Big Sky Conference Tourney Golf Preview
4/18/2010 1:24:10 PM | Women's Golf
The desert oasis that is the Ocotillo Golf Resort will play host to the 2010 Big Sky Conference Golf Championship presented by Black Clover starting Monday.
Montana State golfers at the event are Molly Dorans, Melissa Hultstrand, Kelly O'Brien, Elise Nelsen and Katie Michunovich. Nelsen is the lone senior in the group but did not play in last year's BSC Championship. Michunovich is a sophomore and the rest are freshmen.
The Cats played the Octillo course two weeks ago at the Cowgirl Invite. In that outing, Hulstrand led the Cats with a three-round score of 237. O'Brien was three strokes behind at 240.
The first tee-times on Monday are at 6:30 a.m. Teams will tee off Tuesday at 6:30 a.m., and at the same time on Wednesday for the final round.
Northern Arizona enters the 54-hole tournament favored to repeat following a regular-season in which they won four tournament titles.
This marks head coach Leslie Spalding's second BSC tourney. Last year, MSU finished in seventh behind the play of BSC Golfer of the Year Kelly Gillum who had a disappointing first round at the tournament and finished in eighth. After graduating five seniors last season, Spalding takes a whole new crew to this year's tourney.
Northern Colorado sophomore Ali Nelson is the reigning medalist. Nelson won last year's event with a six-over-par 222. NAU is led by Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year Stephanie Kim, who has two individual titles and a school-record round of 68 already on her collegiate resume. All five NAU golfers in the championship lineup earned all-conference honors.
MSU's tee times for day one begin at 6:30 a.m. Monday. The tourney will be three rounds of 18 holes. Results will available at www.msubobcats.com daily. The Cats will golf with Sac State and Montana the first day.
6:30 a.m. - Katie Michonovich Montana State; Kercia Brakel, Sacramento State; Alyssa Williamson, Montana
6:39 a.m. - Elise Nelson, Montana State; Justine Chen, Sacramento State; Rose Stepanek, Montana
6:48 a.m. - Kelly O'Brien, Montana State; Samantha Saffold, Sacramento State; Ashli Helstrom, Montana
6:57 a.m. – Melissa Hulstrand, Montana State; Julie Shutler, Sacramento State; Carissa Simmons, Montana
7:06 a.m. – Molly Dorans, Montana State; Brooke Green, Sacramento State; Lauren Howell, Montana
PDF link to preview and weekly release
