Rocky women win own invite as
Battlin' Bears' Orchard ties for medalist honors
Jen Orchard finished her 18 holes of golf Monday afternoon, and then raced off to take a physics test and later join her basketball teammates in the weight room.
It was a hectic day for the hustling Rocky Mountain College junior, but Orchard was also in a happy mood.
She tied for medalist honors and helped the Battlin' Bears claim the women's title for the 11th straight year at the Rocky Mountain College Invitational golf tournament at Peter Yegen Golf Club.
Orchard, a rare two-sport athlete from Polson, closed with a 5-over-par 76 and finished 54 holes with an 11-over 224. She tied for top honors with Madeline Jarrett of Lewis-Clark State, who played her final 18 holes in 3-over 74.
"Whenever I hear the word tie I always think of the putts that I didn't make," said Orchard. "I missed a 5 1/2-foot birdie putt on my second-to-last hole. It's frustrating, but every golfer can say that. That's just golf. You just have to be happy about it and move on."
Rocky's women, who won all three of the Frontier Conference fall tournaments, wound up beating L-C State, from Lewiston, Idaho, by 14 strokes, 913-927. Montana State Billings, one of three non-Frontier schools in the two-day tournament, was third at 952.
"We came to win and we did," said Orchard. "We're real glad about that."
For the men, L-C State and MSUB finished in a tie at 18-under 834. The Warriors made up three strokes on the Yellowjackets during the final round.
Montana Tech wound up third at 10-under 842 and Rocky Mountain was fourth at 8-under 844.
Byron Olson of Tech was the men's medalist at 11-under 202 after carding a 4-under 67 on Monday. MSUB junior Jake Harr was the runner-up at 7-under 206.
The Rocky Invitational featured its largest field ever - 127 golfers. There were 11 teams on the men's side and 10 for the women.
Playing in near-perfect weather and course conditions over the two days, 47 sub-par rounds were recorded. Thirty of them came on Sunday when the men and women played 36 holes apiece.
The start of Monday's final round was delayed until 8:30 a.m. due to frost on the greens.
Besides Orchard's efforts, the Rocky women also benefited from the closing round of 2-over 73 turned in by freshman Brooke Stewart, who eagled No. 10, her next-to-last hole. Another freshman, Rachel Hosterman, matched Orchard's 76.
Stewart finished in a tie for third overall at 227 with MSUB's Kalli Stanhope. Hosterman was sixth.
The Rocky women, who have made 10 straight trips to the NAIA national tournament, are operating this year without a senior after losing stars Rachel Warren and Carlie Breen to graduation last spring.
"We have really big shoes to fill," said Orchard. "We miss them, but we have some really good freshmen and sophomores that are fun to be around and golf with. I'm proud of the girls."
This was also the first medalist title of Orchard's collegiate career. She shot a personal-best 72 on Sunday.
"I don't want to let the team down. I always want to do my best," Orchard said. "I'm really competitive, so I really hate losing."
The Battlin' Bears now lead L-C State by 21 strokes heading into the spring season. At stake is an automatic berth to nationals.
"The women continue to surprise me and have earned the right to say they're continuing the legacy that we've created," said Rocky coach Randy Northrop.
The men and women from Rocky and MSUB will take part in their annual Collegiate Cup competition beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at Yegen. They will play two-person best ball on Friday and singles on Saturday.
Two more rounds will be held in the spring at The Briarwood.
Rocky golfers win Carroll Invite
HELENA - Rocky Mountain College's captured the women's team title Tuesday in the Carroll College Invitational golf tournament.
The 54-hole event at Green Meadow Country Club started on Monday.
The Rocky women shot rounds of 323-336-338 for a 997 total to edge L-C State by two strokes for the team title. L-C State shot 340 in the final round.
Madeline Jarrett of L-C State took women's medalist honors with a 240 (81-78-81), followed by the Rocky trio of Rachel Hosterman (244), Jen Orchard (248) and Teresa Schlomer (251).
Rocky's Brooke Stewart was seventh at 254.
