COEUR d'ALENE, Idaho – Finishing strongly over his final two rounds, Montana State University Billings senior Jake Hedge fired an even-par 71 on Tuesday to finish tied for fifth place at the 2015 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Men's Golf Championships Presented by the Coeur d'Alene Resort.
 
Hedge carded a three-round total of 218 (77-70-71), improving his score significantly after the first round.
 
"Jake Hedge stepped up and had two great finishing rounds shooting even par," commented MSUB head coach Shawn O'Brien. "Finishing in the top five is always a good mark. I'm excited to see in a couple days if Jake will receive an individual berth representing MSUB at the regionals. I feel Jake came into this situation and competed, and did what he needed to do to give him a chance to make that happen."
 
As a team, the Yellowjackets finished in fifth place at the event with a score of 894 (301-293-300) at the par-71, 6,803-yard Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course.
 
Hedge was the only player in the field to collect multiple eagles, as he achieved the feat twice on the par-5, 495-yard 15th hole. Hedge also finished with six birdies and a team-best 32 pars throughout the three-round event. He was selected as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day.
 
Finishing tied for 11th place was senior Austin Westphal, who also improved his score during his final round with a 1-over par 72. Westphal finished with a 220 (74-74-72) and had 31 pars and a team-best nine birdies throughout the tournament.
 
"Austin Westphal had a good tournament and a fantastic spring played very consistent every tournament we played. Very proud of way he finished got to go out on a high note."
 
Also in the top-15 for MSUB was freshman Austin Berg who shot a 222 (73-71-78). Berg finished with the fourth-most birdies among the tournament field with a dozen.
 
Senior Houston Bradbury tied for 21st place with a 235 (78-78-79), and freshman Ty Pickel closed out the field for MSUB in 24th with a 242 (77-78-87). Bradbury had 25 pars and six birdies for the Yellowjackets.
 
Running away with the team title was Simon Fraser, which finished 37 strokes ahead of second-place Western Washington with an 837 (277-281-279). SFU had the top four finishers individually at the event, and Bret Thompson took home medalist honors by shooting an 8-under par 205 (68-67-70).
 
WWU held off reigning champion Northwest Nazarene by two strokes for second place with an 874 (294-288-292), and Saint Martin's finished in fourth place with an 885 (291-296-298).
 
"We lose a lot of upperclassmen due to graduation," O'Brien said. "I'm excited for the future with our incoming freshmen, our redshirts, and having Austin Berg back."
 
Final Results
Team – 1. Simon Fraser, 837 (277-281-279); 5. MSU Billings, 894 (301-293-300). Individuals – 1. Bret Thompson, SFU, 205 (68-67-70); T5. Jake Hedge, MSU Billings, 218 (77-70-71); T11. Austin Westphal, MSU Billings, 220 (74-74-72); T15. Austin Berg, MSU Billings, 222 (73-71-78); T21. Houston Bradbury, MSU Billings, 235 (78-78-79); 24. Ty Pickel, MSU Billings, 242 (77-78-87).