Photo by: Andrew Pedersen
Bobcat Golf Makes Strides During 2017-18 Season
5/1/2018 11:47:00 AM | Women's Golf
It's been over a week since the Montana State women's golf team completed its 2017-18 season, and while there has been time to reflect for the Bobcats, the squad looks ahead to another campaign this fall that will build off the positive moments the team just experienced
It's been over a week since the Montana State women's golf team completed its 2017-18 season, and while there has been time to reflect for the Bobcats, the squad looks ahead to another campaign this fall that will build off the positive moments the team just experienced.
The Bobcats put together their best team season scoring average in program history, averaging 306.80 strokes per round. That mark, established with 30 rounds of play during the season, is half a stroke better than the previous team best of 307.30 set in 2016. MSU's top four season scoring averages have been made in the past four seasons and each are more than six strokes lower than any season prior.
"Overall, we had a low season average as a team and we had two players at a 75 average which has never happened," Montana State head coach Brittany Basye said. "But, teams and players are getting better. When I think about us having the best season to date, it's nice, but we can do better."
Leading the Bobcats this season were sophomore Kelly Hooper and senior Jaylee Tait.
Both set new scoring records for MSU this past year. Hooper became the Bobcats' single-season scoring leader with her 75.37 stroke average. Tait, who had set the program-best mark during her junior campaign with a 76 average, topped it with a 75.67 average over the course of 27 rounds.
The two also combined for several individual highlights.
Hooper earned the Bobcats' first individual title in five years when she won the Grand Canyon Invitational on Feb. 25. Hooper claimed medalist honors by earning the victory on a second playoff hole. The Spokane, Wash., native completed three of MSU's five-best 54 hole tournament scores in program history during the season. She also carded the Bobcats' second-best 18-hole score of 4-under-par 68 at the MSU-hosted Battle at Old Works on Sept. 12. Hooper finished the year with three top-10 individual performances and a total of six top-20 showings.
Tait completed her collegiate career with six top-20 efforts in nine events this season. The Littleton, Colo., native wrapped up her time in Blue and Gold holding seven of MSU's 13 best 54-hole tournament scores, including the team's second-best score of 216 during a third-place individual finish at the 2016 Big Sky Championship.
The Bobcats had contributions from every member of the team during the 2017-18 campaign.
Clare Dittemore, Delaney Elliott, Lilly Navarre and Coral Schulz all were featured in the MSU lineup throughout the season. Dittemore, Elliott earned two top-20 finishes, while Dittemore and Schulz each had one apiece. Elliott (77.70) captured MSU's 13th best scoring average in program history during a season and Dittemore (78.93) sits at 20th. Navarre (80.30) and Schulz (81.67) weren't far off the pace.
"Kelly had the (team's) best season average and that's comforting knowing she will be back for two years," Basye said. "Clare had the second-best change in season average that was for the better and she'll be back. Then we have Coral, Lilly and Delaney who dropped about a stroke in average.
"We need these to all drop. They are all so close it's one or two shots a round and that's what we will focus on this summer, so come fall we are prepared and already below our averages."
As a team, the Bobcats had multiple highlights.
MSU tied its program record low 18-hole round when it carded a 289 during the second round of the Rose City Collegiate on Sept. 25. The Bobcats recorded three of their best 10 18-hole rounds all-time as well as three of the best 10 54-hole tournament scores during the recent slate.
Much of that success is attributed to the development of the team, which included first-year assistant coach Travis Amendt.
"Having Travis as an assistant was a great addition to our program," Basye said. "Having another set of eyes at practice and tournaments is big for this program."
The Bobcats will look to continue to progress next year with the addition of three student-athletes who have signed their National Letters of Intent during the early and late signing periods. Expected to join the program during the fall of 2018 are Hailey Oster, Sofia Todd Rodriguez and Lucia Prieto Romano. Those three, along with five returners, are expected to make an impact for a team that wants to improve from its eighth-place finish at the 2018 Big Sky Championship.
