HELENA, Mont. - Freshman Natasza Klimko set a 36-hole program record in a dominant individual win in Helena, leading the No. 25 Battlin' Bear women to a tournament victory while the No. 18 men's team finished runner-up.
No. 25 women's golf tied for lead behind Klimko's dominance
After a fast start that saw her tie the school record, freshman Natasza Klimko maintained her torrid pace on day two, setting a new 36-hole program record with a 7-under-par 137 (66, 71) to capture individual medalist honors by 13 strokes. Klimko tied teammate Kirsten Smith for the field's best par-3 scoring (+2) while holding the top mark on par 4s (-5) and par 5s (-4). Her 12 birdies were five more than any other player in the field, offset by just three bogeys and a single double bogey over two rounds.
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Carlee Verdugo and Alivia Webinger also posted top-10 finishes for Rocky. Verdugo shot an 11-over 155 (76, 79) to place seventh, while Webinger finished one stroke back in eighth at 12-over 156 (80, 76). Kirsten Smith rounded out Rocky's counting scores tied for 10th with a 13-over 157 (79, 78), and Anna Lende rebounded on day two to tie for 16th at 16-over 160 (83, 77).
The Battlin' Bears pulled away on the final day to secure the team title by three strokes, finishing with an overall score of 27-over 603 (301, 302). Rocky led the field in composite scoring on par 3s (+14) and par 5s (+2), while racking up a tournament-best 25 birdies.
No. 18 Rocky men finish runner-up
Braxton McDonald finished one stroke shy of the individual lead in his best performance as a Battlin' Bear, tying for second place at 11-under 205 (68, 70, 67). McDonald was the only player in the field to finish under par on par 3s (-1), tied teammate Kristjan Burkelca for the lowest par-5 scoring (-10), and matched the field high with 18 birdies.
Kristjan Burkelca and Sam Norman joined McDonald with top-10 efforts. Burkelca placed eighth overall at 5-under 211 (72, 70, 69), while Norman took ninth at 4-under 212 (69, 70, 73). Adam Hyde-Lay tied for 17th with a 4-over 220 (73, 71, 76), and Nathan Piers rounded out the lineup in 22nd at 6-over 222 (69, 79, 74).
The Rocky men surged on the final day to claim second place with a tournament total of 22-under 842 (278, 281, 283). The Battlin' Bears posted the field's best scoring average on par 3s (+6) and recorded a tournament-high 160 total pars.
Bellevue earned the team victory behind a blistering final round, ending at 36-under 828 (279, 278, 271).
The Battlin' Bears close out their fall schedule next week in Colorado at the Battle at the Dance.
