(Editor’s note: Montana State University press release)
BOZEMAN – The Montana State golf team makes its first appearance of 2018 when the Bobcats tee off at the Battle at The Rock on Monday, Feb. 12, in Riverside, Calif.
MSU returns to play this spring after competing in three tournaments during the fall portion of its 2017-18 schedule. The Bobcats finished a team-high sixth at the Cougar Cup on Sept. 19 and put together two team 18-hole rounds that were in the top six all-time in program history.
The Bobcats are scheduled to participate in six tournaments leading up to the Big Sky Conference Championship in Boulder City, Nev., which begins on April 20.
“I think the biggest thing for us is getting on grass,” Montana State head coach Brittany Basye said. “We’ve been inside practicing the last three weeks, hitting on the simulator, putting on turf which is great, but just to get outside and see how the balls are really flying and rolling is important.”
A tournament field of 14 teams is set to play at Oak Quarry Golf Club over a two-day span. Named the 2013 National Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners Association, the course will play at a par 72 and spans 6,079 yards.
“This is a tough golf course,” Basye said. “We’ve never played it before, it’s very nice and there’s a lot of sand. I see us getting there the first two days and practicing out of the sand quite a bit because the course is guarded by it. We’ll be working on that because that’s something we haven’t been able to practice out of.
“Other than that, we’re just going to try to get back into the groove of things. Everybody is ready to start competing.”
MSU’s Kelly Hooper, Jaylee Tait, Delaney Elliott, Clare Dittemore and Coral Schulz make up the Bobcats’ lineup in Riverside. Lilly Navarre will also compete at the UC Riverside-hosted tournament as an individual.
Live results will be available to keep up with the field of golfers at GolfStatResults.com. Action begins on Monday with an 8:30 a.m. MDT shotgun start. The field will play 36 holes on the opening day, then wrap up the meet with the final 18 holes taking place Tuesday with golfers teeing off at 9 a.m.
