COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho – The Montana State University Billings golf teams completed the GNAC Championships today with some of their best scores in ten years. The women's golf team finished in 3^rd place which is their best finish since the 2014-2015 season. The Yellowjackets were led by three top 10 finishers – Orraya (Jan) Tipasathien finished tied for sixth place, Ella Tannenberger finished in ninth place and Pygmy Kompoj finished tied for tenth place.
 
The Yellowjacket women's golf team shot a two-round score of 627, including a round two score of 306, just 11 strokes off the champion. Simon Fraser claimed the women's team title with a score of 607 followed by Western Washington with 611.
 
The Yellowjacket men's golf team finished in fifth place, finishing with a three-round score of 943. The 'Jackets improved round by round, improving by 24 strokes from the first 18. Senior Hayato Ito led the way, finishing in 16^th place with a score of 227, including a final round score of 72 (+1).
 
Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course hosted 11 teams and 55 total players for Great Northwest Athletic Conference Golf Championships. Six teams and 30 individuals on the women's side battled it out on the 5,801-yard par-72 course, while five teams and 25 individuals on the men's side tipped out the par-71 6,644-yard track.
 
The Yellowjacket women's golf team was one of the teams to keep an eye on at the GNAC Championships. They are currently on the bubble, fighting for their NCAA tournament lives with three of the best underclassmen golfers in the conference and two senior leaders. The 'Jackets found themselves down nine strokes, sitting in third, after a cold first round filled with wind and rain; they would start round two with some momentum, but couldn't quite keep up with the eventual champion Simon Fraser Red Leafs.
 
Freshman Kompoj had a spectacular day one – shooting a 77 (+5) which was good for a tie in third place. Sophomore Tipasathien wasn't far behind after round one with a 79 (+7) which put her into a tie for seventh place. However, on day two, Tipasathien and freshman Tannenberger had themselves impressive outings, both shooting 73 (+1) which was only two strokes back of the best single round of the tournament. The second-round scores allowed Tipasathien to finish tied for sixth place and Tannenberger to jump up five spots and finish in ninth (81-73). Kompoj followed her 77 with a 79 which allowed the freshman to finish in the top 10.
 
Senior leaders Gia Vargas and Adessa Lundberg rounded out the scores for the 'Jackets, both improving on day two. Vargas finished in 22^nd place (84-81) and Lundberg finished tied for 28^th (92-82). Lundberg, the only Yellowjacket to have played this course before, finished her last GNAC Championships strong, improving by 10 strokes from the opening round which was the second-best round-by-round improvement throughout the entire field.
 
Vargas started a bit shaky but quickly figured it out, finishing +2 on the back-nine on day two, including a birdie on 12. Lundberg, team captain, added two impressive birdies in her final round, as both seniors were just a few strokes off a top 20 finish at the always tough GNAC Championships.
 
T6. Orraya Tipasathien (79-73 -- 152)
9. Ella Tannenberger (81-73 -- 154)
T10. Pygmy Kompoj (77-79 -- 156)
22. Gia Vargas (84-81 -- 165)
T28. Adessa Lundberg (92-82 -- 174)
 
 
 
First in the clubhouse for the Yellowjacket men's golf team was Hayato Ito (80-75-72), who led a young team at the GNAC championships that featured three freshman and two seniors. Freshman Pete Netrnilweerachot was just 12 strokes behind (82-77-80). Finishing it out for the 'Jackets were freshman Ryan Badger (82-85-74), freshman Kaopun Akmaneenin (90-78-77) and senior Quinn Haigwood (83-83-80).
 
Akmaneenin, playing at the GNAC Championships for the first time, had a challenging first round with a score of 90, but had the largest improvement in the entire field, finishing 13 strokes better in his final round with a 77 (+6). Ito had a very clean third round, finishing with three bogeys and two birdies which was good for -2 on his last 11 holes to wrap up his collegiate career.
 
The GNAC men's golf champion was also Simon Fraser, followed by Western Washington and Northwest Nazarene to round out the top 3. Ben Mulder of Northwest Nazarene won the individual title shooting a three round score of 207 (69-69-69).
 
The young Yellowjackets' see their season end but will look to build off of their round-by-round improvements into next year.
 
 
16. Hayato Ito (80-75-72—227)
T21. Pete Netrnilweerachot (82-77-80—239)
23. Ryan Badger (82-85-74--241)
24. Kaopun Akmaneenin (90-78-77—245)
25. Quinn Haigwood (83-83-80—246)
 
 
THE BUZZ: Hayato Ito, Orraya Tipasathien and Ella Tannenberger were named Intermountain Health Players of the Tournament after leading the Yellowjackets at the GNAC Championships.
 
UP NEXT: The Montana State University Billings Yellowjacket women's golf team will await to see if they are chosen as an at large bid for the NCAA Women's Golf West Regional Tournament. Additionally, Orraya (Jan) Tipasathien is in the running for an individual bid to the Regional Tournament which will be announced on Monday, April 28^th. The West Region Tournament will be held at La Paloma Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas.