Griz end fall season on a high note

Monday, October 9

Indian Canyon Golf Course; Spokane, Wash.

Montana

Eagle Invitational

Photos: Braeden Harlow (EWU Athletics)

10/10/2023 3:41:00 PM | Golf

Results

By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana women's golf team closed its fall season with a round of 296 on Tuesday as the 54-hole Eagle Invitational concluded at Indian Canyon Golf Course in Spokane, Wash.

The Grizzlies were in last place in the 11-team field after shooting a 314 in Monday's opening round, then improved to seventh after 36 holes with a 294 for Monday's final 18 holes.

Montana's 296 on Tuesday, in worse conditions than the golfers experienced on Monday, was the second-best score of the day, behind only Idaho's 292. More than half of the teams were in the 300s.

The Grizzlies (314-294-296) finished sixth, with Idaho (292-288-292), Weber State (292-286-299) and Cal State Northridge (295-299-297) claiming the top three spots.

"We had some players get off to rough starts today but they hung in there and did a good job of grinding out some scores," said assistant coach Jim Mee.

"We got a little rain. Really cool to see the girls battle. Fun day out there. We eliminate our first round and we're hanging in there for a top three and who knows what would have happened."

Fifth-year senior Tricia Joyce (77-73-72) matched her collegiate best with a three-round total of 222 to make a major move up the leaderboard. She started the day tied for 25th, ended it tied for seventh.

Over her final 36 holes, she played 31 at par, with one birdie and four bogeys. Her 41 holes played at par for the tournament were five more than anyone else in the field.

"She was hitting it terrible three weeks ago. She walks off the course today frustrated shooting 1-over because she didn't putt very well," Mee said.

"She hit 13 fairways and 17 greens (in regulation) today. That's unbelievable. That's better than PGA Tour players. If we improve her putting 1/10th of that, all of a sudden she's shooting crazy low scores."

Kendall Hayward (74-74-76) tied for 14th, Raina Ports (80-75-73) tied for 29th, Elle Higgins (83-72-75) tied for 38th and Kate Bogenschutz (87-80-78) tied for 67th.

Ports played the par-3s at 1-under, fourth-best in the field, Hayward was 4-over on the par-4s, fourth-best in the field, and Higgins tied for second with nine birdies.

Kylie Franklin (81-77-80) tied for 56th, Hannah Ports (81-80-78) tied for 59th and Madison Cecil (82-82-81) tied for 67th.

Idaho's Yvonne Vinceri (71-68-70) won the tournament by seven strokes over Weber State's Isable Gutierrez (71-68-77).

Montana won't compete again until the Bowling Green Invitational in Arizona in mid-February.

"We know the areas we need to improve on. A lot of it is stuff we can continue to work on throughout the fall as we're outside," said Mee.

"We can improve through the winter on some ball-striking and wedge control and work on our putting and mental game. It will be exciting to see what happens come spring."