The Montana State women’s golf team finished in eighth place at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational, according to a March 18 announcement. The tournament took place at the Pearl at Kalauao in ‘AIEA, Hawaii, where the Bobcats posted a final round score of 5-over 289 and completed the event with a total score of 890 over three rounds.
This result is significant as it demonstrates the team’s ability to compete strongly against nationally ranked programs early in their spring season. Ashleigh Wilson led Montana State with a total score of 219, finishing tied for 23rd individually.
Head coach Brittany Basye said, “Proud of this group today for going out and putting up a good team score. We are seeing glimpses of what we can do. Obviously, coming out of the winter, it takes a few rounds to get back into it. They keep fighting, and the pieces will come together if they continue to put in the work. Seeing more red in the scorecards shows that they are fighting and starting to believe in themselves! Excited for a couple days of good practice outside in Arizona, and then we compete again next Monday and Tuesday!”
Wilson, Maddie Montoya, and Eva Heinz each carded even-par rounds of 72 on Wednesday. Noral Seidl contributed with a round of 73. Wilson went bogey-free on twelve consecutive holes and made three birdies late in her round. Montoya had seven straight bogey-free holes with birdies on three different holes during her round. Heinz recorded five birdies in her final round.
In individual standings for Montana State, Montoya finished tied for 36th with a score of 223 while Seidl was tied for 39th at 225. Heinz and Greeny both scored 227 over three rounds to tie for 46th place.
Nationally ranked teams performed well at the event: No. 2 USC won by twenty-three strokes with an overall score of twenty-eight under par (824). North Carolina and Arizona State tied for second place at five under par (847). Texas State finished fourth just two strokes behind them.
Montana State’s next competition will be March 23-24 at the Bell Bank Pay It Forward Collegiate tournament hosted by Minnesota in Litchfield Park, Arizona.
