Wednesday, July 26, 2017
MISSOULA, Mont. – Montana State Billings sophomore-to-be Caleb Stetzner proved himself among the top amateur golfers in the state of Montana as the reigning GNAC Men's Golf Freshman of the Year won the 2017 Montana Men's State Amateur Tournament, held July 20-22 at the Missoula Country Club.
Stetzner, coming off a Second Team All-GNAC season in his first year with the Yellowjackets in 2016-17, finished 7-under-par with a three-round score of 206. The Anaconda, Mont., native held off second-place Sean Benson and Payton Taylor by two strokes, shooting an even-par 71 in the final round Saturday, including four birdies.
Fellow Yellowjacket Garrett Woodin was also in the top-10, claiming sixth place by shooting an even-par 213 over the three-round event held at Missoula Country Club.
Junior Scott Larson finished in a tie for 63rd place, and a pair of freshmen-to-be at MSUB also competed in the event, including Caleb Trost (tied for 25th) and Riley Kaercher (tied for 45th).
A total of 130 golfers competed on the men’s side, in the 100th edition of the tournament.
Montana State Billings’ women’s squad was also well represented, as junior-to-be Shealyn Hafer finished in third place. Sydney Rochford and Renae Heisler, who will make their debut as Yellowjackets this fall, also competed in the women’s tournament.
Stetzner and Woodin went on to compete in the United States Amateur Qualifier on Tuesday, July 25, where they finished in 10th and 15th, respectively. The top finisher at that event, Reid Hatley of Spokane, Wash., earned a spot in the 2017 U.S. Amateur Tournament in Los Angeles.