BILLINGS, Mont. – Competing in a full fall schedule and two events in the spring, the Montana State University Billings men's golf season was considered complete after the cancellation of five events, including the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships due to health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 crisis. Despite limited opportunity, the 'Jackets highlighted their year by winning the Mike Grob Cup over rival Rocky Mountain College and posted an eighth place finish at the Concordia Invitational in October.
 
Second year head coach Jeff Allen had two seniors amidst a 10-man roster and a plethora of young players eager to return in fall 2020 to finish what they started. "The season was definitely successful for our men's team," Allen reflected. "We saw a lot of changes in the lineup, which showed the depth we had. We had some quality finishes as a team in large events in the fall and Both Garrett Woodin and Caleb Trost finished in the top-10 in those events. To top off the fall, we won the Mike Grob Cup in the match play event against RMC."
 
The season started in September with an appearance in the Saint Martin's Invitational. The team made up ground on day two but wound up 13^th out of 14 teams. Two days later, the 'Jackets improved to take 15^th position in Bellingham, Washington at the Western Washington Invitational. Junior Caleb Trost tied for 22^nd place individually with a three round score of 217 (70-75-72). Trost was just one stroke off his single round low of 69 set last season at the Yellowjacket Spring Invitational.
 
 
On October 8, the Yellowjackets were in Portland, Oregon for the Concordia Invitational. Fighting windy and rainy conditions, the team took eighth in a 14-team field. Overall, they took an impressive 44 strokes off their score in the same event last season and shot a three-round total of 940. Trost was again the team's top finisher and took 8^th place with a three-round total of 214 (73-70-71). It was also the best individual performance by an MSUB player at the Concordia Invitational in the last five years.
 
"The Concordia invitational was a highlight for us," Allen said. "We got off to a good start as a team in round one but let it slip a little. To get an 8th place finish there against some great teams at a high profile golf course was definitely encouraging."
 
The 'Jackets took 10^th out of 14 teams at the Sierra Central Wildcat Open, before returning home to Lake Hills Golf Club to go head-to-head against rival Rocky Mountain College in the MSUB/RMC Ryder Cup. MSUB took back the Mike Grob Cup after they carried a lead into day two of competition. Stott won the clinching point, though two other matches were still on the course. MSUB won both. The 'Jackets received a big boost from Paul O'Neil and Cash Golden as they went 2-0 on the day. Logan Martin went 3-0 on the weekend and was named Most Valuable Player. Kevin Kolb and Blake Finn played well in their only action of the fall, winning each of their single matches. 
 
"Winning the Mike Grob Cup required a total team effort," said Allen. "Our whole roster played in the Grob Cup and we saw a lot of our young players step up and win some matches."
 
Team captain and senior Garrett Woodin played well in the fall and continued to improve in the spring. Woodin led the team in February at the Bay Area Invitational in Pleasanton, California with a three round score of 224 (74-70-80). The team placed 13^th out of 16 schools. Woodin again led the way at the NDNU Invitational in Livermore, California March 9-10 in what turned out to be the final competition of the spring when he shot a 222 (76-71-75). MSUB took 11^th place out of 13 teams.
 
Woodin was named men's golf player of the year at the athletic department Buzzie Awards with a team leading spring scoring average of 223. He notched a season-best single round score of 70 on October 14 at the Sierra Central Wildcat Open and plans to return in the fall with an added year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 crisis.
 
 
The 'Jackets other senior captain, Stott competed in all six events and is set to graduate with a degree in Business Management. Stott marked a season best round of 70 at the Saint Martin's Invitational on September 20 and had two successful seasons at MSUB after transferring from Utah Valley University.
 
"You can't replace a guy like Payton," Allen said. "He's a quality young man, a great leader, and captain on our team. Luckily, our young players spent time around him and learned what it meant to work hard. I was gutted to see his career end the way it did. He was starting to show the level of play he is capable of and was gaining a lot of confidence for our final stretch of the schedule. I know that he will be successful in the future. I wish him all the best and I can't thank him enough for what he meant to this team in the two years he was at MSUB."
 
Nine returning 'Jackets take up the mantle for Stott in the fall with added experience. Riley Kaercher played three events as a junior and averaged 224 strokes in the fall. Fellow junior Riley Lawrence was a top-5 regular with six team events and a single round season best of 73 achieved in September at the Western Washington Invitational. Lawrence averaged 226 strokes per event in the fall and 246 in two spring meets. Caleb Trost and Logan Martin help round out the senior class heading into next year.
 
Four freshmen saw their first college competition in Ryder Cup competition and showed promise. Paul O'Neil and Cash Golden each went 2-0 against the Battlin' Bears. Kevin Kolb and Blake Finn split matches, then won in singles the following day.
 
 
"The future is bright for our team," said Allen. "We return nine players, all with experience and we are bringing in two very quality recruits. Getting Garrett back will be great for our team and especially for him. He was destined for a great finish to this season so I'm glad he will get another chance at it. We will have four more seniors, all with tournament experience and our young players have loads of talent and a motivation to keep getting better. Our team chemistry is fun. The guys like to play golf and practice together and they love to compete against each other as well."
 
The Yellowjackets did not have a chance to measure up against fellow GNAC competition this season but bring nine returners and two incoming recruits to the table in 2020-21 as the team looks to improve on its 5^th place in the conference championships in 2018-19.