2006-2007 Women’s Golf Preview (9/7/06)

BILLINGS, MT –  The Montana-State Billings women’s golf team is ready to come out swinging to start the upcoming golf season.  Team members have been practicing all summer individually and are scheduled to start official team practice September 11.  The team’s home course is The Briarwood.

“Our main goal is to be competitive in every event we play this year,” said head coach Jeff Nelson.  “There are some really good teams in our region and I believe that we will be one of them.  We have the talent and experience to be one of the top teams in our region.”

The Jackets added two freshmen to their lineup.  Amy Nordeen and Brittany Hedge are entering the college ranks following impressive high school careers.  Nordeen won the Class A State Championship last year.  Recruited by a division I university, Nordeen opted to attend MSUB instead.

“I am very excited to see Amy play and compete in our conference,” added Nelson.  “She has been practicing daily and shooting under 80 all year.  She will be a great addition to our program.”

Brittany Hedge of Miles City, Montana finished in the top 10 at state all four years of high school.  Hedge was a member of the 2004 Cowgirls Class A State Championship golf team, finishing as the tournament runner-up her junior season.  She was named Most Valuable Golfer and earned all-division, all-state, and all-academic honors each of her four years.

“Brittany has been shooting very competitive rounds, and like a few of her teammates, has a good chance to be one of the top golfers in the conference,” said Nelson.

Along with the new additions to the team, the Lady Jackets will return six players from last year’s roster.  Juniors Halley Montalban, Emily Maag, Nicole Salsbery, and Karrie Brack will add much needed experience to the squad. Sophomores Jessica Boyer and Kristal Lemke will compete for a spot on the travel roster.

“My four juniors now have two years of collegiate golf under their belt,” said Nelson.  “They have tournament experience on the same courses that we are playing again this year and that is going to make a big difference in their scores.”

As the squad grows the competitiveness also grows.  The top five ladies will make the traveling team.  In order to qualify, the team will have a 54-hole qualifier at the beginning of the season.  The fall traveling team is then finalized following the Rocky Mountain Invitational held in Billings September 25-26.

“We definitely travel to a lot of different areas,” said Nelson.  “We have tournaments in California, Colorado, Arizona, Texas and possibly the conference championship in Oklahoma.  In college golf, it is just as important to play teams in your region as it is in your conference.  We do see some of our conference opponents during the year, but we won’t see some teams until our conference championship.”

2006-2007 Schedule
Date           Event                            Host                       Location
Sept. 25-26 Rocky Mountain Invite       RMC                       Billings, MT
Oct. 9-10    Regis Invitational              Regis U.                  Denver, CO
Oct. 12-13   Collegiate Cup                 RMC                       Billings, MT
Oct. 23-24   Lady Otter Invite             Cal State-Monterey  Seaside, CA
Feb. 24-25   Lady Rattler Invite           St. Mary’s U.           San Antonio, TX
Mar. 26-27   Grand Canyon Invite         Grand Canyon U.      Phoenix, AZ
Apr. 9-10     Mesa State Spring Invite   Mesa State U.         Grand Junction, CO
TBA            Heartland Conference Championships                TBA