Griz tied for eighth after 18
4/19/2021 6:41:00 PM | Golf
The Montana women's golf team shot an opening-round 320 on Monday as the Big Sky Conference Championship got under way at the Arrowhead Golf Club in Molalla, Ore.
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The Grizzlies are tied for eighth on a challenging course that allowed only two teams -- Northern Arizona (296) and Sacramento State (298) -- to break 300.
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More than half the teams shot rounds of 310 or higher.
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"The two best players in our conference shot 80 today, so it was challenging," said coach Kris Nord. "If you got in the wrong spot, you were penalized."
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Kylie Esh carded a 76 after playing the last eight holes at 2-under. She was 6-over through the first 10 holes.
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Everybody else came in at 81 or higher. Teigan Avery and Jessica Ponce both shot an 81, Meredith Boos an 82, Faith D'Ortenzio an 83.
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"The greens were tough, and we were probably a little bit amped up and anxious to play well. It kind of got us off to a rough start," said Nord.
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Four of Nord's players scored better on the back nine than they did on the front. Boos was 5-over on both the front and back nine.
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"We got off to a slow start but hung in there real well," said Nord. "It's not the score we'd hoped for, but we're looking forward to tomorrow and getting it down.
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"We can get our scores down, but we're going to have to get a handle on nerves and handling tough putts. It's going to come down to that."
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Esh is tied for 15th, five strokes off the low round shot by Sacramento State's Corinne Viden, who went birdie-eagle on No. 15 and 16 to get to 1-under.
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Esh was 5-over after double-bogeying No. 9, then dropped to 6-over with a bogey at No. 10. She would close her day playing the last eight holes at 2-under.
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"Kylie struck the ball beautifully most of the day. She hung on and played real well. I think she had 37 putts and 39 swings for her 76, which is remarkable," said Nord.
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"She's striking the ball well enough to get in the mix."
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Viden holds a two-stroke lead over five players who shot a 73. Another five shot 74.
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Rounding out the top five teams behind Northern Arizona and Sacramento State are Portland State (302), Weber State (305) and Idaho (308).
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The Grizzlies are tied for eighth on a challenging course that allowed only two teams -- Northern Arizona (296) and Sacramento State (298) -- to break 300.
Â
More than half the teams shot rounds of 310 or higher.
Â
"The two best players in our conference shot 80 today, so it was challenging," said coach Kris Nord. "If you got in the wrong spot, you were penalized."
Â
Kylie Esh carded a 76 after playing the last eight holes at 2-under. She was 6-over through the first 10 holes.
Â
Everybody else came in at 81 or higher. Teigan Avery and Jessica Ponce both shot an 81, Meredith Boos an 82, Faith D'Ortenzio an 83.
Â
"The greens were tough, and we were probably a little bit amped up and anxious to play well. It kind of got us off to a rough start," said Nord.
Â
Four of Nord's players scored better on the back nine than they did on the front. Boos was 5-over on both the front and back nine.
Â
"We got off to a slow start but hung in there real well," said Nord. "It's not the score we'd hoped for, but we're looking forward to tomorrow and getting it down.
Â
"We can get our scores down, but we're going to have to get a handle on nerves and handling tough putts. It's going to come down to that."
Â
Esh is tied for 15th, five strokes off the low round shot by Sacramento State's Corinne Viden, who went birdie-eagle on No. 15 and 16 to get to 1-under.
Â
Esh was 5-over after double-bogeying No. 9, then dropped to 6-over with a bogey at No. 10. She would close her day playing the last eight holes at 2-under.
Â
"Kylie struck the ball beautifully most of the day. She hung on and played real well. I think she had 37 putts and 39 swings for her 76, which is remarkable," said Nord.
Â
"She's striking the ball well enough to get in the mix."
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Viden holds a two-stroke lead over five players who shot a 73. Another five shot 74.
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Rounding out the top five teams behind Northern Arizona and Sacramento State are Portland State (302), Weber State (305) and Idaho (308).
Players Mentioned
Friday, June 19
Thursday, June 04
Friday, May 01
Friday, May 01
