammy Walter led the team in the final round, shooting an 82 and making par or better on seven of her 18 holes. The Billings native started the back nine strong, making birdie on the par-4 10th hole and par on the par-4 11th. Overall, she finished tied for 57th after shaving 13 strokes off of her first-day total of 95. Walter was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day. Senior Mariah Cleveland was the highest overall finisher for the ‘Jackets, improving to an 86 on Day 2 after an 89 on Day 1. Her two-round total of 175 placed her in 54th among individuals. Finishing tied for 65th was Bailee Dexter, a freshman who shot rounds of 91 and 92 for MSUB. Dexter made par on three holes Tuesday, and also fired a two-stroke birdie on the par-3 fifth hole on the front nine holes. Rounding out the field for the ‘Jackets was sophomore Haley Shackelford, who shot a two-round total of 185 (92-93). Shackelford made par on six holes on Round 2, and shot a strong 4-over par on the back nine Tuesday. Nova Southeastern captured the team title at the tournament, shooting rounds of 303 and 304 for a total of 607. The team captured a 10-stroke victory over second-place Dallas Baptist, which shot 309308 for a 617. Individually, Mailen Domec Chantry of Nova Southeastern followed her 74 in Round 1 with another 74 in the second round to capture medalist honors. Her two-round total of 148 gave her a two-stroke victory over Sydney Williams of Dallas Baptist and Linda Brown of Cal State East Bay, who finished tied for second at 150.
Freshman Bailee Dexter. NEXT UP: MSUB returns home for the 2015 St. Vincent Healthcare Yellowjacket Invitational, which runs March 30-31 at Pryor Creek Golf Club in Huntley, Mont. The Yellowjacket men will also participate in the two-day event next week. “I am excited to get back home and prepare for our tournament next Monday and Tuesday,” O’Brien said. “I believe playing the last couple of days will benefit us greatly.” Results Team – 1. Nova Southeastern, 607 (303-304); 11. Montana State University Billings, 720 (367-353). Individual – 1. Mailen Domec Chantry, Nova Southeastern, 148 (74-74); 54. Mariah Cleveland, MSUB, 175 (89-86); 57. Sammy Walter, MSUB, 177 (95-82); 65. Bailee Dexter, MSUB, 183 (91-92); 67. Haley Shackelford, MSUB, 185 (92-93).
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CSUMB Women's Otter Invitational Dates: Mar 23-24, 2015 Round: 2 RESULTS Par: 72 Yardage: 5810 Pos.
Top 20 Teams
Rnd 1
Rnd 2
Total
To Par
1 2 3
Nova Southeastern Dallas Baptist CSU-Monterey Bay AcademyArt Point Loma Nazarene Dartmouth Western Washington Shorter Incarnate Word Cal State East Bay Montana St. Billings Holy Names
303 309 301 309 324 323 323 328 322 334 367 376
304 308 326 318 317 322 324 323 340 333 353 394
607 617 627 627 641 645 647 651 662 667 720 770
+31 +41 +51 +51 +65 +69 +71 +75 +86 +91 +144 +194
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Pos.
Top 20 Players
School
Rnd 1
Rnd 2
Total
To Par
1 2
Mailen Domec Chantry Sydney Williams Linda Brown *Dani O'Keefe Arielle Swan-Smith Daniela Ortiz Sterling Hawkins Liliana Cammisa Jane Lee Crystal Wang Brianna Areia Isabelle Kane Sarah Kim Kirsten Pike Jennifer Yu *Bianca Armanini Roxanne Matta Erin Barrington Haley Fuller Michelle Ruiz
Nova Southeastern Dallas Baptist Cal State East Bay Chico State CSU-Monterey Bay Nova Southeastern AcademyArt Nova Southeastern Dartmouth AcademyArt CSU-Monterey Bay Dartmouth Dallas Baptist Dallas Baptist Shorter Chico State AcademyArt Dallas Baptist Point Loma Nazarene Nova Southeastern
74 76 78 77 71 76 72 72 75 77 73 80 76 82 77 81 79 75 81 82
74 74 72 74 80 75 80 81 80 78 83 76 80 74 79 76 78 82 76 76
148 150 150 151 151 151 152 153 155 155 156 156 156 156 156 157 157 157 157 158
+4 +6 +6 +7 +7 +7 +8 +9 +11 +11 +12 +12 +12 +12 +12 +13 +13 +13 +13 +14
4 7 8 9 11
16
20
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5
Tournament 5 - Men MSUB St. Vincent Healthcare Invitational 1st of 5
Yellowjacket men claim St. Vincent Healthcare Yellowjacket Invite team title March 31, 2015 Jake Hedge finishes with a 5-under par 139 (69-70) and Houston Bradbury is close behind with a 144 (73-71) to push MSUB to the team title in its Spring Invitational at Pryor Creek Tuesday. HUNTLEY, Mont. – After finishing the first round in a deadlock with Rocky Mountain College, the Montana State University Billings men’s golf team fired its second straight 292 in the second round to edge the Battlin’ Bears and claim the team title at the 2015 St. Vincent Healthcare Yellowjacket Spring Invitational Tuesday at Pryor Creek Golf Club. MSU Billings finished with a 584 (292-292) during the two-round event, defeating Rocky Mountain College by six strokes (590, 292-298). “Our men played very well today and battled until the end,” commented MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “Jake played extraordinarily well shooting two under on the day and five under for the tournament.”
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Jake Hedge finished in second place overall, with a 3-under par 139 (69-70) over the two rounds. Hedge finished with 22 pars, eight birdies and one eagle over the 36 total holes in the tournament. Also in the top-5 for the ‘Jackets was Houston Bradbury, who finished tied for third place with a two-round total of 144 (73-71). The senior led the tournament field with 28 pars and he also had four birdies over his two rounds. In eighth place for the Yellowjackets was Austin Westphal, shooting a 149 (77-72). The senior shaved five strokes off of his first-round total, finishing with 24 pars and four birdies. Austin Berg tied for 13th place overall, with a two-round total of 152 (7379). Berg, a freshman, made par 23 times and added four birdies. Parker Bradbury completed the field for the Yellowjackets, finishing in 31st place with a score of 164 (77-87). Freshman Dalton Hagadone also participated in the tournament, scoring a 162 (82-80) as an individual. Taking home medalist honors was Taylor Noble of Rocky Mountain College, who finished with a 137 by following his first-round 66 with a 71 on Day 2. Noble matched Houston Bradbury for the tournament-high with 28 pars, and led the field with 10 birdies. Joining Noble, Hedge, and Bradbury on the all-tournament team was Walker Hoolehan of South Dakota Mines, who finished tied for third with a 144 (75-69), and Connor Hausauer of Carroll College who finished fifth with a 145 (76-69). Bradbury earned the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day honors as he improved two strokes over his Round 1 total and ensure the team win for the ‘Jackets. “Today’s performance will give our team good momentum moving into Arizona next week,” O’Brien said. Results Team – 1. Montana State Billings, 584 (292-292). Individuals – 1. Taylor Noble, Rocky Mountain College, 137 (66-71); 2. Jake Hedge, MSUB, 139 (69-70); T3. Houston Bradbury, MSUB, 144 (73-71); 8. Austin Westphal, MSUB, 149 (77-72); T13. Austin Berg, MSUB, 152 (73-79); 31. Parker Bradbury, MSUB, 164 (77-87). All-Tournament Team Name School R1 R2 Total Taylor Noble Rocky Mountain College 66 71 137 Jake Hedge MSU Billings 69 70 139 Houston Bradbury MSU Billings 73 71 144 Walker Hoolehan South Dakota Mines 75 69 144 Connor Hausauer Carroll College 76 69 145 NEXT UP: The ‘Jackets are set to compete in the Western New Mexico Invitational on April 6-7 at the Palm Valley Golf Course in Goodyear, Ariz. MSUB will then compete in the Cal State Stanislaus Invitational the following week before the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships at the Coeur d’Alene Resort on April 2021. 48 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
MSUB Yellowjacket Spring Inv.
Pryor Creek Golf Course Huntley, MT Pryor Creek Elmer Links Blue (Men) and Pryor Creek Elmer Links Blue (Men) Dates: Mar 30 - Mar 31
Start
1 2 T8 T3 T11 T11 T11 T14 T14 T8 T3 T14 T8 T3 T3 T26 7 18 T19 T36 25 T26 T30 T30 T19 T36 T26 T26 T32 T19 T14 T32 T43 T41 T41 T32 T36 T22 T22 T22 T32 T39 T39 T43 46
Finish
Player
1 2 T3 T3 5 6 7 8 9 T10 T10 T10 T13 T13 T15 T15 T17 T17 T19 T19 21 22 T23 T23 T23 T23 27 28 T29 T29 31 T32 T32 34 T35 T35 T37 T37 39 T40 T40 42 43 44
Team
Taylor Noble Jake Hedge Walker Hoolehan Houston Bradbury Connor Hausauer Tyler Westwater * Daniel Thompsett Austin Westphal Rob Harding * Colin Gunstream Justin Galiher Jordy Donoven Matt Stiegel Austin Berg Hunter Anderson Jake McKinney * Shay Ridl Fredrik Savestrand Bobby Anderson Charlie Buck Philip Holten Tyler Ordahl Nathan Cachia Michael Lavin Drew Pitt Zane Clark * Jackson Klee Dalton Hagadone * Anthony Wood Brandon Meyer Parker Bradbury Austin Egan Greg Jones * Doug Sayer * Chace Daskalos Isaac Bliek Chase Farrell Korey Pryer Cooper Simpson Andy Boyer Cory Felde Ryan Ellis * Justin Burk * Tyler Faw *
45 Jace VavRosky
Scores
Rocky Mountain College Montana State - Billings South Dakota School of Mines Montana State - Billings Carroll College MT Rocky Mountain College (C) Rocky Mountain College Montana State - Billings Central Wyoming College Carroll College MT Carroll College MT Rocky Mountain College South Dakota School of Mines Montana State - Billings Rocky Mountain College Miles CC Rocky Mountain College (C) Rocky Mountain College (B) Rocky Mountain College (B) Rocky Mountain College (C) Rocky Mountain College (C) Rocky Mountain College (B) Rocky Mountain College (B) Carroll College MT South Dakota School of Mines Carroll College MT (B) Rocky Mountain College (B) Montana State - Billings Carroll College MT (B) Rocky Mountain College (C) Montana State - Billings Carroll College MT (B) Carroll College MT (B) South Dakota School of Mines Carroll College MT South Dakota School of Mines Carroll College MT (B) South Dakota School of Mines Rocky Mountain College Carroll College MT (B) Carroll College MT (B) Central Wyoming College Central Wyoming College Rocky Mountain College (C)
66 69 75 73 76 76 76 77 77 75 73 77 75 73 73 82 74 78 79 85 81 82 83 83 79 85 82 82 84 79 77 84 90 88 88 84 85 80 80 80 84 86 86 90
71 70 69 71 69 70 72 72 73 76 78 74 77 79 81 72 81 77 78 72 77 77 77 77 81 75 79 80 79 84 87 81 75 78 79 83 84 89 90 91 87 88 91 88
137 139 144 144 145 146 148 149 150 151 151 151 152 152 154 154 155 155 157 157 158 159 160 160 160 160 161 162 163 163 164 165 165 166 167 167 169 169 170 171 171 174 177 178
-7 -5 E E +1 +2 +4 +5 +6 +7 +7 +7 +8 +8 +10 +10 +11 +11 +13 +13 +14 +15 +16 +16 +16 +16 +17 +18 +19 +19 +20 +21 +21 +22 +23 +23 +25 +25 +26 +27 +27 +30 +33 +34
Rocky Mountain College (C)
97
85
182
+38
GOLFSTAT COLLEGIATE SCORING SYSTEM
Mark Laesch - COPYRIGHT © 2015, All Rights Reserved, Golfstat | 2014-15 Season Book | 49 @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com
Tournament 6 - Women MSUB St. Vincent Healthcare Invitational 1st of 5
Women’s golf cruises to St. Vincent Healthcare Spring Invite team title March 31, 2015 Shaving four strokes off its strong team score of 313 in Round 1, the MSUB women’s golf team shoots a 309 to collect a 45-stroke victory in its spring invitational tournament Tuesday. HUNTLEY, Mont. – With four of its five players finishing in the top-10, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team fired a 622 (313-309) to cruise to the team victory at the 2015 St. Vincent Healthcare Yellowjacket Spring Invitational on Tuesday at Pryor Creek Golf Club. The Yellowjackets led by 30 strokes after a first-round total of 313, and played even better in the second round and tied their 2014-15 single-round season low with a 309 in Round 2. “Our women played amazing today,” said MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “Everyone hit the ball great.” The single round of 309 carded by the Yellowjacket women on Tuesday was the fourth-lowest in the program’s history.
