Yellowjacket Men in Tenth after First Day at Chico (Oct. 11, 2004)

BILLINGS, MT – Chris McConnell’s 2-over par 146 paced the Montana State-Billings men’s golf team to a tenth place showing after the first two rounds at the Cal State-Chico Invitational on Monday.  McConnell, a junior from Lewistown, Mont., is the only Yellowjacket in the top 20.  He will tee off for Tuesday’s final round in twelfth place, 11 strokes behind leader Shane Prante of St. Martin’s, who shot a 9-under 135.

The Yellowjackets broke the 300 mark in the day’s opening round, carding a 299.  They shot 304 in the second round for a 36-hole total of 603.  Chris Haas (Jr., Bozeman, MT) is in 24^th place after rounds of 75 and 74 left him at 5-over 146. 

The Jackets’ PacWest opponent Hawaii-Hilo tops the team standings with a two-round total of 573.  The Chico tournament will conclude with Tuesday morning’s final 18 holes at the Butte Creek Country Club.  The Yellowjackets will wrap up the fall season next week in Bakersfield. 

Team Standings
1. Hawaii-Hilo – 287-286—573
2. Cal State-Bakersfield – 285-290—575
3. St. Martin’s – 290-287—577
4. Cal State-Stanislaus – 291-295—586
5. Florida Gulf Coast – 297-297—594
7. Western Washington – 302-297—599
8. Cal State-Chico – 298-302-600
9. Cal State-Monterey Bay – 297-304—601
10. Montana State-Billings 299-304—603
10. Cal State-Chico (B) 305-298—603
12. Sonoma State – 292-319—611
13. Colorado-Colorado Springs – 310-311—621

Top 10 Individuals
1. Shane Prante (St. Martin's) – 68-67—135
2. Brian Duckworth (UCSD) – 68-72—140
3. D.J. Fernando (CSUB) – 71-70—141
   Chris Massoletti (Chico St.) – 70-71—141
5. Greg Lopez (CSUB) – 71-72—143
   Kevin Shimomura (Haw.-Hilo) – 74-69—143
   Tysen Shinaut (Haw.-Hilo) – 74-69—143
8. Ryan Thornberry (CSU-Stanislaus) – 71-73—144  
9. Nick Mason (Hawaii-Hilo) – 71-74—145
   Jared Bouchey (St. Martin's) – 72-73—145
   Mark Baker (CSUB) – 73-72—145

MSU Billings Men
T 12 Chris McConnell – 72-74—146
T 24 Chris Haas – 75-74—149
T 41 Nicholas Larson – 76-77—153
T 54 Zach Abels – 76-80—156
T 54 Bryan Barthelmess – 77-79—156