LIVERMORE, Calif. – Entering his first tournament of the spring ranking third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, Montana State University Billings men's golf freshman Caleb Stetzner picked up right where he left off as he shot a two-round total of 150 (77-73) and sits in a tie for 10th place after the first day of the East-West Bay Area Invite at Wente Vineyards Monday.
 
Stetzner shot a 1-under-par 73 in his second round at the par-72, 6,580-yard course layout, and helped MSUB climb a spot between rounds to sit in ninth place among the field of 12 teams. The 'Jackets hold a team score of 634 (324-310) after the first two rounds of the event.
 
"We shaved 14 strokes off our first-round score as a team, so we had a big improvement there," commented assistant coach Jeff Allen. "Overall this is a very difficult course the guys are playing, especially for our first tournament of the year. We are just trying to accept the challenge, and you can see that the guys really ground it out today."
 
All five Yellowjackets lowered their scores in between rounds, as MSUB showed improvement throughout the day in its first tournament of the spring.
 
Stetzner shot a 77 in his opening round of the spring, using two birdies apiece on the front and back nine his first time through the course. The freshman upped his game his second time through, carding a 1-over-par 73 while playing the back nine at 1-under-par 35.
 
Fellow freshman Garrett Woodin showed solid improvement in between rounds, cutting off four strokes and improving from an 80 to a 76. Woodin had three birdies on the day, and was solid on the front nine his second time through at 2-over-par 38. He sits in a tie for 28th place at 156 (80-76).
 
"As a freshman, Caleb plays well beyond his years," Allen said. "I am very proud of the two young freshmen, and they're leading the charge right now. They have level heads, and are focused on the shot at hand."
 
Senior Michael Porter played consistently on Day 1, with an 80 in Round 1 and a 79 in Round 2. Porter led MSUB with six birdies on the day, including three in-a-row from holes 9-11 in Round 1. Porter enters the third and final round in a tie for 43rd place with a 160.
 
Senior Connor Miele also shaved four strokes off his first-round total of 86, coming back with an 82 in the second round of the day thanks to three birdies on the front nine. Miele is in 55th place with a two-round total of 168.
 
Sophomore Scott Larson rounded out the field for the 'Jackets, with an 86 in Round 1 and an 85 his second time through the course. Larson had a solid front nine his second time through the course, playing at 3-over-par 39, and is in 56th place one behind Miele.
 
Holy Names University leads the team field with a two-round score of 589 (295-294) after the first day. BYU-Hawaii (591) and Cal State East Bay (592) are well within striking distance as the final round awaits on Tuesday. HNU's Zach Sims is the individual leader, shooting a 4-under-par 140 (69-72) on the first day of the event. He holds a two-stroke lead over CSUEB's Owen Hutchison (142, 75-67).
 
Stetzner was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day for MSUB.
 
East-West Bay Area Invitational
Round 1 Results – February 27, 2017
Wente Vineyards | Livermore, CA
Team – 1.Holy Names, 589 (295-294); 9.MSU Billings, 634 (324-310). Individual – 1.Zach Sims, HNU, 140 (69-71); T10. Caleb Stetzner, MSUB, 150 (77-73); T28. Garrett Woodin, MSUB, 156 (80-76); T43. Michael Porter, MSUB, 160 (81-79); 55. Connor Miele, MSUB, 168 (86-82); 56. Scott Larson, MSUB, 171 (86-85).
 
NEXT UP: The tournament wraps up with the third and final round on Tuesday, with 18 more holes starting at 8 a.m. Live statistics will be available online through Golf Stat here.