Montana
Western Michigan Invitational
Griz move up to 11th in final Rio Verde standings
3/10/2013 12:00:00 AM | Golf
March 10, 2013
The Montana golf team shot a final-round 305 Sunday, the Grizzlies' best round in four tournaments, to move up to 11th in the final team standings at the two-day Western Michigan Invitational at Rio Verde, Ariz.
The tournament was originally scheduled for three rounds of 18, but rain forced the cancellation of Friday's opening round. Montana shot a 312 Saturday to open Sunday's round in 14th place.
There were only four rounds played Sunday from among the other 16 teams competing that were better than Montana's 305.
"This was a real confidence boost for us and gives us some momentum," UM coach Emily Milberger said. "It's giving the girls the feeling like all the hard work they're putting in is starting to pay off."
Xavier and Arkansas-Little Rock both shot a 296 Sunday, but it wasn't enough to close the gap on tournament champion Northern Arizona, which followed its 288 Saturday with a 309 Sunday.
NAU finished 21 over for the two rounds. Xavier was +24, UALR and Eastern Michigan +25 and Bowling Green +30. Montana finished +41.
Junior Lindsay Reeve, who had her best round as a Grizzly with Saturday's 74, shot her second-best round Sunday with a four-over 76. Her two-day total of six-over had her tied for 13th in the individual standings, just six shots off the lead.
"I'm super-excited for Lindsay," Milberger said. "She did a great job this weekend of playing to her strengths, and it resulted in a great tournament."
Senior Olivia Weber and freshman Hayley Bingham both improved by five strokes from Saturday to Sunday and matched Reeve at 76.
Freshman Phoebe Tan, who shot an 87 Saturday, played 10 strokes better Sunday and was on the verge of posting Montana's best round of the day before back-to-back bogeys on her final two holes brought her in at 77.
"Sunday was a big turnaround for Phoebe," Milberger said. "She is definitely starting to find her groove."
Sophomore Tara Green shot a seven-over 79 Sunday following Saturday's 76. That gave Montana five players scoring in the 70s in a single round, the first time that's happened during the 2012-13 fall and spring seasons.
"Everybody's really excited, and they are starting to feed off each other," Milberger said. "We're excited to take this momentum through the rest of our spring schedule."
The spring schedule continues March 17-19 at the BYU Invitational at the Snow Canyon Country Club in St. George, Utah.