50 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
Sammy Walter led the way for the Yellowjackets in third place by shooting a 154 (78-76), improving by two strokes in her second round. The freshman finished the tournament with 18 pars and five birdies, and was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day on Tuesday. “Sammy is playing fantastic right now and hitting the ball very well,” O’Brien said. Just one stroke behind Walter was Haley Shackelford, who shot a 155 (78-77). Shackelford tied for the second-most pars in the tournament with 22 and had four birdies as well. Finishing in sixth place was freshman Bailee Dexter, who fired a 156 (81-75) and used six fewer strokes her second time through the course. Dexter finished with 17 pars and a tournament second-best six birdies. Mariah Cleveland landed a top-10 finish, shooting a 157 (76-81) over the two rounds. The senior captain tied for the second-most pars with 22 and also had three birdies in the tournament. Also improving on the final day was MSUB’s Carlan Campbell, who cut off 11 strokes and finished with a 179 (95-84). Taking home medalist honors was Kyla Clancy of Rocky Mountain College with a 151 (76-75), as she edged Carroll College’s Jackie Mee (152, 75-77) by one stroke. The Battlin’ Bears finished in a distant second place with a team score of 667 (339-328), while Carroll was two strokes behind in third at 669 (333-336). Clancy, Mee, Walter, and Shackelford each earned all-tournament honors by finishing in the top-5, and Amanda Johnson of Black Hills State joined the group with that honor by tying Shackelford in fourth with a 155 (78-77). “I am excited to get on the road and play in Arizona later this week,” O’Brien said. Senior Results Carlan Campbell. Team – 1. Montana State Billings, 622 (313-309). Individuals – 1. Kyla Clancy, Rocky Mountain College, 151 (76-75); 3. Sammy Walter, MSUB, 154 (78-76); T4. Haley Shackelford, MSUB, 155 (7877); 6. Bailee Dexter, MSUB, 156 (81-75); 7. Mariah Cleveland, MSUB, 157 (76-81); T17. Carlan Campbell, MSUB, 179 (95-84). All-Tournament Team Name School R1 R2 Total Kyla Clancy Rocky Mountain College 76 75 151 Jackie Mee Carroll College 75 77 152 Sammy Walter MSU Billings 78 76 154 Haley Shackelford MSU Billings 78 77 155 Amanda Johnson Black Hills State 78 77 155 NEXT UP: The Yellowjackets will prepare for the Western New Mexico Invitational, which kicks off on Friday at the Palm Valley Golf Course in Goodyear, Ariz. The tournament will serve as the final tune-up before the team’s return to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships at the Coeur d’Alene Resort on April 20-21.
@MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 51
MSUB Yellowjacket Spring Inv.
Pryor Creek Golf Course Huntley, MT Pryor Creek Elmer Links Gold (Women) and Pryor Creek Elmer Links Gold (Women) Dates: Mar 30 - Mar 31
Start
T2 1 T4 T4 T4 T8 T2 12 T8 T10 T14 13 7 T17 T14 T10 T17 T25 T14 T19 23 T21 T21 24 T25 27 T19 29 28 30 33 35 34 31 32 36
Finish
Player
1 2 3 T4 T4 6 7 8 9 10 T11 T11 13 T14 T14 16 T17 T17 T17 T20 T20 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 T29 T29 31 32 T33 T33 35 36
Kyla Clancy Jackie Mee Sammy Walter Haley Shackelford Amanda Johnson Bailee Dexter Mariah Cleveland McKenzie Webinger Cassidy Vollmer Amanda Roberts Ashlyn Pearson Kristen Day * Sydney James Chere Anderson Jaylin Kenny Kara Osterback Shelby Allen Carlan Campbell Makenzie Wasson Alix Kling Kelsey Williams Kaitie Steves McKenna Levesque Madison Hand Rachel Miles Kennede Mathis * Elle Milohov Gabrielle jones * Courtnee Zuehlsdorff Mackenzie Redman * Annie Olsen Jessica Teeslink Jordan Sparby Paxton Castle * Taylor Nelson * Abi Forseth
Team
Rocky Mountain College Carroll College - MT Montana State-Billings Montana State-Billings Black Hills State Montana State-Billings Montana State-Billings Rocky Mountain College South Dakota Sch of Mines & Tech Carroll College - MT Black Hills State Central Wyoming College South Dakota Sch of Mines & Tech Rocky Mountain College Carroll College - MT Carroll College - MT South Dakota Sch of Mines & Tech Montana State-Billings Rocky Mountain College South Dakota Sch of Mines & Tech Black Hills State Black Hills State Rocky Mountain College Black Hills State Carroll College - MT Black Hills State Miles CC Carroll College - MT Miles CC Carroll College - MT Miles CC South Dakota Sch of Mines & Tech Miles CC Rocky Mountain College Carroll College - MT Miles CC
GOLFSTAT COLLEGIATE SCORING SYSTEM
Scores
76 75 78 78 78 81 76 86 81 85 88 87 80 89 88 85 89 95 88 90 92 91 91 94 95 96 90 98 97 101 107 112 108 103 104 119
Mark Laesch - COPYRIGHT © 2015,| All2014-15 Rights Reserved, Golfstat 52 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com Season Book
75 77 76 77 77 75 81 76 85 82 80 81 90 86 87 91 90 84 91 91 89 91 92 90 90 92 100 96 98 94 97 101 107 112 117 111
151 152 154 155 155 156 157 162 166 167 168 168 170 175 175 176 179 179 179 181 181 182 183 184 185 188 190 194 195 195 204 213 215 215 221 230
+5 +6 +8 +9 +9 +10 +11 +16 +20 +21 +22 +22 +24 +29 +29 +30 +33 +33 +33 +35 +35 +36 +37 +38 +39 +42 +44 +48 +49 +49 +58 +67 +69 +69 +75 +84
Tournament 7 - Women Western New Mexico Invitational 14th of 19
Walter cracks top-20 at WNMU Invite for Yellowjacket women April 4, 2015 Finishing with a two-round total of 154, MSUB women’s golf freshman Sammy Walter ties for 19th place at the WNMU Invite and the ‘Jackets finish in 14th of 19 teams. GOODYEAR, Ariz. – After being the top finisher for her team at the 2015 St. Vincent Healthcare Yellowjacket Spring Invitational earlier this week, Montana State University Billings freshman Sammy Walter finished in the top-20 with a two-round total of 154 (76-78) at the Western New Mexico University Invitational Saturday at Palm Valley Golf Club. Walter’s performance landed her in a tie for 19th place overall, and she helped the ‘Jackets to a team score of 648 (323-325) to finish in 14th place among the field of 19 teams. “Our women played very similarly today to the way they did yesterday,” said MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “We are improving day by day and if we continue to make improvements it will set us up well in a couple of weeks.” After leading the team with a 4-over par 76 on Day 1, Walter fired three birdies and seven pars in the second round to post a 78 to lead the team. Walter was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day for the ‘Jackets. @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 53
“Sammy had a very good tournament,” O’Brien said. “Any time you can end up finishing in the top-20 in a field of more than 100 it is a very good performance.” Fellow freshman Bailee Dexter also had a good showing for MSUB, finishing tied for 61st place by shooting a 164 (80-84) over the two rounds. Dexter had a birdie and nine pars in her second round on the course, finishing 6-over par on both the front and back nines on Day 2. Senior Mariah Cleveland and sophomore Haley Shackelford each finished right on the heels of Dexter, tied for 63rd place. Cleveland had nine pars in the second round to finish with a 165 (81-84), while Shackelford had a birdie and a dozen pars her second time through the course to match Cleveland with a 165 (86-79). Shackelford was the lone Yellowjacket to show improvement upon her first round score, shaving off an impressive seven strokes and breaking the 80-barrier with a strong 7-over 79 in Round 2.
Senior Mariah Cleveland.
After leading through the first round, Tarleton State had the top four individual finishers to run away with the team title by shooting a 581 (295-286). Cal Baptist finished in a distant second place with a team score of 597 (303-294).
For Tarleton State, Beatriz Prados won medalist honors by shooting an even-par 144 (73-71), and Sarah Gee was just one stroke behind with a 145 (74-71). Teammates Isabel Jimenez Perea and Wild Casey each tied for third with a score of 146. Laura Scrivner of Cal Baptist was also in the top-5 with a 147 (75-72). Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponents Western Washington and Saint Martin’s each also participated in the tournament, with the Vikings landing in seventh place as a team with a 630 (314-316). Saint Martin’s finished in 18th place with a 677 (338-339), but Jennifer Liedes was the top finisher in the tournament from the GNAC as she tied for 11th place with a 151 (77-74). Results Team – 1. Tarleton State, 581 (295-286); 14. MSU Billings, 648 (323-325). Individuals – 1. Beatriz Prados, Tarleton State, 144 (73-71); T19. Sammy Walter, MSU Billings, 154 (76-78); T61. Bailee Dexter, MSU Billings, 164 (80-84); T63. Mariah Cleveland, MSU Billings, 165 (81-84); T63. Haley Shackelford, MSU Billings, 165 (86-79). “Seeing our young players have success is promising as we are preparing for the GNAC Championships,” O’Brien said. UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets are next in action at the GNAC Championships, coming up at the Coeur d’Alene Resort on April 20-21. MSUB will return to the conference tournament after finishing in second place as a team a season ago behind Western Washington. 54 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
Mustang Intercollegiate Dates: Apr 3-4, 2015 Round: 2 RESULTS Par: 72 Yardage: 5905 Pos.
