COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho – Seniors Shealyn Hafer and Sarah Schroefel led the Montana State University Billings women's golf team in the final round of the 2019 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships Tuesday at the Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course.
 
Schroefel finished in 10th place with a two-round score of 158 (81-77), and Hafer was two strokes behind in 11th with a 160 (82-78). "I'm very proud of both of our seniors, and it has been an honor to coach them both," said MSUB head coach Jeff Allen. "They have been great leaders, teammates, and people. They have given us everything you ask for in a player and a senior. It is huge for me to have two players to lean on like Sarah and Shealyn. Shea birdied her last two holes as a Yellowjacket, which was cool to see, and Sarah played one of her best rounds of the year. I was excited for Sarah to get a top-10 finish, and we are very thankful for them and their time as Yellowjackets. We will really miss them on this team."
 
MSUB improved by 16 strokes after Round 1, and finished in fifth place among the field of six teams with a 652 (334-318). The 'Jackets were just two strokes away from catching fourth-place Northwest Nazarene University on the par-71, 5,914-yard course. "I am happy for our women to improve like they did, and that was what our goal was today," said Allen. "Everybody improved on their round, and I was proud of them for that. The attitude throughout the team was very good, and this was a great learning experience for our underclassmen who are coming back next year."
 
Hafer, MSUB's top player all season long, finished her four-year career with the Yellowjackets by making birdie on her final two holes. After saving a stroke on the par-4, 236-yard 17th hole, Hafer ended her career with a five-foot birdie putt on the par-4, 434-yard 18th hole. Hafer improved by four strokes between rounds, a theme that carried throughout the team as each player either matched or bettered Monday's score.
 
Schroefel finished her career just two strokes away from her personal single-round best, with a 77 on Tuesday. Her lone birdie on the day came on the par-3, 120-yard fifth hole, and she finished her career with seven straight pars to close out her final round.
 
Making the biggest leap up the standings was freshman Kinsey Irvin, who improved by nine strokes between rounds. Irvin finished in 20th place, with a two-round score of 167 (88-79). She had a pair of birdies on Tuesday, both coming on par-3 holes including one on the world-famous floating green 14th hole.
 
Finishing one stroke behind Irvin was sophomore Renae Heisler, who took 21st place with a 168 (84-84). Heisler also had a pair of birdies on Tuesday, coming on the par-5, 499-yard first hole and the par-5, 540-yard ninth hole.
 
Freshman Tierney Messmer placed 28th in her first conference tournament, with a two-round score of 174 (87-87). Messmer carded seven pars on Tuesday, and played the four par-3 holes at even-par her second time through the course.
 
Western Washington University's Lacy Sheldon won the tournament, with a two-round score of 145 (73-72). She held off Simon Fraser University's Belinda Lin by a pair of strokes, but the Clan claimed the team title with a two-round score of 613 (319-294). SFU jumped past second-place Concordia University, with the Cavaliers just missing out on a repeat title with a score of 616 (311-305).
 
THE BUZZ: Hafer was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day.
 
2019 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women's Golf Championships
Final Results | April 23, 2019
Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course | Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Team – 1. Simon Fraser, 613 (319-294); 5. MSU Billings, 652 (334-318). Individual – 1. Lacy Sheldon, WWU, 145 (73-72); 10. Sarah Schroefel, MSUB, 158 (81-77); 11. Shealyn Hafer, MSUB, 160 (82-78); 20. Kinsey Irvin, MSUB, 167 (88-79); 21. Renae Heisler, MSUB, 168 (84-84); 28. Tierney Messmer, MSUB, 174 (87-87).