Griz close with 303 on Sunday

Led by freshman Raina Ports' even-par 72, the Montana women's golf team wrapped up the Red Rocks Invitational with a 303 on Sunday at Oakcreek Country Club in Sedona, Ariz.

The Grizzlies (320-314-303) moved up one spot in the team standings over the final 18 holes to finish 19th out of 20 teams.

Navy (293-298-289) won the team title by four strokes over Grand Canyon (303-287-294), by five over Cal State Fullerton (300-293-292).

Ports shot rounds of 82 and 79 on Saturday, then shot her second-lowest round as a Grizzly on Sunday, carding a 72.

She had three birdies, which balanced out one bogey and one double bogey. "She hit the driver 100 times better today and put herself in play," said assistant coach Jim Mee.

"When she did have a couple hiccups, instead of letting it compound into multiple holes, she was able to end it as soon as she walked off the green, then started the next hole and kept her momentum going."

Tricia Joyce, after shooting 80-80 on Saturday, shot a 3-over 75 on Sunday, Madison Cecil a 4-over 76. Joyce birdied the 15th, 17th and 18th holes.

"(Tricia) played really well and just had a couple of mental mistakes here and there with three-putts. She could have easily been at even-par as well," said Mee.

Jessica Ponce, who carded a 76 in Saturday's second round, shot an 80 on Sunday for Montana's fourth score.

"It was great to see the improvement today as we're getting out on grass more. The girls are starting to get more consistent," said Mee.

"Even when we weren't playing well, they were grinding and putting in as much effort as they could into every shot, maybe even trying too hard at times."

Ports moved up the standings to tie for 66th. Joyce tied for 78th, Ponce tied for 85th, Kylie Franklin (79-79-81) tied for 90th.

Cecil (79-DQ-76) took a disqualification for a procedural issue in Round 2 and didn't place in the individual standings but her 76 on Sunday was able to count toward Montana's team score.

Montana will play at the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic in Maricopa, Ariz., and the Bobcat Spring Invitational in Goodyear, Ariz., in early April before competing at the Big Sky Conference Championship April 17-19.

"We're still going to have those mental mistakes but hopefully when we go to Maricopa, they will be less, then less when we go to Goodyear, then by conference we'll be pretty solid," said Mee.

Northern Arizona's Ellena Slater (69-73-70) won the individual title. She was one of four players to break par for the tournament's 54 holes.

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Players Mentioned

Madison Cecil

Kylie Franklin

Tricia Joyce

Jessica Ponce

Raina Ports

University of Montana Athletics