School
Rnd 1
Rnd 2
Total
To Par
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Tarleton St Cal Baptist St. Edward's Cal State Monterey West Texas A & M Cameron Western Washington Chico State Metro St. Colorado Mesa Regis Cal State East Bay Texas A&M-Commerce Montana St. Billings Adams St. Hawaii-Hilo Western New Mexico St. Martin's Colorado Christian
295 303 308 310 309 302 314 321 315 325 313 324 323 323 332 330 338 338 362
286 294 302 303 309 321 316 310 319 313 325 321 323 325 325 331 336 339 337
581 597 610 613 618 623 630 631 634 638 638 645 646 648 657 661 674 677 699
+5 +21 +34 +37 +42 +47 +54 +55 +58 +62 +62 +69 +70 +72 +81 +85 +98 +101 +123
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
@MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 55 1
Walter nabs first-ever GNAC Golfer of the Week honor April 6, 2015 Twice finishing as the Yellowjackets’ top golfer last week, MSUB freshman Sammy Walter is named GNAC Golfer of the Week for March 30 – April 5. PORTLAND, Ore. – After finishing as the top golfer for the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team in each of the Yellowjackets’ tournaments last week, freshman Sammy Walter has been selected as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week announced by the conference office Monday. “This is a very exciting moment for Sammy as she has worked hard this offseason and is hitting the ball well right now,” said MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “Being a true freshman and playing very solid for us right now is a great accomplishment. Sammy is playing really consistent and has a lot of confidence.” Walter placed third at MSUB’s St. Vincent Healthcare Yellowjacket Spring Invitational, shooting a two-round total of 154 (78-76). Walter improved two strokes between rounds, and her effort helped MSUB run away with the team title, 45 strokes ahead of second-place Rocky Mountain College. Walter had 18 pars and five birdies in the tournament. Facing a quick turnaround, Walter was again the top finisher for the Yellowjackets at the Western New Mexico Invitational, which ran Friday and Saturday at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Ariz. Walter matched her total from earlier in the week with another 154 (76-78), and finished in the top-20 in a field of more than 100 players in a tie for 19th place. Walter had 16 pars and six birdies in the tournament. On the season Walter is averaging 81.2 strokes per round which leads the Yellowjackets. MSUB is next in action at the GNAC Championships, which are set to run April 20-21 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in Idaho. 56 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
Tournament 6 - Men Western New Mexico Invitational 15th of 16
Yellowjackets wrap up WNMU Invite Tuesday April 7, 2015 After playing the first two rounds on Monday, the MSUB men’s golf team finishes up the Western New Mexico Invitational and Jake Hedge and Austin Westphal tie for 18th place. GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Each finishing the Western New Mexico Mustang Invitational with a three-round score of 220, Jake Hedge and Austin Westphal were the top finishers for the Montana State University Billings men’s golf team at Palm Valley Golf Club on Tuesday. Hedge shot rounds of 69 and 72 on Day 1 of the event Monday to sit in fifth place, and finished with a 79 in Round 3 to end up tied for 18th. Hedge finished with eight birdies at the event on the par-72, 7,015-yard course. Shooting an even-par for the second round in a row Tuesday, Westphal carded his second-straight 72 to finish up tied with Hedge for 18th. Westphal shot a 4-over par 76 in Round 1, and improved to 72 in each of his final two rounds. Westphal was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day Tuesday. “Jake had a good tournament and has continued to set himself up well against other players in our region,” commented MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “Austin had two great finishing rounds for us.” @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 57
Four of the five Yellowjackets finished with sub-80 rounds on Tuesday, as Austin Berg and Houston Bradbury each turned in solid marks of 75 in the third round. Berg finished tied for 50th with a 227 (79-73-75), while Bradbury finished 84th with a 247 (85-87-75). Completing the field for the Yellowjackets was freshman Dalton Hagadone, who shot a 250 and finished in 85th place. Hagadone showed steady improvement throughout the tournament, decreasing his score each round with an 86, 84, and 80 in the three-round event. As a team the ‘Jackets finished with a score of 911, shooting a 301 in the final round and landing in 15th place among the field of 16. On Day 1, MSUB shot a 309 before carding a 301 in Round 2. Host Western New Mexico claimed the Freshman Dalton Hagadone. team title by shooting an 861 (283-291287), edging second-place Dixie State University by eight strokes. WNMU’s Harry Wetton won medalist honors, by shooting a 7-under par 209 (67-70-72) at the event for the host. He edged Zach Tripp (210, 72-68-70) of University of Colorado – Colorado Springs and Fredrik Jullum (210, 67-71-72) of Cal State Monterey Bay by one stroke as the two tied for second place. Also competing in the tournament from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference were Western Washington, which finished in 14th place with a 903 (299-308-296), and Simon Fraser which landed fifth with an 875 (290301-284). “This was a tough tournament for us,” said O’Brien. “We had three people play well each round. All three rounds we had to take a bigger score than we wanted. If we can all play well at the same time next week we will do just fine.” Results Team – 1. Western New Mexico, 861 (283-291-287) 15. MSU Billings, 911 (309-301-301). Individuals – 1. Harry Wetton, WNMU, 209 (67-70-72); T18. Jake Hedge, MSU Billings, 220 (69-72-79); T18. Austin Westphal, MSU Billings, 220 (76-72-72); T50. Austin Berg, MSU Billings, 227 (79-73-75); 84. Houston Bradbury, MSU Billings, 247 (85-87-75); 85. Dalton Hagadone, MSU Billings, 250 (86-84-80).
58 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
Mustang Intercollegiate Palm Valley Golf Club Goodyear, , AZ Collegiate Men Dates: Apr 06 - Apr 07
finish 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 T8 T8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
top 20 schools Western New Mexico Dixie State University CSU - Monterey Bay Colorado - CO Springs Simon Fraser West Texas A&M CSU - East Bay CSU - Stanislaus CSU - San Bernardino Colorado School of Mines California Baptist BYU-Hawaii Colorado State - Pueblo Western Washington Montana State - Billings Regis
finish top 20 players 1 Harry Wetton T2 Fredrik Jullum T2 Zach Tripp T4 Kavan Eubank T4 Thomas Neve T4 Oscar Spolander 7 Donny Hopoi 8 Chris Crisologo 9 Stephen Cook T10 Robby Salomon * T10 Carr Vernon T10 Kenny You T13 Ben Skinner * T13 Kevin Vigna 15 Greg Robarge T16 Nick Berry T16 Dane Nelson T18 Greg Gonzalez T18 Jake Hedge T18 Calum Hill
283 291 287 298 290 300 302 300 296 301 301 300 297 299 309 316
scores 291 287 293 285 297 286 286 289 301 284 291 286 295 288 300 291 300 295 299 292 301 293 297 302 308 295 308 296 301 301 310 301
school Western New Mexico CSU - Monterey Bay Colorado - CO Springs California Baptist Western New Mexico West Texas A&M Dixie State University Simon Fraser Colorado - CO Springs CSU - Monterey Bay CSU - Monterey Bay Dixie State University Western New Mexico Simon Fraser CSU - San Bernardino Colorado School of Mines Dixie State University California Baptist Montana State - Billings Western New Mexico
GOLFSTAT COLLEGIATE SCORING SYSTEM
67 67 72 72 71 69 71 69 74 71 74 73 76 76 76 75 73 73 69 71
861 869 870 873 875 877 885 891 891 892 895 899 900 903 911 927 70 71 68 71 70 69 72 75 69 73 72 73 71 72 71 76 73 71 72 76
-3 +5 +6 +9 +11 +13 +21 +27 +27 +28 +31 +35 +36 +39 +47 +63
scores 72 209 72 210 70 210 68 211 70 211 73 211 69 212 69 213 72 215 72 216 70 216 70 216 70 217 69 217 71 218 68 219 73 219 76 220 79 220 73 220
-7 -6 -6 -5 -5 -5 -4 -3 -1 E E E +1 +1 +2 +3 +3 +4 +4 +4
Mark Laesch - COPYRIGHT © 2015, All Rights Reserved, Golfstat | 2014-15 Season Book | 59 @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com
After growing up at Yellowstone Country Club, Jake Hedge has become one of MSUB’s best April 8, 2015 Billings native Jake Hedge is the Yellowjackets’ top golfer as a senior, and credits his progression as a golfer to the time he spent as a kid growing up at the Yellowstone Country Club. MSUB SPORTS – Established in 1914 and originally called the Billings Golf and Country Club, one of the most historic golf courses in Billings holds a rich tradition and history. After a fire destroyed the clubhouse in the mid1950s, prestigious golf course architect Robert Trent Jones was hired to bring the landscape back to life. By December of 1958, the 18-hole masterpiece and new clubhouse had been completed, and the resulting Yellowstone Country Club stood as one of more than 500 courses Jones constructed throughout his career. Since then, a separate nine holes and around 400 homes have popped up amid the original 630 acres of land, and more than 2,000 members have called the country club home throughout the years. Among its most recent inhabitants are John and Pete Hedge, who started a family from their home located within the confines of the club. It was through this opportunity that Montana State University Billings men’s golf senior Jake Hedge naturally grew up living the game of golf, and it is his time spent with family and friends playing the course at Yellowstone Country Club that has turned him into one of the best golfers the Yellowjacket program has ever seen. HURRY UP, JOHNNY John Hedge remembered an article he read a couple decades ago entitled, ‘How to Make Your Kid Fall in Love with Golf ’.
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“The three worst words in golf are, ‘hurry up, Johnny,’” John Hedge said. “That’s why so many kids quit golf early, because they hurry up and don’t have any fun.” The father of three sons and a daughter, John Hedge adopted this mindset around the time he remembers his children feeling out their grip and playing games of “yard golf.” The object was a simple one, with various trees or marks around he Hedges’ yard serving as the holes for the young children to aim for. From there, John gradually brought his children out onto the real course at the country club. For him it was never a chore or something he rushed through just to do it. “If it took an hour to play a hole then that’s what we did,” John said. “At the end of every round, you always have a putting contest with your kid, and you always make sure you lose so that they get the candy bar reward.” John looked on with a prideful smile as he watched his children develop a passion for the game. If a 5-year-old Jake smacked a shot into a trap, John would let him play in the sand. If Jake scattered the friendly ducks with four shots in a row into the water, John would drop a fifth ball and tell him to give it another swing. “Golf was something I wasn’t smart enough to figure out,” John said. “But not even knowing what I was doing, my kids knew how to play in and out of sand, were never worried about water, and they loved to putt.” By the time Jake was six, he followed his 11-year-old brother Josh onto the course and started practicing on his own. Sometimes John wouldn’t see his youngest son for 10 hours. “He would spend his entire summer out there,” John said. “He just loved it.” When Jake was eight and he began playing in his first competitive tournaments, it was clear he was a step ahead of the curve. “You play growing up for fun, but once it’s time to compete you’re not sure what to expect,” Jake said. “I started gauging myself against the other players and felt like I was a step ahead from the beginning. It definitely helped having guidance from my older brother Josh. He showed me the ropes and it’s easier to become a good player when you have an already good player with you.” With the five-year difference between Jake and Josh, more often than not the latter would be 100 yards down the course waiting for his younger brother to catch up. While Jake had no chance of matching his brother’s shots distance-wise, he began developing a short game unlike anything Josh had seen before. “Of course when we were younger I would hit the ball twice as far as him, but when we got up near the greens he would always hit his wedges closer than me,” Josh said. “He had a better short game than anyone I have ever known.” What was most impressive to Josh was the character and maturity development he witnessed in Jake. Because of the patience John had instilled in his sons, Jake did not get frustrated and give up when his older brother outdrove him. Instead, he displayed a rare sense of tenacity as he developed his game, constantly focusing on what he could do better. “I can always say that having Jake around kept golf fresh and fun,” Josh said. “Everything was a game, and we kept it light and easy. We had a blast together, and playing with him is one thing I will always be thankful for.”
@MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 61
PUTTING INTO THE PRO-AM With the sun bearing down on Yellowstone Country Club, the temperature flirted with crossing into triple digits as 30 top amateur players convened to play a 36-hole United States Golf Association qualifier tournament in 2008. The prize for the winner was a trip to Alabama to compete in the U.S. Junior Amateur Golf Championships, and after the first 18 holes Jake sat in the lead with a 74 on the course he had called home his entire life. Winding through the cavernous holes a second time, Hedge was just as efficient, not fazed by the relentless heat or worried about hitting the perfect shot each time. By the time he reached the 18th green, his chip shot landed about 25 feet from the hole. “I had about a 25-footer and I needed to make it to win,” Hedge said. “If I missed it, we would have gone to a playoff, but I made it. It was easily the greatest moment and feeling of success that I’ve had in golf, especially with it being on a course that I see every day. It’s a memory that always comes back to me and that I will cherish forever.” One of the young players in that tournament with Hedge was Brandon McIver, one of his best friends growing up as the two had bonded during their time on the course together. The duo became a force to be reckoned with at Billings West High School, as they helped the Golden Bears claim the boys’ golf state title four times during Hedge’s prep career. “Brandon was one of my best influences, and he also grew up at the country club,” Hedge said regarding McIver, who is now a junior on the men’s golf team at the University of Oregon. “We played together every single day, and he is a friend I really enjoyed spending time with on the course. Golf solidified our friendship and we made each other better players.”
62 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
As Hedge and McIver assisted each other and learned the game together, Hedge felt well-prepared to carry his game on to the collegiate level. With his education at the forefront of his university selection process, Hedge elected to attend the University of Wyoming, where he could pursue a degree in accounting while continuing to play golf. After redshirting as a freshman, Hedge competed for the Cowboys for two seasons as a sophomore and junior. By the time his senior year rolled around, Hedge had completed his degree early and had a tough decision in front of him. “I graduated early, but I wasn’t sure that I was ready to move forward with my career,” Hedge said. “I felt like I still had some passion left for golf, and that I had something to offer to a program.” Hedge obtained his bachelor’s degree in accounting in the fall of his senior year at UW, and after deciding not to play golf in the spring season with the Cowboys he turned to an old friend who he played with in high school to seek advice. “Jake called me one day when he was on a road trip, and I could tell he was trying to figure out a place where he could keep playing,” commented MSUB assistant coach Marcus Drange who at the time was a junior on the Yellowjackets’ golf team. “I told him I really enjoyed being on the team here and encouraged him to think about it.” “Marcus is the one I really talked to, and he helped solidify my decision to come back to Billings,” Hedge said. “I knew I wanted to pursue my education further, and I also didn’t want to have any regrets finishing my college career early. I knew I would never get those years back and that I would have regretted it if I hadn’t kept playing.” Currently working towards a second bachelor’s degree in finance, Hedge has lived up to the expectations and has been MSUB’s top golfer this season. Hedge has been the top finisher in each of MSUB’s six events thus far, has three top-10 finishes and has a low round of 68 on the season. Currently averaging a score of 71.5, Hedge is the leading golfer in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. “We realized that Jake had the potential to play for two more years, and we really put our best foot forward in trying to get a player of his caliber to come to MSUB,” commented Yellowjacket head coach Shawn O’Brien. “Any time you can get a student-athlete of Jake’s caliber, it is going to help your program succeed. To top it off, Jake’s academic performance and work ethic are outstanding.” GETTING A GRIP While Hedge has realized tremendous success during his time at MSUB, there was a time in his golf career where continuing on didn’t even present itself as an option in his mind. A time when the simplest choice seemed to be walking away from the game altogether and quitting.
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After reaching the U.S. Junior Amateur and finishing his prep career with another team state title, Hedge took a major step back in his game and fought a mental battle that not all players are resilient enough to overcome. “By the time he graduated high school, Jake had reached a plateau as a player,” commented Bob Eames, the 41year veteran as Golf Professional at Yellowstone Country Club. “He was holding back and couldn’t maneuver the ball the way he wanted to. His grip wasn’t very fundamentally sound, and that was limiting him on his shot making ability.” After carefully developing his skills for a decade and a half, Hedge made the toughest call of his career and accepted the notion of completely reworking his grip. Entering the transition, Hedge understood that the change would be drastic, and the frustration he was about to face would test him mentally. “It was a very unnatural feeling, and Bob told me I was going to go through a couple of years struggling,” Hedge said. “I trusted Bob and his advice, and I knew if I wanted to enjoy golf to my fullest potential that I had to make a change. It ended up being the best thing for me, and it has made the game of golf much more fun.” “I said, ‘Jake you’re going to get worse before you get better, but you have to trust me,’” Eames remembered. “He had total faith in what we were doing, and when you look at him play now he can hit any shot that is required.” Hedge entrusting Eames with his entire golf game as he knew it was not a blind leap of faith, as much of the credit for Hedge’s progression as a player he credits to the University of Wyoming alumnus. “Bob’s positivity, energy and reassurance throughout my career has helped me more than anything,” Hedge said. “I always appreciate what he has to say, and in the last few years he’s been a big part of me getting better.” Before Hedge’s prep career, it was the constant encouragement from Eames that reminded Hedge of the incredible potential he had. When Hedge left for the state tournament as a freshman at Billings West, Eames told him that winning the tournament was not out of his reach. A short time later, Hedge hoisting the individual trophy after cruising to victory is a moment he will not soon forget.
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“I have known Jake and his brothers and sister since they were itty-bitty,” Eames said. “They come from an incredibly strong family. John and Pete Hedge are two of the greatest parents in the whole world, and they have raised some of the best kids I have ever been around.” PLAYING FOR CANDY BARS “None of what I’ve done would be possible without my dad and mom. My dad supplied my clubs, my membership to the country club and he made it possible for me to live my dream. I am very thankful to him and my mom for allowing me to pursue my dream so easily.” – Jake Hedge on his father John and mother Pete. As the sun sets on Yellowstone Country club these days, John Hedge looks far into the distance and contently smiles over the marvel that has served as the breeding ground for his family. He has been witness to the once-nonexistent trees growing into landmarks and serving as a means of navigation through the long course to golfers young and old, beginner and expert alike. Although his children are now all grown, he won’t soon forget the slow evenings they would spend strolling the course. Some nights they would play nine, some nights he would lay back and look on as Jake dug around in the sand, electing to make patterns and let his imagination roam over finding a way to loft his lodged golf ball out of the trap. “We just think it is fun as long as he is having fun,” John said. “We never pushed Jake, but he just loved the game. We never wanted him to get his identity from the game, and I think that’s why he likes playing so much.” The evening-ending putting contests always brought out the best in Jake, as he never showed more determination than when a candy bar was on the line. Those losses were the happiest of John’s life, and every time he handed over the prize, he was reminded he was raising his family right.
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Final regular season tournament for MSUB men kicks off Monday; Hedge No. 6 nationally April 9, 2015 MSUB’s men’s golf team is headed to Turlock, Calif., for the CSU Stanislaus Invitational on Monday and Tuesday, in the final regular season competition before the GNAC Championships in two weeks. BILLINGS, Mont. – One tournament separates the Montana State University Billings men’s golf team from the 2015 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships, as the Yellowjackets are headed to Turlock, Calif., to compete in the Cal State Stanislaus Invitational next week at the Turlock Golf and Country Club. It will be the third straight week of competition for the Yellowjackets, as MSUB played in the Western New Mexico Invitational this week after winning the 2015 St. Vincent Healthcare Yellowjacket Spring Invitational last week at Pryor Creek Golf Club in Huntley, Mont. The 2015 CSU Stanislaus Invitational will feature 19 teams playing a 54-hole format in three rounds Monday and Tuesday. Teams will tee-off at 8 a.m. on Monday and play the first 36 holes, before completing the tournament on Tuesday at 8 a.m. with 18 more holes. Live results will be available via Golf State here. “This coming week is going to be one of the most important of the season for our team to show competitiveness in our region,” said MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “If we can all show up and perform to our ability, we should finish fairly well and by doing so it will help our chances in receiving a postseason bid.” MSUB senior Jake Hedge entered this week’s tournament as the GNAC leader in scoring average, and his mark of 71.81 is the sixth-best in the NCAA Division II. Hedge has been the top finisher in each of MSUB’s six events, and recently took second place at the Yellowjacket Invitational.
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At the WNMU Invite, Hedge finished tied for 19th place by carding a three-round total of 220 (69-72-79). Tied with Hedge in MSUB’s latest tournament was Austin Westphal, a fellow senior and the reigning GNAC Newcomer of the Year. Westphal shot a 76 in Round 1 at WNMU before improving to even-par 72 in each of his final two rounds to finish with a 220. On the season Westphal entered this week’s tournament averaging a score of 75.1 with a pair of top-10 finishes. “Both Jake and Austin have played outstanding this spring,” O’Brien said. “Jake has played very well and very consistent throughout the entire year. Austin had a fantastic tournament last week and is a person we can rely on to post a good score every time out. It is nice to see both of these student-athletes performing at a high level and going out on a high note.” Freshman Austin Berg has shown promise this season, casting a glimpse of his potential by finishing in fourth place at the Chico State Interwest Wildcat Classic in the fall with a 2-under par 214 (69-72-73). Berg entered last week’s tournament averaging 74.9 strokes per round, just behind Westphal.
Senior Austin Westphal. Senior Houston Bradbury has filled a key role for the Yellowjackets, and finished tied for third at MSUB’s invitational last week with an even-par 144 (73-71).
