Photo by: Big Sky Conference
Strong Summer Propels Elliott Into Senior Season
9/12/2019 2:20:00 PM | Women's Golf
Delaney Elliott looks to build off a trip to the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship as she prepares for her final year as a Bobcat
A lot of emotions go through a senior's final season in college athletics. For Delaney Elliott, she's already been through the highs and lows of her final year of competitive golf, and Montana State's 2019-20 schedule hasn't even begun.
The Superior, Colorado, native had her strong junior season carry into her appearances at events this past summer. Elliott participated in a variety of tournaments, including the Montana Women's State Amateur Championship in Billings. She finished tied for third at the meet with a three-round score of 228.
The highlight came on July 3. Playing in the 2019 U.S. Women's Amateur Qualifier at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora, Colorado, Elliott carded a 1-under-par 71. That score, which featured a hole-in-one, tied her for first at the event and qualified her for the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship.
"I feel like I've always really wanted to qualify for it," Elliott said of advancing to the national USGA tournament. "I've played in that qualifier since I was like a sophomore or junior in high school. I've gotten close a few times, so I knew it was possible. I had played the course that we qualified at during state my senior year in high school and quite a few other tournaments. I knew if I played well, I'd have a good chance."
Elliott spent the next month preparing and on Aug. 5 made her debut at the 119th U.S. Women's Amateur Championship in West Point, Mississippi.
The U.S. Women's Amateur is the leading golf tournament for female amateur golfers in the nation. Amateurs from all nations are eligible to compete with no age restrictions. It's widely considered one of the highest honors in women's amateur golf to participate in.
Elliott said it was hard to not get frustrated at the tournament. She fired back-to-back rounds of 85 and 83, missing the cut to the round of 64. Thanks to over three years worth of experience at the collegiate level, Elliott reminded herself of what she'd learned throughout her tenure at Montana State. She remembered to focus on the opportunity she was given and to be grateful for it.
"You're always learning when you're golfing," Elliott said. "There's never a round you're not learning something. You just have to have a lot of patience.
"Most of those players play at top tier schools and It was cool just to play with them. The two girls I played with play at Texas A&M and Oklahoma. They're really good players and they didn't even make the cut. It's just so competitive. It's a different level that you don't really understand until you're playing against these players that hit it so far and are just so good."
The Bobcat senior now focuses her attention to her final campaign on the Montana State golf team. Elliott has been a standout since she made her way into the MSU lineup as a freshman. She's continuously improved and had her best season throughout the 2018-19 schedule as a junior.
Elliott played in all 10 tournaments the Bobcats appeared in as she recorded a scoring average of 76.68 strokes per round. That mark was a career best and the seventh lowest average in program history. She led MSU by notching five rounds even or under par. She had a season-best individual finish of a tie for second at the Red Rocks Invitational in March, during which she fired an 18-hole round score of 67 that tied the school record.
Despite the growth in her own game, Elliott is looking forward the most to how the team performs this upcoming season. The Bobcats feature four seniors in Elliott, Kelly Hooper, Lilly Navarre and Coral Schulz. With the mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen, she believes the team has an opportunity for success.
"I think consistency is a big thing," Elliott said of this year's team's focus. "I think having seniors will be huge for us. We've had a lot of building years. I feel like every year I've been here, we've improved. Last year was a good propel into this season. We finished well last year after not a so solid spring. Now that the freshmen are sophomores now, they have experience and have played a lot of courses.
"I'm feeling really confident this season as a team. We're in a good place and with the help of our underclassmen, I think we can do well."
The Bobcats make their 2019-20 season debut by hosting the Battle at Old Works in Anaconda on Monday. MSU will compete in a 10-team tournament field that plays 54 holes over two days.
It's the first tournament of the season for the last time in Elliott's college career. It's one she's anticipating after an already eventful couple of months.
