BILLINGS, Mont.- The Montana State University Billings golf teams competed in their Rimrock Rivalry matchup against Rocky Mountain College for their annual Mike Grob/Leslie Spalding Cup. The cup was a three-day team match play event, consisting of four ball, alternate shot, and singles matches. The women claimed victory on the final day of competing, taking down Rocky for the second straight year with a final score of 11-9. The men's squad, full of seven newcomers, battled until the final shot but fell short 3.5-12.5.
 
HEAR FROM BUIE: "Our women, once again came back super strong in the singles matches to win it. After day two I told them that it was the same situation, down two points, but this year we have ten chances instead of eight and I liked those odds. We had also won our four matches in the team portion by 20 holes and the six we lost were only by a combined 12 holes. So, essentially, we were winning matches big and losing a lot of close ones. I am really proud of the effort we put in to win seven of the ten matches on the last day to win the cup. Tatum and Jan were huge this week, both going 3-0 in their matches and Adessa took down one of Rocky's top players in her last Spalding Cup match as well. This is a deep women's team, even with Hannah being injured and likely out for the fall."
 
Sunday – Four Ball
The opening day of the Grob/Spalding was held at Lake Hills Golf Club, the home course for both squads. Rocky came out hot in the opening round, winning three of the five matches to take the early 3-2 lead in the cup. Orraya Tipasathien and Chloe Van Strien won their match handily, taking down the Battlin' Bears Paladichuk and Voegele 6&5. Meilyn Armstrong and Tatum York-Bement also won their matchup, with a final score of 4&3.
 
On the men's side, Rocky also took an early lead, winning three of the four matchups to take the 3-1 lead after the first day of competition. True freshman Pete Netrnilweerachot and Kittipak Akmaneenin were the only 'Jackets to win their matchups, claiming a two-up victory over Rocky's Burkelca and Wilson.
 
HEAR FROM BUIE: "Our men played hard every match, and I comment them for their effort. We have a very young team this year after graduating seven seniors so there are going to be some ups and downs, but this group is very talented, and they showed it this week. Rocky has a much older and experienced team, and their experience proved to be the difference. Our guys battled down to the wire, even with some of their best players. We are slowly coming together and will improve as the year goes on as I have already seen the camaraderie and chemistry growing with them."
 
Monday – Alternate Shot
Day two of the Rimrock Rivalry was played at Laurel Golf Club with an alternate shot style of play. There was no change in result for the women as Rocky Mountain took three of the five matches to take an overall lead of 6-4. Tipasathien pulled her weight again, winning her matchup with Pygmy Kompoj to take the 4&3 victory. Rachel Rerick in her MSUB debut helped add another point with York-Bement, winning their matchup 6&5.
 
The men battled in the second day of competition, halving one match and losing another by just one hole. Rocky took the victory on the day, claiming three and a half of the four points possible. Also, newcomers Graedon Woodward and Logan Connolly drew a tie in their match against RMC's McDonaugh and Hyde-Lay.
 
Tuesday – Singles
Day three of the cup's was held at Hilands Golf Club with a singles matchplay format. The women, down by two points heading into the final day needed to win at least six out of the ten matches to tie. Clutch was the recipe they provided, winning seven out of the ten matches to win their second straight Leslie Spalding Cup with a final score of 11-9. York-Bement won her match 4&3, Rerick won 3&1, Ella Tannenberger won 3&1, Adessa Lundberg claimed a one up win, Gia Vargas won four up, Kompoj won 3&2, and Tipasathien drilled it home with a 3&1 victory.
 
Rocky Mountain continued their success on the men's side, claiming victory in six of the eight matches to win the Mike Grob Cup with a final score of 12.5-3.5. For the Yellowjackets, Hayato Ito took a one up win in his match and Graedon Woodward also claimed the 2&1 win.
 
HEAR FROM BUIE: "I'm excited to see what both teams do in the first tournament of the year next week in Rapid City. The cup matches being a three-day competition was a great introduction to college golf for the newcomers, and we are excited to get the season underway."
 
THE BUZZ: Orraya Tipasathien and Tatum York-Bement were named Intermountain Health Performer of the Tournament, winning all three of their matches to help lead the Yellowjacket women to victory.
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings golf teams head to Rapid City, SD on September 16^th for the Hardrocker Invitational.