As a team MSUB is currently in second place in the GNAC, averaging a score of 292.8 this season. The ‘Jackets are three strokes behind conference-leading Simon Fraser (289.8), and two strokes ahead of third-place Western Washington (294.8). All five GNAC teams will converge on the Coeur d’Alene Resort for the conference championships set to run April 20-21. The three-round format will feature 36 holes on the first day and 18 to finish off on the second. Cal State Stanislaus Invitational Turlock Golf and Country Club GNAC Tournament Records 54-Hole Total – 213, Jake Koppenberg, WWU, 70-71-72 (Apr. 13-14, 2009) Single Round – 69, Two With 54-Hole Total, Team – 858, Western Washington, 288-291-289 (Apr. 16-17, 2012) Single Round, Team – 286, Western Washington (Apr. 13, 2009)
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Tournament 7 - Men Hanny Stanislaus Invitational 15th of 18
MSUB men finish in 15th at CSU Stanislaus Invitational April 14, 2015 Completing their regular season schedule, the MSUB men’s golf team finishes in 15th place at the CSU Stanislaus Invitational wrapping up on Tuesday. TURLOCK, Calif. – Finishing the third and final round of the 42nd Annual Cal State Hanny Stanislaus Invitational on Tuesday, the Montana State University Billings men’s golf team wound up in 15th place after shooting a three-round score of 939 (305-306-328) at the 6,641-yard, par-72 Turlock Country Club. “We got off to a tough start and worked our way back to 11th place with a couple of holes to play,” said MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “I thought everyone worked hard, but we took a couple of big numbers at the end and it hurt our team score.” Individually, Austin Westphal and Austin Berg were the top finishers for MSUB as they each tied for 38th place. Westphal was the lone Yellowjacket to break 80 in all three of his rounds, finishing with a 232 (79-75-78). Berg also notched a 232 (71-79-82) for the Yellowjackets.
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“Austin Westphal played really well for us,” said O’Brien. “Both he and Austin Berg finished well.” Senior Jake Hedge led the team in pars with 33 on the tournament, and finished in 71st place with a score of 239 (75-75-89). Just three strokes behind Hedge was Houston Bradbury, who tied for 75th with a three-round total of 242 (86-77-79). Rounding out the field of five for MSUB was freshman Parker Bradbury, who carded a 251 (80-81-90) and finished in 89th place. Winning the team title was Cal State Monterey Bay, which finished with a score of 880 (288-288-304). The Otters led the field after the first two rounds, and finished strong to hold off second place Cal State San Marcos (895, 297-302-296). Individually, CSUMB’s Anton Rosen was the medalist, after carding a 3-under par 213 (69-69-75). He won by six strokes over Lee Gearhart of Chico State who had a 219 (72-72-75). Also competing in the tournament from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference were Saint Martin’s University which finished in 11th place with a 933 (295-316322) and Western Washington University which finished just one stroke ahead of the Yellowjackets at 938 (310-305-323). Freshman Parker Bradbury. Westphal was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day for MSUB. Results Team – 1. CSU Monterey Bay, 880 (288-288-304); 15. MSU Billings, 939 (305-306-328). Individuals – 1. Anton Rosen, CSUMB, 213 (69-69-75); T38. Austin Westphal, MSUB, 232 (79-75-78); T38. Austin Berg, MSUB, 232 (71-79-82); 71. Jake Hedge, MSUB, 239 (75-75-89); T75. Houston Bradbury, MSUB, 242 (86-77-79); 89. Parker Bradbury, MSUB, 251 (80-81-90). UP NEXT: MSUB heads for the Coeur d’Alene Resort to compete in the GNAC Championships, scheduled for April 20-21.
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42nd Annual Hanny Stanislaus Invitational Turlock Golf & Country Club Turlock, CA Turlock G&CC Warriors Tees Dates: Apr 13 - Apr 14
1
2
1 T5 11 T5 T5 10 9 T12 T3 T12 2 T3 T5 15 14 18 16 17
1 5 2 T3 6 8 T3 T9 T9 7 T11 13 T14 T14 T11 17 16 18
3 Team
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Scores
CSU - Monterey Bay CSU - San Marcos Chico State CSU - East Bay CSU - San Bernardino UC San Diego Sonoma State Dominican (CA) CSU - Dominguez Hills CSU - Stanislaus Saint Martin's University Academy of Art University Hawaii - Hilo Western Washington Montana State - Billings Northwest Nazarene Notre Dame De Namur Holy Names University
288 297 300 297 297 299 298 301 296 301 295 296 297 310 305 316 311 314
288 302 296 301 303 308 300 307 312 302 316 316 318 305 306 312 314 321
GOLFSTAT COLLEGIATE SCORING SYSTEM
304 296 304 303 306 307 318 309 314 320 322 322 320 323 328 322 332 324
880 895 900 901 906 914 916 917 922 923 933 934 935 938 939 950 957 959
+16 +31 +36 +37 +42 +50 +52 +53 +58 +59 +69 +70 +71 +74 +75 +86 +93 +95
Mark Laesch - COPYRIGHT © 2015,| All2014-15 Rights Reserved, Golfstat 70 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com Season Book
MSUB women head to Coeur d’Alene Resort for GNAC Championships Monday April 17, 2015 Entering next week championships with the second-best scoring average in the conference, the MSUB women’s golf team is set to build on last year’s second-place finish. BILLINGS, Mont. – With the final regular season tournament on the horizon, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team is set to return to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships Presented by the Coeur d’Alene Resort running Monday and Tuesday next week in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The Yellowjackets currently hold the second-best team scoring average in the GNAC with an average round of 325. A season ago, MSUB finished in second place at the tournament by shooting a team score of 665 (327338) behind conference champion Western Washington. “We are definitely looking to go back to the GNAC Championships and have a chance to compete for a title,” said MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “We have grown and gotten better, and our team chemistry is at an alltime high right now. That feeds into a lot of the success that we have had.” This year’s championships will be played in a two-round format, with Round 1 set for Monday and Round 2 scheduled for Tuesday. The Coeur d’Alene Resort features a 5,914-yard, par-71 layout and is famous for its 14th hole that includes a floating green. Leading the team in scoring average and ranking No. 7 in the GNAC this season is freshman Sammy Walter, who is shooting an average round of 81.2 strokes. Walter has carded a low round score of 76 and had her best finish at the MSUB Yellowjacket Spring Invite when she took third place and helped the ‘Jackets to the team title.
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Walter was selected as the GNAC Golfer of the Week for March 30 – April 5 after being MSUB’s top finisher at both its own tournament as well as the Western New Mexico Invitational where she finished tied for 19th. “Sammy has played incredibly well,” said O’Brien. “She has been able to relax and play her game, and she has proven that she’s a great player.” In her final season with MSUB, senior captain Mariah Cleveland has provided consistency and leadership in the Yellowjackets’ lineup. Her scoring average of 82.4 ranks No. 10 in the GNAC and she fired a season and career-low round of 73 to help MSUB win the Yellowjacket Fall Invitational. “Mariah has done an excellent job with her senior leadership,” O’Brien said. “She has really been there for the team for them to lean on.” “Everyone on the team seems to have a really good attitude heading into the GNAC tournament this weekend,” Cleveland said regarding her team. “The GNAC has really good competition and we are going to have to play some of our best golf. It is going to be fun to make a run for it.” Close behind Cleveland is sophomore Haley Shackelford, who is averaging a round of 82.5 this season and has been playing in the lead position for the Yellowjackets. Shackelford’s low round was a 75, and she has a pair of top-5 finishes for MSUB on the year. Freshman Bailee Dexter has had a strong collegiate debut season, averaging a round of 83.4 and posting a pair of top-10 finishes. Dexter is the owner of a low-round score of 75 on the year. In MSUB’s Spring Invite she finished in sixth place, cutting six strokes off of her first-round score to finish with a 156 (81-75). Sophomore Haley Shackelford. Rounding out the field for MSUB at this year’s championships will be senior Carlan Campbell, the lone player on the squad who participated in last season’s championships. Campbell holds an average of 86.8 on the season and posted a No. 10 finish at the MSUB Fall Invitational for MSUB. The GNAC Championships will be the eighth event of the season for the Yellowjackets, who have finished in the top-10 in four of their seven events so far this season. MSUB won both of its home tournaments this season, finished No. 6 at the Colorado Christian Inivte (Sept. 15-16) and No. 9 at the Colorado Mesa Invite (Sept. 29-30). “The Coeur d’Alene Resort is a fantastic venue and course,” O’Brien said. “It’s an all-around good atmosphere and experience for the student-athletes.” Coeur d’Alene Resort GNAC Course Records 36-Hole Total – 150, Sophie Elstrott, WWU, 75-75 (Apr. 18-19, 2011) Single Round – 73, Claire Rachor, WWU (Apr. 22, 2013) 36-Hole Total, Team – 620, Western Washington, 316-304 (Apr. 18-19, 2011) Single Round, Team – 304, Western Washington (Apr. 19, 2011) 72 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
Yellowjacket men set for GNAC Championships at Coeur d’Alene Resort April 17, 2015 Having played in tournaments the last three weeks, the MSUB men’s golf team enters the GNAC Championships beginning Monday with momentum. BILLINGS, Mont. – After competing in tournaments each of the last three weekends, the Montana State University Billings men’s golf team is prepared for next week’s Great Northwest Athletic Conference Golf Championships Presented by the Coeur d’Alene Resort. This year’s championships will run Monday and Tuesday in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with the first two rounds scheduled for Day 1 and the final round set to be played on Day 2. The layout at the Coeur d’Alene Resort will be a par-71, 6,803-yard course that the five participating teams will traverse three times before one claims victory. “We are definitely an experienced group,” said MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “We have had the chance to play some quality golf tournaments the last couple of weeks and prepare for this moment. We have been playing teams within our conference as well, and it is going to be a close fight next week.” As a team MSUB currently ranks No. 3 in the GNAC in scoring average with a mark of 297.7, just 0.3 strokes behind second-place Western Washington. Simon Fraser is the conference leader with a scoring average of 290.1. @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 73
“Simon Fraser has been playing well this season but if they let up at all it’s going to be a shootout to see who is going to be conference champion,” O’Brien said. “We have a pretty strong conference, and playing against them in these tournaments has been a nice comparison to see how we have been doing.” Leading the team all season long and ranking third as an individual in the GNAC is MSUB senior Jake Hedge, who is averaging a round of 73.1 on the season. Hedge has had two top-5 finishes and helped the Yellowjackets to victories in both of their invitational tournaments this season. Hedge was tabbed the GNAC Golfer of the Week for Sept. 29 – Oct. 5 after winning the MSUB Fall Invite in playoff fashion. Hedge’s low round this year is a 68 and he has broken the mark of 70 four total times in 2014-15. “Jake has played fantastic,” O’Brien said. “He has played very consistent and shot low scores when he needed to. He has also been a good leader on the course to the underclassmen. His goal is just to go out and play well and if he does that he will have a good opportunity to compete in the regionals.” Averaging a round of 75.2 on the season is senior Austin Westphal, who has totaled a pair of top-10 finishes for the ‘Jackets. The reigning GNAC Newcomer of the Year, Westphal has a low-round score of 72 this season, and in each of his last four tournaments he has improved between his first and second rounds. “Austin has spent a lot of time in Coeur d’Alene and he knows the course well,” O’Brien said regarding the senior. “He has had a fantastic spring season and I couldn’t be more excited and more proud of him just from the way he has played. He has done everything that we have asked.” “It’s a great course and it’s probably the longest course we have seen all year,” Westphal said when asked about the layout at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. “We prepare all winter to get ready to play 36 holes on Monday, and my goal is to finish top-5 and just play my best.” The third senior on MSUB’s squad heading into the championships will be Houston Bradbury, who is averaging a score of 78.6 this season. Bradbury has a pair of top10 finishes including placing tied for third at the MSUB Yellowjacket Spring Invitational when he shot an even-par 144 (73-71). Emerging as freshmen this season have been Austin Berg and Parker Bradbury. Berg is averaging a score of 75.4 and captured GNAC Golfer of the Week honors in the fall after he placed fourth individually at the Chico State InterWest Wildcat Classic (Oct. 2-3). Parker Bradbury, the younger brother of senior Houston, is averaging an 80.9 on the season and finished tied for eighth at MSUB’s Fall Invite with a score of 151 (7774).
