Griz cap season with record score

Results

The Montana women's golf team shot a final-round 297 and finished in a tie for eighth at the Big Sky Conference championship, which wrapped up Wednesday at the Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev.

Montana's three-day total of 902 -- the Grizzlies opened with rounds of 307 and 298 -- establishes a new program record for the league championship, eclipsing the 903 Emily Milberger's team shot in 2012 and the 904 Montana shot for Joanne Steele in 2006 to win its only Big Sky championship.

Wednesday's round of 297, which featured 11 birdies, was the second-lowest round for Montana ever at the Big Sky championship, bettered only by the 290 the 2013 team carded in round three.

"It was fun," said first-year coach Matt Higgins. "The wind was blowing a little more today, and that made it a real grind out there. But they knew it was their last round, so they wanted to go out and shoot their low score of the season, which they did."

Baylee Barckley (72-73-72--217) wrapped up her freshman season shooting her three best rounds of the year. At 1-over for 54 holes, she tied for fifth. Her three-round total of 217 tied Olivia Weber's championship record, set in 2013.

In contention since Monday's opening round, Barckley, who had six birdies and an eagle for the tournament, with only one score worse than bogey, a double on No. 18 on Tuesday, withstood the pressure and penciled a clean scorecard on Wednesday: three birdies, three bogeys, a dozen pars.

"What a great tournament for Baylee and a tremendous accomplishment for a freshman. And she had a number of birdie putts that just skipped by the hole. If a few of those had dropped, she would have been right up there," said Higgins.

"She finished the spring at her peak, just like she did last fall. I think she wishes the season was longer because she's playing so well."

Montana's other four golfers all finished the tournament within four strokes of one another, and all five players on Wednesday shot rounds of 77 or better.

Phoebe Tan (78-76-75--229) tied for 35th, Hailey Hoagland (80-77-73--230) tied for 37th, and Hayley Bingham (77-79-77--233) and Alexa Schendelman (84-72-77--233) tied for 45th.

Wednesday was the final round competing as Grizzlies for Tan and Bingham, both of whom are seniors.

"They both played great," said Higgins. "It's an emotional day for them, knowing it's their final tournament. For them to come out and keep it together and shoot the scores they did, I was really proud of them."

Hoagland, just a sophomore, had her best round of the championship on Wednesday. Bedeviled by big scores on Monday and Tuesday -- she had a triple bogey in both rounds -- Hoagland avoided them on Wednesday to finish with a 73, one stroke off her best score of the season.

"She hit the ball tremendous all week. She just had a couple of bad breaks and bad bounces that led to big numbers the first two rounds," said Higgins. "She had to grind today, but she stayed composed. Most of the girls did that today. When they had a bogey, they'd fight back and birdie a hole."

Idaho (295-286-287--868), which trailed Sacramento State for much of Wednesday's back nine, won the championship by a single stroke over the Hornets (291-295-283--869), who finished second for the third straight year despite shooting a tournament-record 5-under 283 on Wednesday.

Northern Arizona (290-295-300--885) placed third, Weber State (303-293-290--886) fourth, Eastern Washington (307-295-287--889) fifth.

Idaho's Sophie Hausmann (77-65-70--212) and Marissa Borja (74-70-68--212) both finished the tournament four under par. Hausmann beat Borja on the first playoff hole to win the individual title.

And so Montana's first year under Higgins comes to an end on a high note. The Grizzlies had a team average of 315.6 last fall and dropped that to 309.9 for the spring. The team's last three tournaments were played at 305.4.

"It's been great to see the players progress and see the improvements the team is making," said Higgins. "To be able to shoot lower scores like we have the last three weeks, then play at conference like we did, it gives us something to look forward to."

University of Montana Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Baylee Barckley

Hayley Bingham

Hailey Hoagland

Alexa Schendelman

Phoebe Tan

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