DUPONT, Wash. – Closing out its 2021 spring season on Tuesday at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women's Golf Championships, the Montana State University Billings women's golf team took fourth place among the field of four teams.
 
Playing for the final time in a Yellowjacket uniform, senior Sydney Rochford finished in 12th place with a score of 164 (87-77). Rochford showed a 10-stroke improvement between rounds, and shot a career-low 77 in her final round of collegiate golf. Rochford finished the tournament strongly, making eight pars on a 1-over-par 37 on the back-nine.
 
"For our senior to shoot her personal best round in her last round is just really great to see," said MSUB head coach Jeff Allen. "She has worked so hard for four years in this program, and being able to see her out there on the course enjoying the moment and the walk was really fun. I am super proud of her, and happy that she was able to end her career on such a positive note."
 
The Yellowjackets finished the event with a two-round team score of 653 (337-316) on the par-72, 5,815-yard course. MSUB improved by 20 strokes as a team between rounds, finishing the event on a positive note on Tuesday. "The girls had a good finish today," Allen said. "They ended their season on a high note with a solid round out here. We are only losing one player, and there is a bright future for that team. Hopefully they use this today and this whole season as a learning experience."
 
Tierney Messmer was MSUB's top finisher among the field of 20 players, taking 11th place with a two-round score of 162 (78-84). Messmer had three total birdies in the tournament, including one on the par-5, 473-yard 16th hole in her final round on Tuesday.
 
Avery Gill tied for 13th place in the tournament, with a two-round total of 165 (86-79). Gill cut off seven strokes between rounds, carding one birdie and 11 pars on Tuesday to break the 80 mark in her final round of the year.
 
Tying for 16th place was junior Kinsey Irvin, who wound up with a 166 (90-76). Irvin showed the most improvement of any MSUB player, cutting off 14 strokes and tying for the lowest individual round by any of the 20 players at the event. Irvin's career-low 76 on Tuesday featured three birdies, and a 1-over-par 37 on the front-nine. "She had a really tough day yesterday, but came back out with a good attitude and a fresh mindset," Allen said. "I'm most proud that all the players were very resilient and kept plugging along, and good things happened. I'm very happy for Kinsey."
 
Junior Jalen Wagner finished in 19th place, with a score of 172 (86-86). Wagner stayed consistent with a birdie in each round, saving a stroke on the par-3, 119-yard 14th hole to highlight Tuesday's performance.
 
Kathryn Crimp of Saint Martin's University won the tournament with a two-round total of 153 (77-76). Crimp edged her teammate Hoku Nagamine by two strokes, after the duo was tied for the lead each shooting a 77 on Monday. Western Washington University claimed the team crown, shooting a two-round score of 627 (315-312) to win the title by a considerable 11 strokes ahead of second-place Northwest Nazarene University.
 
THE BUZZ: Rochford was named the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…her previous career low was a 78, which she shot on April 3 at the RJGA Palm Valley Classic in Arizona…Irvin's previous career low round was a 77, which she reached twice as a freshman during the fall of 2018.
 
2021 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships
Final Results – April 20, 2021
The Home Course – DuPont, Washington
Team – 1. Western Washington, 627 (315-312); 4. MSU Billings, 653 (337-316). Individual – 1. Kathryn Crimp, Saint Martin's, 153 (77-76); 11. Tierney Messmer, MSUB, 162 (78-84); 12. Sydney Rochford, MSUB, 164 (87-77); T13. Avery Gill, MSUB, 165 (86-79); T16. Kinsey Irvin, MSUB, 166 (90-76); 19. Jalen Wagner, MSUB, 172 (86-86).