Senior Houston Bradbury.
The Yellowjackets will look to improve on last season’s fifth-place finish at the GNAC Championships, where they shot a three-round total of 919 (209-296-314). Coeur d’Alene Resort GNAC Course Records 54-Hole Total – 209, Xavier Dailly, WWU, 70-72-67 (Apr. 19-20, 2010) Single Round – 65, Craig Crawford, WWU (Apr. 23, 2012) 54-Hole Total, Team – 850, Western Washington, 283-293-274 (Apr. 19-20, 2010) Single Round, Team – 274, Western Washington (Apr. 20, 2010) 74 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
Tournament 8 - Women GNAC Championships 2nd of 5
Women finish strong in second place at GNAC Golf Championships April 21, 2015 MSUB places four golfers in the top-10 to finish in second place at the 2015 GNAC Golf Championships Presented by the Coeur d’Alene Resort. COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho – Four of Montana State University Billings’ five women’s golfers ended up in the top-10 propelling the Yellowjackets to a second-place finish at the 2015 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Golf Championships Presented by the Coeur d’Alene Resort on Tuesday. Freshman Bailee Dexter led the pack for MSUB, finishing with a two-round total of 157 (80-77) on the par71, 5,914-yard Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course. Dexter wound up with a team-best 21 pars and added three birdies in the tournament to earn St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day honors. “I am very proud of the women today,” said MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “I feel it was one of the best days we have had this year hitting the ball. We took a couple big numbers which put us behind but we battled until the end and finished really strong. That allowed us to hold on to second place, and for the second straight year finish runner-up.” @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 75
Sophomore Haley Shackelford and senior Mariah Cleveland each also improved upon their first-round scores, shaving off valuable strokes as MSUB held off third-place Simon Fraser by just three. Shackelford finished in ninth place with a 160 (81-79), and had a team-best four birdies and 17 pars. Cleveland tied for 10th place with a 162 (82-80) as she took two strokes off of her first-round total. Tied with Cleveland for 10th was freshman Sammy Walter who completed her two rounds with a 162 (79-83). Walter had 18 pars and a pair of birdies for the Yellowjackets. Completing the five-player rotation for MSUB was senior Carlan Campbell, who finished the tournament with a score of 182 (9290) in 23rd place. “I wish Mariah and Carlan the best,” O’Brien said. “Mariah has been an instrumental part of our program for the last four years. I am so happy she went out on a high note.”
Senior Mariah Cleveland.
Successfully defending its team title was Western Washington, which shot a 627 (311-316) to claim the tournament crown. Reigning GNAC Golfer of the Year Kristen Hansen earned medalist honors by shooting a 152 (76-76), edging Samantha Miller of Northwest Nazarene by just one stroke to claim the title.
Simon Fraser finished in third place with a team score of 644 (328-316), NNU finished in fourth with a 660 (326334), and Saint Martin’s rounded out the field in fifth with a 663 (342-321). The Yellowjackets finished in second place at the GNAC Championships for the second year in a row. “Our goal was to shoot sub-320 and we accomplished that goal today,” O’Brien said. “We just have to tip our hats to WWU for playing well.” Final Results Team – 1. Western Washington, 627 (311-316); 2. MSU Billings, 641 (322-319). Individuals – 1. Kristen Hansen, WWU, 152 (76-76); T6. Bailee Dexter, MSU Billings, 157 (80-77); 9. Haley Shackelford, MSU Billings, 160 (81-79); T10. Mariah Cleveland, MSU Billings, 162 (82-80); T10. Sammy Walter, MSU Billings, 162 (79-83); 23. Carlan Campbell, MSU Billings, 182 (92-90).
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GNAC Championship Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course Coeur d'Alene, ID 2015 GNAC Golf Championships Dates: Apr 20 - Apr 21
Start
T2 1 T6 T2 T10 T8 T4 T4 T10 13 T6 14 T10 T15 T15 17 T8 18 T21 19 20 24 23 T21
Finish
Player
1 2 T3 T3 5 T6 T6 8 9 T10 T10 12 13 T14 T14 T16 T16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Team
Kristen Hansen Samantha Miller Jennifer Liedes Jenn Paul Breanna Croxen Bailee Dexter Erin Farner Anna Bourland Haley Shackelford Mariah Cleveland Sammy Walter Jessica Knight Brooke Branigan Michelle Waters Lisa Zelasko Mackenzie Field Haley Gochnour Audrey Orem Grace Dyer Chloe Read Carleigh Sturm Sarah Salvatori Carlan Campbell Brittney Paterson
Western Washington Northwest Nazarene St. Martin's University Western Washington Simon Fraser U. Montana State-Billings Simon Fraser U. Western Washington Montana State-Billings Montana State-Billings Montana State-Billings Northwest Nazarene Western Washington Simon Fraser U. St. Martin's University Simon Fraser U. Northwest Nazarene Western Washington St. Martin's University St. Martin's University Northwest Nazarene St. Martin's University Montana State-Billings Northwest Nazarene
GOLFSTAT COLLEGIATE SCORING SYSTEM
Scores
76 74 79 76 81 80 78 78 81 82 79 83 81 84 84 85 80 86 91 88 89 98 92 91
76 79 75 78 75 77 79 80 79 80 83 80 83 81 81 81 86 82 82 87 89 83 90 94
152 153 154 154 156 157 157 158 160 162 162 163 164 165 165 166 166 168 173 175 178 181 182 185
+10 +11 +12 +12 +14 +15 +15 +16 +18 +20 +20 +21 +22 +23 +23 +24 +24 +26 +31 +33 +36 +39 +40 +43
Mark Laesch - COPYRIGHT © 2015, All Rights Reserved, Golfstat | 2014-15 Season Book | 77 @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com
Tournament 8 - Men GNAC Championships 5th of 5
Hedge ties for fifth at GNAC Golf Championships; men finish in fifth April 21, 2015 Jake Hedge shoots an even-par 71 in his third and final round Tuesday to tie for fifth place at the GNAC Golf Championships Presented by the Coeur d’Alene Resort. COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho – Finishing strongly over his final two rounds, Montana State University Billings senior Jake Hedge fired an even-par 71 on Tuesday to finish tied for fifth place at the 2015 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Men’s Golf Championships Presented by the Coeur d’Alene Resort. Hedge carded a three-round total of 218 (77-70-71), improving his score significantly after the first round. “Jake Hedge stepped up and had two great finishing rounds shooting even par,” commented MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “Finishing in the top five is always a good mark. I’m excited to see in a couple days if Jake will receive an individual berth representing MSUB at the regionals. I feel Jake came into this situation and competed, and did what he needed to do to give him a chance to make that happen.”
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As a team, the Yellowjackets finished in fifth place at the event with a score of 894 (301-293-300) at the par-71, 6,803-yard Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course. Hedge was the only player in the field to collect multiple eagles, as he achieved the feat twice on the par-5, 495-yard 15th hole. Hedge also finished with six birdies and a team-best 32 pars throughout the three-round event. He was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day. Finishing tied for 11th place was senior Austin Westphal, who also improved his score during his final round with a 1-over par 72. Westphal finished with a 220 (74-74-72) and had 31 pars and a team-best nine birdies throughout the tournament. “Austin Westphal had a good tournament and a fantastic spring played very consistent every tournament we played. Very proud of way he finished got to go out on a high note.” Also in the top-15 for MSUB was freshman Austin Berg who shot a 222 (7371-78). Berg finished with the fourth-most birdies among the tournament field with a dozen. Senior Houston Bradbury tied for 21st place with a 235 (78-78-79), and freshman Ty Pickel closed out the field for MSUB in 24th with a 242 (77-78-87). Bradbury had 25 pars and six birdies for the Yellowjackets.
Senior Jake Hedge.
Running away with the team title was Simon Fraser, which finished 37 strokes ahead of second-place Western Washington with an 837 (277-281-279). SFU had the top four finishers individually at the event, and Bret Thompson took home medalist honors by shooting an 8-under par 205 (68-67-70). WWU held off reigning champion Northwest Nazarene by two strokes for second place with an 874 (294-288292), and Saint Martin’s finished in fourth place with an 885 (291-296-298). “We lose a lot of upperclassmen due to graduation,” O’Brien said. “I’m excited for the future with our incoming freshmen, our redshirts, and having Austin Berg back.” Final Results Team – 1. Simon Fraser, 837 (277-281-279); 5. MSU Billings, 894 (301-293-300). Individuals – 1. Bret Thompson, SFU, 205 (68-67-70); T5. Jake Hedge, MSU Billings, 218 (77-70-71); T11. Austin Westphal, MSU Billings, 220 (74-74-72); T15. Austin Berg, MSU Billings, 222 (73-71-78); T21. Houston Bradbury, MSU Billings, 235 (7878-79); 24. Ty Pickel, MSU Billings, 242 (77-78-87).
