(Editor’s note: Montana State University press release)
BOZEMAN – Kelly Hooper finished in a tie for seventh and Delaney Elliott took 10th to lead the Bobcat women’s golf team at the Portland State/Eastern Washington Invitational on Thursday, March 29, at the Ocotillo Golf Club.
Hooper shot a team-best 3-over-par 75 Thursday thanks to two birdies in her final four holes of the third round. She finished second in the tournament field with eight birdies over the course of three days and wrapped up action at 7-over (223).
Elliott finished off her appearance in Chandler at 9-over-par (225) after shooting a third-round 80. Her top-10 showing is the first for the sophomore this season.
Jaylee Tait, Lilly Navarre and Coral Schulz rounded out the Bobcat lineup. Tait finished in a tie for 14th after carding a three-round 230 (80-71-79). Navarre completed her best round at Ocotillo Thursday with a 78 and closed out the tournament tied for 35th (249). Schulz (270) placed 39th for MSU.
Clare Dittemore finished her third individual round in 25th place at 235 strokes (84-75-76).
The Bobcats took sixth in the team standings with a three-round score of 927 (313-302-312). MSU finished two strokes behind Big Sky foes Eastern Washington and Montana. Portland State won the team title by racking up 870 strokes while the Vikings’ Tara Finigan claimed medalist honors by carding a 1-under-par 215.
“It wasn’t exactly the team finish we were looking for, but I see some good things we will keep doing heading into the Wyoming tournament,” Montana State head coach Brittany Basye said. “It will be nice to get some quality practice in for a couple days outside on true grass and greens so we can really focus on feel and yardage. Being consistent will be a key for this team going into our last three events.”
Montana State continues play in Arizona when the Bobcats travel to Maricopa for the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic from April 2-3.
