Friday, September 14, 2018

PORTLAND, Ore. – Three GNAC women's golf teams got their seasons underway this week, opening the year with invitationals in Billings, Mont. and Creswell, Ore. 

Concordia highlighted the group, placing first at the Yellowjacket Invitational with a two-round total of 621. Senior Shantel Antonio led the way for the Cavaliers, taking the individual title with a nine-over par 153. An All-GNAC First Team member a year ago, Antonio used a pair of consistent rounds (77-76) to earn medalist honors. 

Finishing second was Montana State Billings, using a score of 643 on its home course to secure a top-two finish. The Cavaliers and Yellowjackets were the class of the tournament as the nearest team was 23 strokes behind second place. 

At the NCU Invitational, Northwest Nazarene opened its season with a fourth-place finish, coming in at 56 strokes better than the next closest team. 

LAST WEEK'S TOURNAMENTS
Yellowjacket Fall Invitational (Sept. 10-11 at Lake Hills Golf Course, Billings, Mont.): Team – 1, Concordia, 621 (309-312). 2, Montana State Billings, 643 (323-320). Individuals - 1, Shantel Antonio, Concordia, 153 (77-76). 2, Cammie Decker, Concordia, 154 (73-81). T3, Staesha Flock, Concordia, 157 (79-78). T3, Tierney Messmer, Montana State Billings, 157 (79-78). 6, Shealyn Hafer, Montana State Billings, 158 (80-78). T7, Kaley Saludares, Concordia, 161 (84-77). T7, Kinsey Irvin, Montana State Billings, 161 (78-83). 11, Mia Martin, Concordia, 167 (80-87). 12, Renae Heisler, Montana State Billings, 168 (86-82). 13, Sydney Rochford, Montana State Billings, 169 (84-85).

NCU Invitational (Sept. 10-11 at Emerald Valley Golf Club, Creswell, Ore.): Team – T1, Oregon Tech, 629 (314-315). T1, British Columbia, 629 (315-314). 4, Northwest Nazarene, 658 (333-325). Individual – 1, Kelly Hellman, British Columbia, 151 (74-77). 9, Stephanie Miller, Northwest Nazarene, 161 (79-82). T10, Trinity McCarthy, Northwest Nazarene, 162 (85-77). 

AROUND THE GNAC
CONCORDIA
• Playing in their first tournament of the season, the Cavaliers took home the top prize at the Yellowjacket Fall Invitational with a total of 153.

• Senior Shantel Antonio took home the individual title along with her team's first-place showing. She led the field in both par-four (4.25) and par-five scoring average (5.0) over the two days. 

• Three Cavaliers finished inside the top-three in Billings. In addition to Antonio, Cammie Decker and Staesha Flock were 10-over par and 13-over par, respectively, for the tournament.

• The Cavaliers have three weeks off now before returning to competition. They will be back in action Oct. 1-2 at the Rose City Collegiate in Aurora, Ore. 

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS
• Montana State Billings opened the 2018-19 campaign with a second-place showing at the hometown event.

• The Yellowjackets finished with a two-round total of 643 (323-320).

• Tierney Messmer and Shealyn Hafer led the way for the hosts. Messmer's 79-78 put her in a tie for third individually, while Hafer was slotted just a few places back with an 80-78. 

• Stretching back to April, that's back-to-back impressive outings for Hafer. The Butte, Mont. native finished in fourth place at the GNAC Championships with a career low two-round total of 153.

• Montana State Billings will return to the course on Sept. 24-25, traveling to Goodyear, Ariz. for the Western New Mexico Fall Intercollegiate.  

NORTHWEST NAZARENE
• Northwest Nazarene got its season underway with a fourth-place finish at the NCU Invitational.

• Senior Stephanie Miller finished in ninth place to lead the Nighthawks. Miller shot a 79 on day one and finished her week with an 82 to stay inside the top-10.

• Sophomore Trinity McCarthy was the other Nighthawk to place inside the top-10. She carded a two-day score of 162.

• Up next for NNU is a short trip to Caldwell, Idaho for the College of Idaho Invitational. The tournament will run from Sept. 17-18.