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GNAC Championships Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course Coeur d'Alene, ID 2015 GNAC Golf Championships Dates: Apr 20 - Apr 21
Start
1 3 2 T5 T14 T12 T14 T12 4 T8 T16 T16 T8 T8 20 T5 T5 T8 18 19 T22 T22 24 21 25
Finish
Player
1 2 3 4 T5 T5 T5 T8 T8 T8 T11 T11 T11 14 T15 T15 T15 18 T19 T19 T21 T21 23 24 -
Bret Thompson Chris Crisologo John Mlikotic Kevin Vigna Austin Spicer Justin McAfee Jake Hedge Chris Hatch Mark Strickland Matthew Hedges Ian Briske Austin Westphal Kyle Lindor Patrick Whealdon Kyle Schrader Austin Berg Connor Magnuson Keynan Fanslow Brodie Bordeaux Anthony Allen Houston Bradbury Kevin Cullen Tony Ko Ty Pickel Mike Delie
Team
Simon Fraser Simon Fraser Simon Fraser Simon Fraser Saint Martin's University Northwest Nazarene Montana State - Billings Western Washington Western Washington Saint Martin's University Northwest Nazarene Montana State - Billings Western Washington Saint Martin's University Western Washington Montana State - Billings Northwest Nazarene Northwest Nazarene Saint Martin's University Western Washington Montana State - Billings Saint Martin's University Simon Fraser Montana State - Billings Northwest Nazarene
GOLFSTAT COLLEGIATE SCORING SYSTEM
Scores
68 69 69 71 72 70 77 74 71 71 74 74 70 74 80 73 70 73 74 79 78 78 75 77 A
67 71 70 73 75 76 70 72 70 74 74 74 75 71 73 71 74 72 76 73 78 78 82 78 74
Mark Laesch - COPYRIGHT © 2015,| All2014-15 Rights Reserved, Golfstat 80 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com Season Book
70 66 73 70 71 72 71 73 78 74 72 72 75 76 69 78 78 80 77 75 79 79 80 87 73
205 206 212 214 218 218 218 219 219 219 220 220 220 221 222 222 222 225 227 227 235 235 237 242 -
-8 -7 -1 +1 +5 +5 +5 +6 +6 +6 +7 +7 +7 +8 +9 +9 +9 +12 +14 +14 +22 +22 +24 +29 -
4 MSUB golfers earn academic all-GNAC honors April 22, 2015 Two male and two female golfers from MSUB earn the title academic all-conference for their success on the course and in the classroom. PORTLAND, Ore. – Four student-athletes from the Montana State University Billings men’s and women’s golf teams have been named academic all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference selections announced the conference office Wednesday. From the MSUB women’s team, Carlan Campbell and Haley Shackelford earned the honor, and from the men’s team seniors Houston Bradbury and Jake Hedge were recognized. “We value our academics very strongly,” commented MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “I am very proud of each of these individuals for working hard in the classroom and producing on the golf course. It is not always easy being a student-athlete, but we strive to put academics first and I believe we have done a great job doing so.” Campbell and Bradbury were each selected for the honor for the second year in a row. Campbell is a broadfield science major carrying a 3.24 grade point average and averaged a score of 86.8 for the Yellowjackets on the course this season. Bradbury, a public relations major and Billings, Mont., native, holds a 3.21 grade point average and a golf scoring average of 78.6. In her first year of eligibility for the award, Shackelford was honored for her 3.48 grade point average as she is studying elementary education. Shackelford competed in the GNAC Championships for MSUB and held a season scoring average of 82.5. Hedge, MSUB’s top golfer all season long, carries a 3.71 grade point average in finance and held the No. 3 scoring average in the conference at 73.1 strokes entering the GNAC Championships. Hedge was also inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society on Tuesday, which honors junior and senior student-athletes who carry a GPA of 3.40 or greater. A total of 21 student-athletes from the GNAC earned academic all-conference honors, with the requirements being a 3.20 GPA or higher and being in the second year of athletic eligibility at a GNAC school. @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 81
Hedge to participate in NCAA Regional Championships May 4-6 in California April 25, 2015 After shooting the lowest season scoring average in MSUB history, Jake Hedge is heading to the NCAA Regional Championships in California. INDIANAPOLIS – Earning an at-large berth into the NCAA West Regional Men’s Golf Championships, Montana State University Billings senior Jake Hedge will represent the Yellowjackets from May 4-6 at Hiddenbrooke Golf Club in Vallejo, Calif., announced the NCAA on Friday. “I am very excited for Jake and our golf program to receive an invitation to the NCAA Regional Championships,” commented MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “Jake has worked extremely hard to get to the level he is playing at. It will be fun to watch him go play in California next week, and if he plays well he will truly showcase himself.” Hedge finished the regular season with an even 73.00 average round according to Golf Stat, which is the lowest season average in MSUB history. The senior recently finished tied for fifth place at the GNAC Championships, and finished in the top-10 in four of the eight events that he participated in for MSUB. Hedge, a Billings, Mont., native, fired a low round of 68 on the season and made par in more than half of his 22 total rounds. The senior finished as the runner-up in both of MSUB’s invitational tournaments, and his two-round total of 139 in the spring tournament was the second-best score in program history.
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Also a standout scholar athlete, Hedge was inducted to the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society at MSUB last week for carrying a 3.71 grade point average while majoring in finance. Hedge is one of eight individuals selected to participate in the combined South Central/West Regional Championships, along with 20 teams which will compete in the event. Overall, 80 teams and 32 individual student-athletes were selected to participate in the Division II Golf Championships, which will be held at four regional sites. The top three teams and top two student-athletes not with a team from each regional will advance to the NCAA Championships, which are scheduled for May 18-22 at Rock Barn Golf & Spa in Conover, North Carolina. Hedge will compete against three other student-athletes from the West and four more from the South Central for one of the two individual berths into the NCAA Championships. The combined South Central and West regional will be hosted by Cal State University East Bay, and will be a 54hole, three-round format. SOUTH CENTRAL/WEST REGIONAL Hiddenbrooke Golf Club, Vallejo, California; hosted by California State University, East Bay South Central Region: 1. Cameron 2. Western New Mexico 3. Colorado-Colorado Springs 4. Colorado School of Mines 5. Colorado Christian 6. Midwestern State 7. St. Edward’s 8. West Texas A&M 9. Dallas Baptist 10. St. Mary’s (Texas) Individuals: 1. James Bolton, Newman 2. Trevor McKune, Colorado Mesa 3. Jacob Allenback, Colorado State-Pueblo 4. Hagan Wood, Texas A&M-Commerce West Region: 1. Cal State Monterey Bay 2. Cal State Chico 3. Simon Fraser 4. Dixie State 5. Sonoma State 6. Cal State Stanislaus 7. Cal State East Bay 8. Dominican 9. Cal State San Bernardino 10. Western Washington Individuals: 1. Kavan Eubank, California Baptist 2. Dalen Yamauchi, Hawaii Hilo 3. Jake Hedge, Montana State Billings 4. Greg Gonzalez, California Baptist
Senior Jake Hedge.
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Cleveland, Shackelford, Walter earn all-GNAC recognition April 28, 2015 After finishing in second place at the 2015 GNAC Championships, the MSUB women’s golf team places three student-athletes on the all-conference team. PORTLAND, Ore. – After leading the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team to its second-straight second-place finish at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships, Mariah Cleveland, Haley Shackelford and Sammy Walter have been selected as second-team all-conference picks announced on Tuesday. “I am very pleased to see three women receive all-conference honors,” said MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “We had a very close, competitive team this year, and the award could have gone to any one of them.” A senior captain this season, Cleveland averaged a score of 82.2 and had three top-10 finishes for the Yellowjackets. She had a team-season best and personal-best low round score of 73, which tied for the fifth-lowest round in MSUB history. At the GNAC Championships, her tie for 10th place was crucial in helping MSUB hold off third-place Simon Fraser by three strokes. “Mariah has worked very hard for the last four years on her golf game, and has been a true leader for our program,” O’Brien said. “I am excited and glad to see her receive this award.”
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Shackelford, a sophomore, matched Cleveland with an average score of 82.2 this season while playing in the lead spot for the Yellowjackets. Shackelford had three top-10 finishes, and tied for first place at the MSUB Yellowjacket Fall Invitational with a score of 153 (75-78). Her low round on the season was a 75, and she finished in ninth place at the GNAC Championships with a score of 160 (81-79). “Haley has played very consistently all year for us,” O’Brien said. “She traveled to every tournament and helped us in some vital rounds throughout the season.” A true freshman this season, Walter burst onto the scene and finished as one of the best golfers in the conference. Her average score of 81.2 was the eighth-lowest in all of the GNAC, and she earned GNAC Golfer of the Week honors after placing third at the St. Vincent Healthcare Yellowjacket Spring Invitational and tying for 19th at the Western New Mexico Invitational all in the same week. Walter finished the year with three top-10 finishes, and had a low-round score of 76 in her first collegiate season. “Sammy had a fantastic freshman year, especially this spring,” said O’Brien. “She is very well deserving of this honor.” Taking home GNAC co-Golfer of the Year honors were Jenn Paul of Western Washington and Jennifer Liedes of Saint Martin’s. Paul was also picked as the Freshman of the Year, and her head coach Bo Stephan of the Vikings was the GNAC Coach of the Year after leading WWU to its sixth-straight GNAC title.
Sophomore Haley Shackelford.
@MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 85
Hedge first-team, Westphal second-team all-GNAC for MSUB men’s golf April 28, 2015 Jake Hedge earns first-team all-conference honors and fellow senior Austin Westphal lands on the second team. PORTLAND, Ore. – After posting the best single-round average in Montana State University Billings men’s golf history, senior Jake Hedge has been selected as a first-team all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference pick announced Tuesday. Fellow senior Austin Westphal was also honored by the conference, receiving second-team all-GNAC recognition. “Jake has played very well all year, and has worked extremely hard through the offseason building his game for this moment,” O’Brien said. “Jake is very deserving of first-team all-conference, and receiving a bid to the NCAA Regional Tournament is icing on the cake.” Hedge will travel to Vallejo, Calif., next week to compete as an individual at the NCAA West Region Championships hosted by Cal State East Bay. With a scoring average of 73.00 on the season, Hedge had the fourth-best mark in the GNAC. He made par in 12 of the 22 rounds that he played, had four top-10 finishes, and won the MSUB Fall Invitational in playoff fashion last October. His low-round score of 68 was the ninth-best single round in the GNAC this year. Also competing in all 22 rounds for MSUB this year, Westphal finished the season strongly with a scoring average of 74.9. He had a pair of top-10 finishes and a low-round score on the season of 72 for the Yellowjackets. He broke the mark of 80 in 13 of his final 14 rounds on the season, and finished tied for 11th at the GNAC Championships with a 220 (74-74-72). “Austin has been one of the most consistent players I have had the opportunity to coach,” O’Brien said. “He had a great spring season, and was able to go out on a high note.” Earning GNAC Golfer of the Year honors was Kevin Vigna of Simon Fraser, and his head coach John Buchanan was picked as the GNAC Coach of the Year. Chris Crisologo of SFU was tabbed the GNAC Freshman of the Year, and Keynan Fanslow was selected the GNAC Newcomer of the Year. The 2015 NCAA West Region Championships that Hedge will participate in will run May 4-6 at Hiddenbrooke Golf Club. Hedge will be competing against seven other individuals and 20 teams, with the top-three teams and top-two student-athletes not with a team advancing to the NCAA finals May 18-22 at Rock Barn Golf & Spa in Conover, North Carolina. 86 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
Hedge wraps up competition at NCAA Regionals Wednesday May 6, 2015 Finishing the third and final round of the NCAA West Regional Men’s Golf Championships Wednesday, MSUB senior Jake Hedge finished with a 3-round score of 242 to tie for 84th place. VALLEJO, Calif. – Representing the Montana State University Billings men’s golf team at the 2015 NCAA Division II Men’s Golf West Region Championships, senior Jake Hedge completed the three-round tournament at Hiddenbrooke Golf Club on Wednesday with a score of 242 (86-76-80) to finish in a tie for 84th place. “I am proud of Jake this season,” commented MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “The past week we played on a very difficult course, and he competed every day and got better and better throughout the week.” Hedge finished with five birdies on the tournament, and was just 4-over par in Round 2 on the par-72, 6,747yard course. He had a string of par or better on five-straight holes and finished with par or better on nine of the first 11 holes in his second round. He also started the front nine strongly in Round 3, with a birdie interrupting a string of five pars to start off. Winning the team title was Cal State Monterey Bay, which finished with a score of 887 (290-303-294). The Otters had a 19-stroke victory over second-place Sonoma State, which completed the tournament with a score of 906 (300-297-309). @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 87
Ray Richards of CSUMB holed a 50-foot eagle putt on 18 to pull into a tie with Patrick Skakel of the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs for first place in the tournament. Richards finished with a 217 (73-73-71) while Skakel matched him at 1-over par with a 217 (73-70-74). A total of 20 teams and eight individuals competed in the tournament, with a total of 108 players making up the field. The top-5 teams and top two individuals not on an advancing team will continue on to the NCAA National Championships. Hedge entered the tournament as the No. 4 scorer in all of the GNAC, as his average of 73.0 strokes was the lowest in MSUB history. He was also a first-team all-conference selection. Results – 2015 NCAA Men’s Golf West Region Championships Hiddenbrooke Golf Club | Vallejo, CA Team – 1. Cal State Monterey Bay, 887 (290-303-294). Individuals – T1. Ray Richards, CSUMB, 217 (73-73-71); T1. Patrick Skakel, UCCS, 217 (73-70-74); T84. Jake Hedge, MSU Billings, 242 (86-76-80).
