Jackets’ Abels Finishes Seventh at Invite (4/3/06)

DENVER, CO-  Montana State-Billings golfer Zach Abels shot a two-under par in the second round of golf to finish in a tie for seventh at the Colorado School of Mines/Regis University Invitational Monday in Denver, Colorado. 

As a team the Yellowjackets shaved 50 strokes off their first round total to finish fifth overall in the team standings (630).  The Jackets were impressive in day two and were second only to the host team Regis University in lowest round shot in the final 18 holes (290).  Regis University stroked the course taking top honors by shooting 314 and 280 for 594.  Twenty-three strokes off the pace and in second overall by one shot was Colorado-Colorado Springs with a 325 and 292 for 617.  Rounding out the third spot was Northern Colorado with a combined 618 (327, 291).

The top position in the individual race ended in a tie of teammates who shot identical rounds both days. Regis Universities’ Chris Sylvia and Miles Philpy carded rounds of 79 and a three-under par 69 for a combined 148.  Three golfers shared the third spot.  Alex Kephart, Doug Sutter and the round one leader Bobby Arranga shot one stroke off the leaders for a 149.  The Jackets’ Zach Abels (So., Twin Falls, ID) finished in a four-way tie for seventh.  Abels cut 12 strokes off his first round total shooting a two-under 70 second round to finish with a 152.

The Jackets head to Turlock, California April 9-10 to compete at the George Buzzini Invitational.  This will be the final competition before the Jackets compete at the 2006 Heartland Conference Championships April 16-18.

Team Standings
1. Regis University – 314, 280 – 594; 2. Colorado-Colorado Springs – 325, 292 – 617; 3. Northern Colorado – 327, 291 – 618; 4. Colorado School of Mines – 321, 302 – 623; 5. MSU Billings – 340, 290 – 630; 6. Fort Hays – 347, 309 – 656; 7. Colorado Christian – 373, 337 – 710

Top Five Individuals              School                         Scores
1. Chris Sylvia                      Regis U.                   79-69-148
    Miles Philpy                      Regis U.                   79-69-148
3. Alex Kephart                     CO.-Colo. Springs      77-72-149
    Bobby Arranga                  Regis U.                   76-73-149
    Doug Sutter                      N. Colorado              81-68-149

MSU Billings Standings
T7. Zach Abels – 82-70-152
T17. Nicholas Larson – 82-76-158
T23. Michael Konrad – 87-73-160
T25. Nathan Redfern – 89-72-161
39. Jason Kinsey – 96-75-171