(MSU Billings release)
BILLINGS - The Montana State University Billings Men’s Golf team won the annual Mike Grob Cup Sunday, an annual match play event against Rocky Mountain College. The Lady Bears meanwhile held onto the Leslie Spalding Cup as they defeated the Lady ‘Jackets.
Entering the final day of the event, the Yellowjacket men led the Battlin' Bears 6.5-3.5. The first day of the event, the teams participated in an alternate shot completion and a best ball competition. MSUB won 3 of the 5 alternate shot matches at Lake Hills Golf Course and 3 of 5 best ball matchups played at the Yellowstone Country Club on Saturday.
MSUB never looked back and won 6 of 10 individual matchups on Rocky’s home course Peter Yegen Saturday to claim the cup title 12.5 to 7.5.
“Overall it was a great team effort from everyone”, said head coach Jeff Allen. “They prepared very hard this week and put the time in. We had a great mindset coming in and our senior leadership was key. We had great play from the veterans and from the freshmen alike and just give our guys a lot of credit top to bottom. Rocky has a great team and hats off to them as well. It’s a great accomplishment to take back the cup.”
The clinching point was won by MSUB’s Payton Stott, but there were two other matches still out and MSUB won both. On Saturday, the ‘Jackets received a big boost from Paul O’Neil and Cash Golden as they went 2-0 on the day. Logan Martin was the only player that was 3-0 on the weekend. Kevin Kolb and Blake Finn played very well in their only action of the fall, splitting matches Saturday before winning their singles matches.
2019 Mike Grob Cup – Final Results
Match 1 – Alternate Shot – October 19, 2019 at Lake Hills Golf Course
Payton Stott/Garrett Woodin (MSUB) tied. Mitchell Thiessen/Nolan Burzminski (RMC) all square (half point)
Daniel Sigurjonsson/Hayden Driver (RMC) def. Caleb Trost/Riley Lawerence (MSUB) 1 up
Kevin Kolb/Blake Finn (MSUB) def. Chase Moorehouse/Schafer Paladichuk (RMC) 1 up
Logan Martin/Riley Kaercher (MSUB) def. Benjamin Cole/Riley Loen (RMC) 1 up
Paul O’Neil/Cash Golden (MSUB) def. Sean Corcoran/Kirk Humphrey (RMC) 1 up
Day 1 Alternate Shot Final: MSUB 3.5, RMC 1.5
Match 2 – Best Ball – October 19, 2019 at Yellowstone Country Club
Daniel Sigurjonsson/Hayden Driver (RMC) def. Caleb Trost/Riley Lawerence (MSUB) 1 up
Payton Stott/Garrett Woodin (MSUB) def. Chase Moorehouse / Nolan Burzminski (RMC) 2-and-1
Mitchell Thiessen/ Schafer Paladichuk (RMC) def. Kevin Kolb/Blake Finn (MSUB) 4-and-3
Paul O’Neil/Cash Golden (MSUB) def. Sean Corcoran/Kirk Humphrey (RMC) 3-and-2
Logan Martin/Riley Kaercher (MSUB) def. Benjamin Cole/Blake Vandenacre (RMC) 5-and-4
Day 1 Best Ball Final: MSUB 3, Rocky 2
Match 3 – Singles – October 20, 2019 at Peter Yegen Golf Club
Nolan Burzminski (RMC) def. Paul O’Neil (MSUB) 6-and-5
Chase Moorehouse (RMC) def. Cash Golden (MSUB) 2-and-1
Caleb Trost (MSUB) def. Colton Oppelt (RMC) 1 up
Riley Lawrence (MSUB) def. Schafer Paladichuk (RMC) 6-and-4
Daniel Sigurjonsson (RMC) def. Garrett Woodin (MSUB) 4-and-3
Payton Stott (MSUB) def. Hayden Driver (RMC) 3-and-2
Logan Martin (MSUB) def. Kirk Humphrey (RMC) 8-and-7
Mitchell Thiessen (RMC) def. Riley Kaercher (MSUB) 6-and-4
Kevin Kolb (MSUB) def. Sean Corcoran (RMC) 5-and-4
Blake Finn (MSUB) def. Riley Loen (RMC) 4-and-3
Day 2 Singles Final: MSUB 6, RMC 4
Final Score: MSUB 12.5, RMC 7.5
On the women’s side, RMC retained the Spalding cup with a 8.5 to 3.5 victory over MSUB. The pair of Avery Gill and Jalen Wagner won their alternate shot matchup while Kinsey Irvin and Tierney Messmer were victorious in their best ball matchup.
The women’s best ball match was suspended Saturday evening due to darkness at Yellowstone Country Club. Play continued Sunday morning at Highlands Golf Club effectively making it the fourth golf course played during the two day event. In singles play, Sydney Rochford as the long ‘Jacket to post a winning card.
“Our ladies battled hard, but give credit to Rocky,” commented Allen. “They are a talented group and we knew we had our work cut out for us. We had a lot of close matches and it just seems the points fell the way of Rocky. I am proud of our ladies for showing toughness and improvement this fall. We will work hard on our mental game with both teams this winter. If we can just bit a little bit better mental, it will positively affect our scores. We will hit the gym and work hard in there as well to get ready for spring.”
2019 Leslie Spalding Cup – Final Results
Match 1 – Alternate Shot – October 19, 2019 at Lake Hills Golf Course
Morgan O’Neil/ Kaitlyn Fleming (RMC) def. Renae Heisler/ Sydney Rochford (MSUIB) 2-and-1
Clair Wright/ Hailey Derrickson (RMC) def. Kinsey Irvin/ Tierney Messmer (MSUB) 8-and-7
Avery Gill/ Jalen Wagner (MSUB) def. Kaelyn Volk/ Morgan Sword (RMC) 2 up
Day 1 Alternate Shot Final: RMC 2, MSUB 1
Match 2 – Best Ball – October 19 & 20, 2019 at Yellowstone Country Club/Highlands Golf Club
Kinsey Irvin/ Tierney Messmer (MSUB) def. Hailey Derrickson/ Kaitlyn Fleming (RMC) 2-and-1
Morgan O’Neil/ Emily Aga (RMC) def. Avery Gill/ Jalen Wagner (MSUB) 4-and-3
Kaelyn Volk/ Clair Wright (RMC) def. Renae Heisler/ Sydeny Rochford (MSUB) 6-and-4
Day 2 Best Ball Final: RMC 2, MSUB 1
Match 3 – Singles – October 20, 2019 at Peter Yegen Golf Club
Morgan O’Neil (RMC) def. Avery Gill (MSUB) 1 up
Renae Heisler (MSUB) tied Clair Wright (RMC) all square (half point each)
Kaitlyn Fleming (RMC) def. Tierney Messmer (MSUB) 4-and-3
Hailey Derrickson (RMC) def. Jalen Wagner (MSUB) 5-and-4
Kaelyn Volk (RMC) def. Kinsey Irvin (MSUB) 3-and-2
Sydney Rochford (MSUB) def. Emily Aga (RMC) 3-and-2
Day 3 Singles Final: RMC 4.5 MSB 1.5
Final Score: RMC 8.5, MSUB 3.5