Senior Jake Hedge.
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NCAA D2 Men's W/South Cen Reg Hiddenbrooke Golf Course Vallejo, CA 2015 NCAA Division II Regional Dates: May 04 - May 06
finish 1 2 T3 T3 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 T12 T12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
top 20 schools CSU - Monterey Bay Sonoma State Chico State Simon Fraser West Texas A&M CSU - East Bay Cameron Dominican (CA) CSU - San Bernardino Dallas Baptist Western New Mexico Colorado School of Mines St. Edward's Colorado - CO Springs CSU - Stanislaus Colorado Christian Midwestern State Dixie State University Western Washington St. Mary's (TX)
finish top 20 players T1 Ray Richards T1 Patrick Skakel 3 Josh Aguilar T4 Brandon Hortt T4 Adam Stone T6 Chris Crisologo T6 Ty Macias 8 Brandon Lee 9 A.J. Hebert T10 Logan Leggett T10 Thomas Neve T12 Dillon Van Essen T12 Justin Wiles T14 Bradley Ferrell T14 Taylor Hood T14 Anthony Manguray T14 Greg Robarge T14 Carr Vernon T19 Oscar Spolander T19 Bret Thompson
290 300 302 296 310 304 311 304 315 316 304 302 307 313 310 316 315 314 320 332
scores 303 294 297 309 304 302 309 303 303 300 313 299 315 291 307 308 306 300 304 302 301 318 317 305 316 301 309 305 319 302 315 303 312 310 314 311 319 319 323 308
school CSU - Monterey Bay Colorado - CO Springs Dallas Baptist CSU - Monterey Bay CSU - East Bay Simon Fraser Dominican (CA) Sonoma State CSU - East Bay West Texas A&M Western New Mexico St. Edward's Chico State Cameron CSU - San Bernardino CSU - Stanislaus CSU - San Bernardino CSU - Monterey Bay West Texas A&M Simon Fraser
GOLFSTAT COLLEGIATE SCORING SYSTEM
73 73 74 72 70 72 70 72 74 76 75 74 75 80 75 75 78 74 76 74
73 70 75 74 74 77 75 74 76 76 71 75 74 76 71 76 76 76 75 74
887 906 908 908 913 916 917 919 921 922 923 924 924 927 931 934 937 939 958 963
+23 +42 +44 +44 +49 +52 +53 +55 +57 +58 +59 +60 +60 +63 +67 +70 +73 +75 +94 +99
scores 71 217 +1 74 217 +1 69 218 +2 73 219 +3 75 219 +3 71 220 +4 75 220 +4 75 221 +5 72 222 +6 71 223 +7 77 223 +7 75 224 +8 75 224 +8 69 225 +9 79 225 +9 74 225 +9 71 225 +9 75 225 +9 75 226 +10 78 226 +10
Mark Laesch - COPYRIGHT © 2015, All Rights Reserved, Golfstat | 2014-15 Season Book | 89 @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com
Women’s Golf season recap: ‘Jackets complete record-breaking year May 13, 2015 The MSUB women’s golf team records the lowest single-season team scoring average in program history, and repeats as runner-up in the GNAC with an average score of 324.44. BILLINGS, Mont. – Remaining towards the top of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the Montana State University Billings women’s golf team set a new program record for team scoring average at 324.44 and finished in second place at the conference championships for the second year in a row. “Our women had a fantastic year, finishing runner-up at the conference tournament,” commented MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “I could not be more proud of Mariah for the way she led this team and finished her college career.” Mariah Cleveland, a senior captain for the ‘Jackets, earned second-team all-GNAC honors after posting a scoring average of 82.19 on the season. Cleveland finished tied for 10th place at the conference tournament, and tied for the fifth-lowest single round in MSUB history when she shot a 73 at the MSUB Fall Invitational on Oct 3, 2014. On the season Cleveland finished in the top-10 three times, including a season-best fifth-place finish at the Yellowjackets’ fall tournament. “It will be very difficult losing Mariah, but we have some underclassmen who will step up and fill her shoes,” O’Brien said. “Carlan also had an opportunity to play this spring and went out on a high note.”
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Carlan Campbell, MSUB’s other senior this season, competed in six rounds for the Yellowjackets and averaged a score of 88.2. She had one top-10 finish and a low-round score of 81 on the season, and was an academic all-conference pick for the second year in a row. Behind the solid play of two freshmen and a sophomore, the Yellowjackets caught a glimpse of what lies in store for the future of the program. Freshman Sammy Walter led the team in scoring average with an 81.2 on the season, and was a second-team all-GNAC selection. She took home GNAC Golfer of the Week honors after finishing in third place at MSUB’s spring tournament and finishing in 19th among a field of more than 100 golfers less than a week later at the Western New Mexico Invitational.
Freshman Sammy Walter. Walter’s season average of 81.17 was the sixth-best mark ever recorded at MSUB, and she had three top-10 finishes and a low-round score of 76. Bailee Dexter, another true freshman, saved her best round for last as she was MSUB’s top finisher at the GNAC Championships in sixth place with a 157. Dexter finished the season averaging a score of 82.8, finished in the top-10 three times, and had a low-round score of 75 while competing in all 16 rounds for the Yellowjackets. “I was very pleased with the way that Bailee and Sammy played, coming in and competing as true freshmen,” O’Brien said. “They positively motivated each other, and had success all at the same time.” Next season, MSUB will turn to Haley Shackelford for leadership as the sophomore was a second-team allGNAC selection after averaging a score of 82.2 on the year. Shackelford had three top-10 finishes and tied for first place at MSUB’s fall tournament. She played in every round for the ‘Jackets throughout the season, and finished in ninth place at the GNAC Championships. “Haley played very consistently throughout the year, and it was enjoyable to be able to rely on her to post quality scores,” O’Brien said. Shackelford was also an academic all-GNAC selection in her first year of eligibility for the honor. The Yellowjackets won both of their invitational tournaments, and posted the second-best two-round team total in MSUB history with a 622 at the spring event. MSUB also twice fired a team round of 309, which is the fourth-best mark in program history. MSUB has now finished in second at the conference tournament for two straight seasons, finishing just 14 strokes behind Western Washington at this season’s event. “Having all three underclassmen back, along with adding three fantastic recruits, we are going to be very talented next season,” said O’Brien. @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 91
Men’s Golf season recap: Yellowjackets set new program-best scoring average May 13, 2015 Completing the 2014-15 season with the lowest scoring average in program history at 297.70, the MSUB men’s golf team finishes a successful year. BILLINGS, Mont. – Highlighting the 2014-15 Montana State University Billings men’s golf season was a new program record for team scoring average, as the Yellowjackets averaged a score of 297.70 which was the thirdbest mark in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. “Our men had a productive season,” said MSUB head coach Shawn O’Brien. “We got off to a fantastic start in the fall, and were ranked very high in the region. Our team continued to work hard this spring and we had some great rounds. Our consistency lacked a little bit, therefore we just missed going to the regionals.” The Yellowjackets won both of the invitational tournaments that they hosted during the season and also placed fourth at the 16-team Chico State InterWest Classic from Oct. 6-7, 2014. Senior Jake Hedge represented MSUB at the 2015 NCAA Division II West Region Championships, as he competed as an individual after posting the fourth-best mark in the conference and the lowest ever in MSUB history at 73.00. Hedge was a first-team all-GNAC selection, and his two-round total of 139 at the St. Vincent Healthcare Yellowjacket Spring Invitational was the second-lowest in MSUB history. Hedge also had the seventh-best tworound total in MSUB history (143) and the ninth-best three-round total (211) throughout the season. 92 | @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book
The senior won the MSUB Fall Invitational in playoff fashion, had a low-round score of 68, and had four top-10 finishes including three in the top-5. Hedge was also selected to the GNAC academic all-conference squad. “Our goal at the beginning of the season was to make postseason play, and Jake did that for us,” O’Brien said. “I am proud of him for representing our team at the regional championships.” Also finishing strong as a senior was Austin Westphal, who was a second-team all-GNAC selection after winning the conference’s Newcomer of the Year award in 2013-14. Westphal averaged a score of 74.91, which is the ninthbest in MSUB history. Westphal finished in eighth place at each of MSUB’s invitational tournaments, and had a low-round score of 72 which he carded three separate times. “I was extremely happy to see Austin go out on a high note and have a fantastic spring,” O’Brien said. Another senior and one of MSUB’s top golfers was Gage Huft, who departed the program after the fall semester as he graduated and set out to pursue his career. Through 11 rounds, Huft averaged a score of 74.5 and tied Hedge for first place at MSUB’s fall invitational. “Gage accepted a great job and left us after the semester,” O’Brien said. “He finished his career playing very well in the fall and I am excited for the career opportunity he has chosen to pursue.” Houston Bradbury highlighted his senior campaign with a third-place finish at the Yellowjackets’ spring tournament, shooting an even-par 144 (73-71). On the year he averaged a score of 78.5 and had a pair of top-10 finishes in 13 rounds played. He was also an academic all-conference selection. Senior Austin Westphal. “Houston had an opportunity to finish his career this spring and he gave us a couple of great rounds,” said O’Brien. “It will be tough to lose four players who all played in our top-five this season, however we are very young with a lot of potential. The future will be bright.” Leading the charge of new faces for MSUB this season was freshman Austin Berg, who notched the 12th-best scoring average in MSUB history at 75.23. The highlight of Berg’s season came at the Chico State InterWest Classic, when he finished in fourth place after shooting a 2-under par 214. Berg made par in six rounds throughout the year, and had a low-round score of 69 while competing in all 22 rounds for the ‘Jackets. Ty Pickel, Parker Bradbury and Dalton Hagadone each also saw action as freshmen this season, as all competed in at least five rounds for the Yellowjackets. “I am excited for next season, as we have brought in a couple of great recruits,” O’Brien said. “Redshirt Connor Miele will be able to play, and we have Austin Berg returning after he had a fantastic first year. I think those guys will help lead our team next year, along with a handful of other players.” @MSUBGolf | www.msubsports.com | 2014-15 Season Book | 93