"It's really exciting," Elliott said. "A lot of friends and family will be there. It's fun to have one last round at Old Works. It's an awesome course. We've played well there in the past, so we're looking for a win."
The Superior, Colorado, native had her strong junior season carry into her appearances at events this past summer. Elliott participated in a variety of tournaments, including the Montana Women's State Amateur Championship in Billings. She finished tied for third at the meet with a three-round score of 228.
The highlight came on July 3. Playing in the 2019 U.S. Women's Amateur Qualifier at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora, Colorado, Elliott carded a 1-under-par 71. That score, which featured a hole-in-one, tied her for first at the event and qualified her for the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship.
"I feel like I've always really wanted to qualify for it," Elliott said of advancing to the national USGA tournament. "I've played in that qualifier since I was like a sophomore or junior in high school. I've gotten close a few times, so I knew it was possible. I had played the course that we qualified at during state my senior year in high school and quite a few other tournaments. I knew if I played well, I'd have a good chance."
Elliott spent the next month preparing and on Aug. 5 made her debut at the 119th U.S. Women's Amateur Championship in West Point, Mississippi.
The U.S. Women's Amateur is the leading golf tournament for female amateur golfers in the nation. Amateurs from all nations are eligible to compete with no age restrictions. It's widely considered one of the highest honors in women's amateur golf to participate in.
Elliott said it was hard to not get frustrated at the tournament. She fired back-to-back rounds of 85 and 83, missing the cut to the round of 64. Thanks to over three years worth of experience at the collegiate level, Elliott reminded herself of what she'd learned throughout her tenure at Montana State. She remembered to focus on the opportunity she was given and to be grateful for it.
"You're always learning when you're golfing," Elliott said. "There's never a round you're not learning something. You just have to have a lot of patience.
"Most of those players play at top tier schools and It was cool just to play with them. The two girls I played with play at Texas A&M and Oklahoma. They're really good players and they didn't even make the cut. It's just so competitive. It's a different level that you don't really understand until you're playing against these players that hit it so far and are just so good."
The Bobcat senior now focuses her attention to her final campaign on the Montana State golf team. Elliott has been a standout since she made her way into the MSU lineup as a freshman. She's continuously improved and had her best season throughout the 2018-19 schedule as a junior.
Elliott played in all 10 tournaments the Bobcats appeared in as she recorded a scoring average of 76.68 strokes per round. That mark was a career best and the seventh lowest average in program history. She led MSU by notching five rounds even or under par. She had a season-best individual finish of a tie for second at the Red Rocks Invitational in March, during which she fired an 18-hole round score of 67 that tied the school record.
Despite the growth in her own game, Elliott is looking forward the most to how the team performs this upcoming season. The Bobcats feature four seniors in Elliott, Kelly Hooper, Lilly Navarre and Coral Schulz. With the mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen, she believes the team has an opportunity for success.
"I think consistency is a big thing," Elliott said of this year's team's focus. "I think having seniors will be huge for us. We've had a lot of building years. I feel like every year I've been here, we've improved. Last year was a good propel into this season. We finished well last year after not a so solid spring. Now that the freshmen are sophomores now, they have experience and have played a lot of courses.
"I'm feeling really confident this season as a team. We're in a good place and with the help of our underclassmen, I think we can do well."
The Bobcats make their 2019-20 season debut by hosting the Battle at Old Works in Anaconda on Monday. MSU will compete in a 10-team tournament field that plays 54 holes over two days.
It's the first tournament of the season for the last time in Elliott's college career. It's one she's anticipating after an already eventful couple of months.
"It's really exciting," Elliott said. "A lot of friends and family will be there. It's fun to have one last round at Old Works. It's an awesome course. We've played well there in the past, so we're looking for a win."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Coach Spalding on next week's home event
Thursday, September 27
Bobcat Invitational 2012
Tuesday, September 25
Coach Basye - Aug.28
Tuesday, September 25
Montana State Women's Golf Indoor Facility
Tuesday, September 25
