Yellowjackets Improve on Second Day of NCAA Super Regional Three

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Montana State Billings women’s golf team improved its team score by five strokes in the second round of the NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Super Regional Three Tuesday.  MSUB currently is ninth after 36-holes at the Westward Ho Country Club, hosted by Augustana College.  The Yellowjackets fired a team score of 347 on the par 72, 6,010-yard course for a 699 team total, after opening the tournament with a 352 score.

Upper Iowa took a five stroke advantage after the second round over Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.) Both teams carded team totals of 313 Monday, but the Peacocks fired a 315 Tuesday, while the Golden Bears carded a 320.  Minnesota State-Mankato improved by seven strokes and moved into third place with a 36-hole score of 651, two strokes ahead of Augustana. 

Winona State had the biggest improvement from the first round to the second as it shot a 350 Monday and a 320 on Tuesday.  The Warriors currently are fifth at 670, followed by Fort Hays State (677), Southwest Minnesota (679), Mesa State (691) and the Yellowjackets.

MSUB’s Kalli Stanhope is tied for is ninth after two rounds with a 15-over 151 (79 - 80).  Upper Iowa’s Rochelle Schmidt continues to lead the event as she is 4-over four the tournament at a 145 score.  Schmidt carded a 69 to open the tournament Monday.  Anne Martin of Concordia-St. Paul and Jacquelyn Hauser and second and third, respectively, and are separated by two strokes, 151 to 153.

Stanhope currently is tied for third among players on teams not in the top three.  She, along with Augustana’s Kelly Lauer (T-4th, 156), Winona State’s Megan Placko (T-7th, 158) and Southwest Minnesota’s Abby Oakland (T-9th, 159), all are competing for the three advancing spots from possible non-qualifying teams to the NCAA Division Championships, scheduled for May 13-16, in Findlay, Ohio.

Rounding out the other four scores for the Yellowjackets after 36 holes saw Amy Nordeen improve three strokes Tuesday and is 39th with a 177 score. (90 – 87).   Lindsay Erickson is 40th (89 – 90 = 179), while Libby Rutz improved by four strokes from a 94 to a 90 and is tied for 43rd with a 184 score.  Erin Heaney is 46th with a 192 score (95 – 97 = 192).

The Yellowjackets are scheduled to tee off tomorrow between 8:25 and 9:05 a.m., to conclude the 54-hole event.  Fans can access live stats by logging on to www.goaugie.com/sports/2009/4/29/NCAAWGREGIONAL.aspx?id=1748.

9th Montana State Billings 352 – 347 = 699
T-9 Kali Stanhope 79 – 80 = 159
39th  Amy Nordeen 90 – 87 = 177
40th Lindsay Erickson 89 – 90 = 179
T-43rd Libby Rutz 94 – 90 = 184
46th Erin Heaney 95 – 97 = 192