BILLINGS, Mont. – Claiming the 2021 Mike Grob Cup on Saturday afternoon at Lake Hills Golf Club, the Montana State University Billings men's golf team defeated Rocky Mountain College in the annual rivalry match play event.
 
The Yellowjacket men won all three days of match play over the Bears, claiming 3-1 victories in both fourball and foursomes action before a 5-4 win in singles play on the final day of the event Saturday. "Overall it is a great team win," said MSUB head coach Jeff Allen. "We battled a lot of poor weather on Thursday, and some wind today, and the players did a good job of staying patient, focusing on hitting good shots. I think all their practice and preparation paid off down the stretch."
 
The match-play event gave the Yellowjackets a break from tournament play, which they will return to on Monday at the Hardrocker Invitational hosted by South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid City, South Dakota. "We had big performances from Riley Lawrence, Caleb Trost, Dawson Strobel, Kevin Kolb, and Liam O'Halloran especially," Allen said. "Liam played great, solid golf all day today. Nolan forced Liam to 18, and Liam was able to win that hole for a 2-up win. Kevin won his last three holes to win 2-up, and Riley, Kaleb, and Dawson had control of their matches all day."
 
Friday's match was clinched by a dramatic finish from Dawson Strobel and Liam O'Halloran, with the former sinking a 30-foot putt to win the match on the final hole of the day and seal the win for MSUB. "The Strobel-O'Halloran match was a huge momentum swing for us," Allen said. "It was looking like we were going to lose that hole and point, and we ended up winning the hole, match and point on Dawson's 30-footer."
 
2021 Mike Grob Cup
Final Results – April 8-10, 2021
 
Fourball – MSU Billings 3, Rocky Mountain College 1
Foursomes – MSU Billings 3, Rocky Mountain College 1
Singles – MSU Billings 5, Rocky Mountain College 4
Total – MSU Billings 11, Rocky Mountain College 6
 
Thursday, April 8, 2021 – Briarwood Golf Club – Fourball
Garrett Woodin and Paul O'Neil (MSUB) def. Mithc Thiessen and Schafer Paladichuck (RMC) 2 up through 9
Caleb Trost and Riley Lawrence (MSUB) – Nolan Burzminski and Hayden Driver (RMC) All square through 9
Kevin Kolb and Blake Finn (MSUB) def. Merlin Lipin and Oliver Walker (RMC) 1 up through 9
Riley Kaercher and Logan Martin (MSUB) – Tristan Hanson and Leon Doedtmann (RMC) All square through 9
 
Cumulative Team Score: MSU Billings 3, Rocky Mountain College 1
 
Friday, April 9, 2021 – Peter Yegen Golf Course – Foursomes
Hayden Driver and Nolan Burzminski (RMC) def. Garrett Woodin and Paul O'Neil (MSUB) 1 up
Caleb Trost and Riley Lawrence (MSUB) def. Mitch Thiessen and Schafer Paladichuck (RMC) 3 and 2
Kevin Kolb and Blake Finn (MSUB) def. Merlin Lipin and Blake Vandenacer (RMC) 5 and 4
Liam O'Halloran and Dawson Strobel (MSUB) def. Tristan Hanson and Leon Doedtmann (RMC) 1 up
 
Cumulative Team Score: MSU Billings 3, Rocky Mountain College 1
 
Saturday, April 10, 2021 – Lake Hills Golf Club – Singles
Dawson Strobel (MSUB) def. Tristan Hanson (RMC) 3 and 2
Leon Doedtmann (RMC) def. Logan Martin (MSUB) 3 and 2
Schafer Paladichuck (RMC) def. Riley Kaercher (MSUB) 3 and 2
Riley Lawrence (MSUB) def. Mitch Thiessen (RMC) 4 and 3
Kevin Kolb (MSUB) def. Oliver Walker (RMC) 2 up
Blake Vandenacer (RMC) def. Paul O'Neil (MSUB) 2 up
Liam O'Halloran (MSUB) def. Nolan Burzminski (RMC) 2 up
Hayden Driver (RMC) def. Garrett Woodin (MSUB) 1 up
Caleb Trost (MSUB) def. Merlin Lipin (RMC) 6 and 5
 
Cumulative Team Score: MSUB 5, Rocky Mountain College 4