Griz make some history in Utah

Monday, September 25

TalonsCove Golf Club; Saratoga Springs, Utah

Montana

Big Sky Conference 54 for IX Tournament

9/26/2023 3:47:00 PM | Golf

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By: Montana Sports Information

The Montana women's golf team wrapped up the Big Sky Conference 54 for IX tournament on Tuesday with a final-round 298 at TalonsCove Golf Club in Saratoga Springs, Utah.

The Grizzlies opened the tournament with scores of 298 and 299 on Monday.

It's just the second time in program history Montana has shot three sub-300 rounds at a tournament, the first when it was done away from one of its home courses in Missoula.

"What's encouraging is we could quite easily be lower. We've closed the gap a little bit. We're in the ballpark. That's where we want to be, going that direction," said coach Kris Nord.

Freshman Elle Higgins (73-73-70) shot a 2-under 70 on Tuesday and carded an even-par 216 for the tournament.

She was at 4-under through 16 holes on Tuesday before closing bogey-bogey to give two shots back. Higgins tied for 14th.

She led the 87-golfer field with 43 pars over 54 holes and was excellent on the par-4s both days, playing them to 3-under.

"She's going to be able to go lower than that. She hit the ball well and didn't make many putts. She let a couple go at the end today or she would have been in the 60s," said Nord.

"The great thing about Elle is she is not going to be happy very often unless she goes low. That's the attitude we need across the team."

Raina Ports (72-74-76) tied for 31st, Tricia Joyce (75-73-75), playing as an individual, tied for 37th.

It was all scores in the 70s as well for Madison Cecil (73-77-78), Kendall Hayward (79-76-75), Hannah Ports (78-76-77) and Kylie Franklin (78-78-76). Freshman Kate Bogenschutz had rounds of 75, 80 and 82.

Montana tied for 10th in the team standings.

"Through all eight kids, we had better scores, we had better attitudes and we had better energy out on the course," said Nord. "It's a package deal. We need to get all that going in the right direction."

Defending Big Sky champion Sacramento State (280-288-279) finished 14 strokes ahead of runner-up Northern Arizona (289-288-284). Montana State (276-295-298) placed third.

Thirteen players finished under par for 54 holes. Montana State's Scarlet Weidig-Velazquez (67-69-71) won the tournament by a stroke over Southern Utah's Natcharee Thanchitnithithanya (73-68-67).

Montana will be back on the course next Monday and Tuesday at the Big O Classic, which will be played at Oak Hills Country Club in Omaha, Neb.