INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. –
Orraya Tipasathien has made history, becoming the first women's golfer from Montana State University Billings to qualify as an at-large individual for the NCAA West Region Championships. Following a tie for sixth place at the GNAC Championships, Tipasathien was selected by the NCAA committee as one of the top six individuals in the region to compete in this year's tournament.
The sophomore is the first Yellowjacket to compete in the NCAA Tournament since the 2009-10 women's golf roster qualified as a team for the West Region Championships. Additionally, MSUB made it to West Regionals the year prior where Kalli Stanhope went on to qualify for the National Tournament as an individual.
The Championships are set for May 5-7
th in Amarillo, Texas at Tascosa Golf Club. The field is made up of 18 teams and six individuals for a total of 96 competitors that will battle it out for 54-holes. Live scoring for the regional tournament will be on Scoareboard Clippd or can be found at the link
here.
HEAR FROM TIPASATHIEN: "I am so happy to make the NCAA West Region Tournament. I would like to thank my coaches and my teammates who have made me who I am today. I just can't wait to get out on the course and have fun!"
This season has already been one for the record books at MSUB, and Tipasathien has been at the center of it. Along with being the first Yellowjacket to qualify for regionals as an individual, she's also shattered program records. The sophomore set a new single-season record with five individual victories, tying the career wins record as well—all achieved in consecutive tournaments.
HEAR FROM COACH BUIE: "I was very excited to see Jan get picked for the NCAA West Regional. She's had a phenomenal season to say the least with five total wins, a second-place finish, and a top six finish at GNAC's. Shes got the talent to go down there and contend, so we are both excited to get out there and play. We took the team to Midwestern State's event in October, so hopefully that was good preparation to play again in West Texas."
Tipasathien is also on track to post the lowest scoring average in program history (76.96). She has played in more events (11) and more rounds (25) this season than any player in MSUB women's golf history. Under her leadership, the Yellowjackets secured three team victories—the most in a single season for the program.
To earn a spot at the NCAA West Region Tournament, players must either be part of one of the top 18 teams in the South Central/West Region or be one of the top six individuals not affiliated with those teams. The top five teams and the top two individuals not on advancing teams will move on to the NCAA Division II National Championships, scheduled for May 13–17 at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada. This will be the first trip to the NCAA Regional for the Yellowjacket women since 2008-09 and 2009-10 when they got selected as at-large bids as a team.
Heading into the NCAA West Region Championships, Tipasathien will be joined by GNAC individuals Kelsie Inouye from Saint Martin's, Lauren Lee from Western Washington, and Simon Fraser who qualified as a team. All three individuals atop the GNAC in scoring average with Lee leading the way at 75.4, Inouye following at 75.7, and Tipasatien on their heels at 76.96.
