GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Highlighting the Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket men's golf team at the Hot Dirt Desert Shootout, senior Paul O'Neil led the Yellowjackets to a 15^th place finish. The 'Jackets finished their two-round campaign at the Golf Club of Estrella (par-72) with a gross score of 611 (312-299). Among the other GNAC schools competing, MSUB bested Saint Martin's by four strokes but came up six strokes shy behind Northwest Nazarene.
 
Paul O'Neil got off to a hot start with a Yellowjacket best, 73 in the opening round of the tournament and posted a 77 on the final round. O'Neil tallied five total birdies on the weekend with a total score of 150, placing himself T-42 overall amongst the 106 golfers.
 
Just one stroke behind O'Neil was Carson Garner who got hot in the second round, posting three birdies on the back nine. Garner posted a two-round score of 151 (78-73) and tied for 50^th place overall, alongside Blake Finn. Finn competed as an individual for the 'Jackets and also posted a total gross score of 151 (76-75), including 24 total pars on the weekend.
 
Following Garner and Finn was Liam O'Halloran in T-73^rd, who posted a two-round score of 155 (79-76). Lucas Howell, despite an 83 in the opening round bounced back with a 73 in the final round to post a total gross score of 156, coming in T-79^th place overall. Rounding it out for MSUB was Kevin Kolb who shot a two-round total of 159 (82-77), coming in T-93^rd place.
 
 
THE BUZZ
ROUND 1: Paul O'Neil was named Intermountain Health Player of the Day after posting a 73 (+1) with four birdies in the opening round of the Hot Dirt Desert Shootout.
ROUND 2: Carson Garner was named Intermountain Health Player of the Day after also posting a 73 (+1) in the final round, including three birdies on the back nine.
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket men's golf team stays in Goodyear, AZ but heads to Palm Valley Golf Club for the RJGA Palm Valley Classic on April 8^th.
 
Hot Dirt Desert Shootout
Results – April 6, 2024
Golf Club of Estrella – Goodyear, Arizona
Team – 1. Colorado Christian, 566 (288-278); 15. MSUB, 611 (312-299). Individuals – 1. Sam Jenkins, Dallas Babtist University 136 (67-69); T-42. Paul O'Neil, MSUB 150 (73-77); T-50. Carson Garner, MSUB 151 (78-73); T-50. Blake Finn (IND), MSUB 150 (76-75); T-73. Liam O'Halloran, MSUB 155 (79-76); T-79. Lucas Howell, MSUB 156 (83-73); T-93. Kevin Kolb, MSUB 159 (82-77)