HILO, HI – Behind three all-conference performances, the Montana State-Billings men's golf team finished second at the Pacific West Conference Championships.  The Lady Yellowjackets finished third and place two players on the all-conference teams.

"I was really happy with the way the teams finished," said Yellowjacket men's coach Roger Burckley, who missed the trip because of the birth of his second son this week.  "We held our own and earned some respect in the region.  We didn't quite get the championship we were after, but we'll be that much hungrier for it next year."

The Yellowjacket men held off Western New Mexico by one stroke to claim second place.  Their three round total of 13-over 865 is the best three-round total in school history.  The Jackets shot a school single round record of 281 in Friday's second round.  Hawaii-Hilo ran away with the team title with a 17-under par 835.  The Vulcans' Nick Mason took top individual honors with a 10-under 203.

The Jackets were paced by Chris McConnell's third place finish.  His 4-under 209 earned him first team all-conference honors.  It was the first under-par performance in school history for a three round tournament.  Zach Abels finished in a tie for seventh with a 4-over 217.  Chris Haas tied for tenth with a 5-over 218.  Both Ables and Haas earned second team all-conference honors for finishing in the top 10.  Haas shot the tournament's low round on Friday with a 64 before finishing with a 78 on Saturday.

Nicholas Larson's 10-over 223 placed him just outside of the top 10 in a tie for fourteenth place.  Based on regular season results, Larson earned an invitation to next week's West/Northwest Super Regional in South Dakota.

"Nick hit the ball well during the tournament, but struggled a little with the greens," said Burckley.  "It's exciting that he will be the first MSU Billings player to play at a regional.  Really, if this tournament had been last week, Nick and Chris (McConnell) might both be going to the regional.  They're definitely both deserving.  Chris had a great tournament; he just came on a week too late."

The Lady Yellowjackets finished third behind Western New Mexico and Hawaii-Hilo.  MSUB had a three round total of 1039.  The Mustangs won with a 93-over 945.  WNMU's Katherine Dorris took top individual honors by four strokes, finishing with a 14-over par 227.  The Jackets' Halley Montalban and Hawaii-Hilo's Kiilani Matsuyoshi tied for second place with an 18-over 231.  Montalban received all-conference first team honors. 
Amanda Rabenburg earned second team honors for finishing tenth with a 257.  Julie Clifford, Nicole Salsbery and Nicole Clayton placed twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth respectively.

"I talked with Jeff (Nelson, head women's coach) and he said the women were consistent all weekend," said Burckley.  "He was proud of the way they played throughout the tournament.  Haley did a great job.  She finished ahead of three players from Western New Mexico who are going to the regional."

Men's Team Standings
1   Hawaii-Hilo, U. of                277  276  282    835       -17 
2   Montana St-Billings             294  281  290    865       +13 
3   Western New Mexico           295  283  288    866       +14 
4   Hawaii Pacific Univ.             302  296  288    886       +34 
5   BYU-Hawaii                       313  307  323    943       +91 
6   Chaminade University          395  384  365   1144      +292 

MSU Billings Individuals
3     Chris McConnell                71   69   69    209   -4
7     Zach Abels                      75   74   68    217   +4
10   Chris Haas                       76   64   78    218   +5
14   Nicholas Larson                73   74   76    223  +10
20   Bryan Barthelmess            75   81   77    233  +20

Women's Team Standings
1   Western New Mexico            311  314  320    945       +93 
2   Hawaii-Hilo                         335  317  328    980      +128 
3   Montana St-Billings              345  345  349   1039      +187 
4   BYU-Hawaii                        417  399  415   1231      +379 
5   Chaminade University           473  460  477   1410      +558 
6   Hawaii-Pacific Univ.             501  548  513   1562      +710

MSU Billings Individuals
2     Halley Montalban              76   78   77    231  +18
10   Amanda Rabenberg            87   84   86    257  +44
12   Julie Clifford                     86   94   95    275  +62
13   Nicole Salsbery                 96   92   91    279  +66
14   Nicole Clayton                  96   91   97    284  +71