LAS VEGAS – Junior Garrett Woodin carded an even-par 72 on Tuesday in the opening round of the Winona State University Warrior Invitational, leading the Montana State University Billings men's golf team at Stallion Mountain Golf Club.
 
Woodin is in a tie for eighth place with one round of action remaining on the par-72, 7,152-yard course. "I can tell Garrett is going to have a good spring, and he has matured as a player," said MSUB head coach Jeff Allen. "He is becoming the kind of player you can count on for a solid round every time. Garrett drove the ball well today, and he has worked very hard on his putting the last few days."
 
The Yellowjacket men shot a team score of 306, and are in eighth place among the field of 12 teams at the abbreviated, two-round event. "The men are getting closer from top-to-bottom," said Allen. "We are getting a little more consistent, and the guys are managing their games a little better. Last tournament was a wakeup call for them, and the guys are just starting to get a better feel of their game."
 
Woodin's fifth round at par or better of the season featured a pair of birdies and an eagle, and only one significant mistake with a double-bogey on the par-4 16th hole. After back-to-back bogeys on Hole 3 and Hole 4, Woodin kicked it into gear by making par or better on each of the next 11 holes. He notched a birdie on the par-5 sixth hole, and followed that by canning a 120-yard approach shot to save a pair of strokes on the par-4 seventh hole.
 
It was smooth sailing after that, save for the 16th, as Woodin made par in 10 of his final 11 holes of the day.
 
Riley Kaercher and Caleb Trost each shot a score of 76 on Tuesday, and are in a tie for 28th place. Kaercher limited his mistakes on Tuesday, as he carded nothing worse than a bogey. His round also featured three birdies, including back-to-back holes with a stroke save on Hole 6 and Hole 7. "I was happy to see Riley shoot a 76," said Allen. "He has been working hard the last few days getting control of the golf ball."
 
Trost posted an efficient front-nine, with a mark of even-par 36. Two of his three birdies came on Hole 2 and Hole 6, and he played at 2-under par over his first seven holes of the day.
 
Logan Martin shot a score of 82 on Tuesday and he currently sits in a tie for 61st place. Martin had three birdies as well, and got better as the day progressed as he played the back-nine at just 2-over-par 38.
 
Payton Stott also competed for the 'Jackets on Tuesday, and posted a score of 84. Stott made birdies on Hole 13 and Hole 18, but struggled with four double bogeys on the day.
 
Indianapolis leads the team race after Round 1, as it shot a score of 4-under-par 284 to go three strokes ahead of second-place Rocky Mountain College. Indianapolis's Ian Carroll is the individual leader, as he shot a tournament-best 68 and has a one-stroke advantage atop the leaderboard.
 
THE BUZZ: Woodin was tabbed the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day.
 
NEXT UP: The second and final round of the event is scheduled to tee off at 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
 
Winona State University Warrior Invitational
Round 1 Results | March 12, 2019
Stallion Mountain Golf Club | Las Vegas, Nevada
Team – 1. Indianapolis, 284; 8. MSU Billings, 306. Individuals – 1. Ian Carroll, Indianapolis, 68; T8. Garrett Woodin, MSUB, 72; T28. Caleb Trost, MSUB, 76; T28. Riley Kaercher, MSUB, 76; T61. Logan Martin, MSUB, 82; T68. Payton Stott, MSUB, 84.