Yellowjackets Open 2009-2010 Season with RMC/MSUB Ryder Cup Thursday

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State Billings men’s and women’s golf teams open the 2009-2010 season with the Rocky Mountain College/MSUB Ryder Cup, Thursday and Friday at Peter Yegen Golf Course in Billings.  The 18-hole match play event both is scheduled for 18 holes both days and a 1 p.m. start.

The Yellowjacket men’s golf team returns six golfers from last season and first year head coach, Shawn O’Brien, welcomes four new players for 2009.  The Yellowjackets finished third last year in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  Returners Jeff Allen and Travis Gates were named to the second team al-conference last season and Gates was an Academic all-conference selection, too.

On the women’s side, O’Brien welcomes three new players and returns five from last season’s record-setting team.  The Yellowjacket women’s golf team made the NCAA Regionals for the first time in school history as a team and had freshman Kalli Stanhope reach the NCAA Championships, individually.  Stanhope was one of two returners named to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference All-Conference team. 

In the spring, the Yellowjackets and Rocky will get together for the second half of the Ryder Cup, scheduled for Apr. 1-2. 

Following Friday’s play, the Yellowjacket women’s golf team will return to action quickly as it travels to the Adams State Invitational, Sept. 14-15 in Alamosa, Colo.  It is the first of four RMAC tournaments this season.  The men’s team returns to the links Sept. 21-22 at the Carroll College Invitational.