Griz golf program signs two

Kris Nord's women's golf program has signed two prep athletes to National Letters of Intent, the Montana coach announced Friday.

Joining the Grizzlies as freshmen next fall will be Elle Higgins (Centennial, Colo./Valor Christian HS) and Kate Bogenschutz (Grafton, Wis./Cedarburg HS).

Higgins most recently won the Girls 14-18 division in a playoff last month at the South Florida Fall Junior Open at Wellington National Golf Club with rounds of 75 and 79.

She shot rounds of 75, 83 and 74 to tie for 46th at the High School Golf National Invitational at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina in June, which came after tying for fourth, with rounds of 76 and 72, at the Colorado Golf Association State Junior Championship.

Higgins led Valor Christian to the Colorado Class 5A state title in the spring, a first for the school. She finished third individually after carding scores of 72 and 78. She is the first golfer from Valor Christian to earn first-team all-state honors.

Higgins is relatively new to the sport, at least as far as being all in. She formerly competed in soccer, cross country, track and mogul skiing.

"Elle is a very good athlete. She's excelled in other sports, so she came to golf later but her progress in competitive golf has been very dynamic. We're excited about that," said Nord.

"She's got a great swing, great swing speed. She's a strong kid, and that's reflected in her swing. She's posted some really low scores, which we're excited about."

Bogenschutz, with scores of 79 and 80, finished 17th at the Wisconsin Division I state tournament in October and was named second-team all-state by the Golf Coaches Association of Wisconsin.

In July, Bogenschutz tied for 12th at the Wisconsin Women's Amateur Championship, at West Bend Country Club, with rounds of 83, 82 and 76. She was the second-highest high school finisher.

At the WPGA Morgan Stanley Tour Championship in July, Bogenschutz shot rounds of 75 and 74 to tie for sixth at the Washington County Golf Course in Hartford. That followed a victory at WPGA Junior Tour #16 at Edgewood Golf Course in Big Bend.

"She just missed making first-team all-state in Wisconsin, which is a real strong golf state. She's had good results," said Nord. "She's an excellent student and, like Elle, she has an athletic golf swing."

Montana has three seniors on its current team. The Grizzlies' top five scoring averages from the fall came from two juniors, one sophomore and two freshmen.

"I'm feeling like Elle and Kate are the best two kids we've signed to this point for the overall package of who's coming in, so I'm excited about that," said Nord.

University of Montana Athletics

Related News

Related Videos