RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Montana State University Billings women's golf team opened it's season at the Hardrocker Fall Invitational Monday and Tuesday, finishing in second place as a group.
 
Playing at the Golf Club at Red Rock Course in Rapid City, at 5,886-yard, par-72 course, the Yellowjackets posted a two-round score of 666 over both days of play, shooting a 323 on Monday, following it up with a 343 on Tuesday.
 
Orraya Tipasathien was the Yellowjacket's top finisher in her collegiate debut, finishing tied for fourth out of a field of 51 golfers. Tipasathien shot a two-round score of 161 (79-82), finishing with the most birdies of any golfer in the tournament with seven.
 
Gia Vargas was two strokes behind her, finishing in a tie for seventh with a total of 163 (78-85). Vargas's opening round was the lowest single round score of any MSUB golfer over the two days, where she finished with 12 pars and nothing higher than a bogey.
 
Sophomore twins Hannah Adams and Haylee Adams finished with just one stroke between them, with Hannah finishing in 13^th with a 168 (83-85), including a pair of first-round birdies, and Haylee finishing with a 169 (81-88), including three birdies.
 
The final two Yellowjacket golfers, Adessa Lundberg and Meilyn Armstrong, tied for 20^th, with a two-round score of 175. Lundberg (83-92) finished the tournament with one, birdie, while Armstrong (84-91) had two, both coming in the final round.
 
Annika Schooler of South Dakota Mines and Kinsey Smith of Chadron State tied for first with a two-round score of 154. South Dakota Mines took the team title with a score of 646 (321-325).
 
THE BUZZ: Tipasathien was selected as the Intermountain Health Player of the Day… The Yellowjacket's team score was a 32-stroke improvement from their score at the same course last year.
 
UP NEXT: The Yellowjackets hit the links next when they participate in the Beartooth Invitational, hosted at Laurel Golf Course from October 2-3.