Montana
Memphis Invitational
Grizzlies close out Memphis in fourth place
10/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Golf
Oct. 25, 2011
The University of Montana women's golf team had its best showing of the fall season with a fourth-place finish in the Memphis Fall Invitational Tuesday in Memphis, Tenn.
Senior Lauren Howell (74-78-74--226) paced the Grizzlies finishing the tournament 13-over-par and tied in fifth place.
Montana as a team improved every round of play, something it has done time and time again this season, to shoot 313-308-302--923. Its 302 third-round effort was the lowest team round Tuesday, and was tied for the second-lowest team round of the tournament. Only co-champion Samford University had a lower round with its impressive 293 in the second.
"This was a great finish for us," said coach Emily Milberger. "We are really starting to gain confidence with how we are playing as we near the end of the fall."
The Grizzlies were only one stroke behind third-place finisher Sam Houston State (302-311-309--922).
Howell, who was tied for third place after day one, ended round two Tuesday bogeying three of her last four holes. She bounced back in the afternoon going even on the front nine of round three and finishing the last round three over to end tied for fifth.
"Lauren played really well," Milberger added. "She wants to get a couple of collegiate wins under her belt before she is done here, and she is on her way to that."
Junior Olivia Weber, who struggled in the first round shooting 80, made a big turnaround to keep Montana among the leaders. Weber (80-75-74--229) played her best golf in the third round when she not only hit her best score of the tournament at 74, but at one point had a nine-hole stretch without a bogey, keeping the Griz in business and finishing in a tie for tenth place.
Also among the Griz leaders was freshman Tara Green (76-77-77--230). Her consistent three rounds of play earned her a tie in 12th place.
Samford and host University of Memphis shared the tournament team title. The two schools seesawed back and forth for the lead throughout the two-day event. Samford shot 311-293-309--913 while Memphis shot 304-307-302--913.
Memphis' Marissa Steen (71-75-69--215) won the individual crown. Steen's two-under-par 69 in the third round tied for the lowest individual round of the tournament.
The Grizzlies will hit the links again Nov. 7-8 at Austin, Texas, in the Challenge at Onion Creek. Onion Creek will conclude Montana's fall season.