"If we can get four players averaging 76 and below, we will have a chance at a conference championship," Basye said. "When we only have three players shooting below 76, then we will stay where we are. If we can get four to five players shooting 75 and below, that's when we will make some noise.
"What is positive to me is we are improving each year. But we'll have to continue to get our team average down to be able to compete in this conference."
The Bobcats put together their best team season scoring average in program history, averaging 306.80 strokes per round. That mark, established with 30 rounds of play during the season, is half a stroke better than the previous team best of 307.30 set in 2016. MSU's top four season scoring averages have been made in the past four seasons and each are more than six strokes lower than any season prior.
"Overall, we had a low season average as a team and we had two players at a 75 average which has never happened," Montana State head coach Brittany Basye said. "But, teams and players are getting better. When I think about us having the best season to date, it's nice, but we can do better."
Leading the Bobcats this season were sophomore Kelly Hooper and senior Jaylee Tait.
Both set new scoring records for MSU this past year. Hooper became the Bobcats' single-season scoring leader with her 75.37 stroke average. Tait, who had set the program-best mark during her junior campaign with a 76 average, topped it with a 75.67 average over the course of 27 rounds.
The two also combined for several individual highlights.
Hooper earned the Bobcats' first individual title in five years when she won the Grand Canyon Invitational on Feb. 25. Hooper claimed medalist honors by earning the victory on a second playoff hole. The Spokane, Wash., native completed three of MSU's five-best 54 hole tournament scores in program history during the season. She also carded the Bobcats' second-best 18-hole score of 4-under-par 68 at the MSU-hosted Battle at Old Works on Sept. 12. Hooper finished the year with three top-10 individual performances and a total of six top-20 showings.
Tait completed her collegiate career with six top-20 efforts in nine events this season. The Littleton, Colo., native wrapped up her time in Blue and Gold holding seven of MSU's 13 best 54-hole tournament scores, including the team's second-best score of 216 during a third-place individual finish at the 2016 Big Sky Championship.
The Bobcats had contributions from every member of the team during the 2017-18 campaign.
Clare Dittemore, Delaney Elliott, Lilly Navarre and Coral Schulz all were featured in the MSU lineup throughout the season. Dittemore, Elliott earned two top-20 finishes, while Dittemore and Schulz each had one apiece. Elliott (77.70) captured MSU's 13th best scoring average in program history during a season and Dittemore (78.93) sits at 20th. Navarre (80.30) and Schulz (81.67) weren't far off the pace.
"Kelly had the (team's) best season average and that's comforting knowing she will be back for two years," Basye said. "Clare had the second-best change in season average that was for the better and she'll be back. Then we have Coral, Lilly and Delaney who dropped about a stroke in average.
"We need these to all drop. They are all so close it's one or two shots a round and that's what we will focus on this summer, so come fall we are prepared and already below our averages."
As a team, the Bobcats had multiple highlights.
MSU tied its program record low 18-hole round when it carded a 289 during the second round of the Rose City Collegiate on Sept. 25. The Bobcats recorded three of their best 10 18-hole rounds all-time as well as three of the best 10 54-hole tournament scores during the recent slate.
Much of that success is attributed to the development of the team, which included first-year assistant coach Travis Amendt.
"Having Travis as an assistant was a great addition to our program," Basye said. "Having another set of eyes at practice and tournaments is big for this program."
The Bobcats will look to continue to progress next year with the addition of three student-athletes who have signed their National Letters of Intent during the early and late signing periods. Expected to join the program during the fall of 2018 are Hailey Oster, Sofia Todd Rodriguez and Lucia Prieto Romano. Those three, along with five returners, are expected to make an impact for a team that wants to improve from its eighth-place finish at the 2018 Big Sky Championship.
"If we can get four players averaging 76 and below, we will have a chance at a conference championship," Basye said. "When we only have three players shooting below 76, then we will stay where we are. If we can get four to five players shooting 75 and below, that's when we will make some noise.
"What is positive to me is we are improving each year. But we'll have to continue to get our team average down to be able to compete in this conference."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Thursday, September 27
Tuesday, September 25
Tuesday, September 25
Tuesday, September 25
