Monday, April 3, 2017

PORTLAND, Ore. – Montana State Billings claimed its second team title of the season last week, winning the Yellowjacket Spring Invite title by a 14-stroke margin at Lake Hills Golf Course to earn selection as the Red Lion/GNAC Team of the Week.

Montana State Billings placed four players in the top 10 and finished with an overall score of 10-over-par 874 to take first place out of eight teams in the Monday-Tuesday event. Senior Conor Miele led the Yellowjackets individually with a second-place finish of 3-under-par 213 (73-70-70) after finishing each of the last two rounds at 2-under-par 70.

“I wedged and putted really well this week,” Miele said. “I was a little erratic off the tee. That’s not the strongest part of my game, but my wedges really excelled to hang in when I wasn’t hitting my best, so I’m proud of myself in that regard.”

The Yellowjackets began to pull away in the second round with a team score of 7-under 281 with all four scoring golfers carding scores under-par. Garrett Woodin and Michael Porter joined Miele with scores of 2-under-par in the round while Austin Walter finished the round at 1-under-par 71.

“It was a great men’s tournament with a lot of close scores and good golfers,” MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin said. “The key was the second round, and to shoot 7-under-par for four guys really got us some separation.”

Garrett Woodin had a strong finish to the event with a score of 3-over-par 75 in the third round to finish in a tie for fifth place individually with an overall score of 3-over-par 219 (74-70-75). It was his first top-10 finish in seven events this year.

Caleb Stetzner recorded his fourth top-10 finish of the season at 8-over-par 221 (71-73-77). The senior led the ‘Jackets after the first round with a score of 1-under-par 71, which was tied for the lead after 18 holes.

Porter rounded out MSUB’s top-10 finishes after taking 10th place with a score of 8-over-par 224. For the freshman, it was his fourth top-10 finish of his collegiate career. Walter finished in a tie for 18th place with an overall score of 13-over-par 229 (78-71-80) which included three consecutive birdies during the second round.

“With this being our home event, we put in a lot of work these last few weeks,” Miele said. “It really paid off it was a really special event. I was so happy to have it here at Lake Hills to see everyone here to support.”

This week, the Yellowjackets will compete in the Mustang Intercollegiate, beginning on Monday in Goodyear, Arizona. That will be MSUB’s final tune-up before the 2017 GNAC Championships at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho on April 24-25.