SHERIDAN, Wyo.- The Montana State University Billings golf teams opened their fall season at the Travis Roy Memorial Invitational, hosted by South Dakota Mines at Powder Horn Golf Club in Sheridan, Wyoming. In a strong 12-team field, the Yellowjacket women earned an impressive 4th-place team finish, while the men tied for 8th.
The tournament was highlighted by standout performances from
Orraya Tipasathien and freshman
Aubrey Kelley. Tipasathien matched her own MSUB program record with an even-par 144 over two rounds, while Kelley surged 20 spots up the leaderboard with a final-round 69 (-3), the best round of the day for the men's team.
"I thought both teams got out to a great start for the year", said head coach
Adam Buie. "Powder Horn was superb, and the greens were lightning fast. A 310-305 for the women and a 307-299 for the men on a tough course sets the tone pretty well for the year. All ten golfers fought hard each day."
Facing off against strong regional competition—including Colorado State Pueblo, Texas A&M International, Colorado Mesa, and Augustana—the MSUB women opened with a team score of 310 to sit in 5th place after day one. A five-stroke improvement on day two brought them into 4th place overall.
Tipasathien led the way with rounds of 72-72 to finish even-par (144) and in solo 4th place, tying her own 36-hole program record. Close behind was
Ella Tannenberger, who climbed two spots on the final day to tie for 15th (154).
Newcomer
Kyleigh McGowen made an immediate impact in her MSUB debut, firing an opening-round 75 and finishing T-22nd with a two-day total of 156.
Pygmy Kompoj added a strong second-round 77, highlighted by an eagle on hole 12, to finish 33rd (163), while
Hannah Adams battled through a shoulder injury to card an 80 in round two and place 39th (166).
HEAR FROM COACH BUIE: "Jan was her usual self with great play each day, Ella was in the 70s both days, Kyleigh had a strong 75 in her first round as a Yellowjacket, and Pygmy made an eagle on hole 12 to bounce back with a 77.
Hannah Adams made her first tournament appearance in over a year and is still fighting her shoulder popping out of place but fought hard to card an 80 in the second round today. The women were in second place with just a few holes to go but we struggled to finish strong. Overall a good week in a much stronger field than normal for SD Mines."
On the men's side, Kelley delivered a dramatic turnaround on day two, vaulting from 34th to T-14th with a final-round 69 (-3). His 147 total led the Yellowjackets and marked an impressive collegiate debut.
Kaopun Akmaneenin started strong with a 70 (-2) in the opening round and finished T-21st (149).
Third into the clubhouse for the 'Jackets was junior college transfer
Bowdie Fox. Competing in his first career NCAA DII tournament, Fox finished tied for 30
th while finishing out with a two-round score of 152. Rounding it out on the men's side was
Peyton Toney who totaled 159 and came in 49
th, and
Pete Netrnilweerachot who finished with a 160, tied for 50
th place.
HEAR FROM COACH BUIE: "The men's team got off to a hot start in the second round of the tournament but struggled a little bit to finish when the pace of play slowed down. We lost a few strokes coming in but were very happy to break 300 on a tough course like that. Aubrey was particularly impressive with a spectacular bogey free 69 today in his collegiate debut. The rest of the team all battled to post scores in the 70s in the final round to drop our team score to a 299."
RESULTS
Orraya Tipasathien: 72-72—144 (E)
Ella Tannenberger: 77-76—153 (+9)
Kyleigh McGowen: 75-81—156 (+12)
Pygmy Kompoj: 86-77—163 (+19)
Hannah Adams: 86-80—166 (+22)
Aubrey Kelley: 78-69—147 (+3)
Kaopun Akmaneenin: 70-79—149 (+5)
Bowdie Fox: 78-74—152 (+8)
Peyton Toney: 81-78—159 (+15)
Pete Netrnilweerachot: 82-78—160 (+16)
THE BUZZ: Orraya Tipasathien and
Aubrey Kelley were named Intermountain Health Players of the Tournament.
UP NEXT: Both squads hit the road again to Spearfish, SD at Spearfish Canyon Country Club for the Homestake Invite on September 22
nd. The tournament will be hosted by South Dakota Mines on the men's side and Black Hills State on the women's.
Travis Roy Memorial Invite
Results – September 16, 2025
Powder Horn Golf Club – Sheridan, WY
Team – 1. Colorado State Pueblo, 580 (289-291); 4. MSU Billings, 615 (310-305).
Individuals – 1. Thale Victoria Estensen, Colorado State Pueblo 140 (70-70); 4.
Orraya Tipasathien, MSU Billings 144 (72-72); T14.
Ella Tannenberger, MSU Billings 153 (77-76); 22.
Kyleigh McGowen, MSU Billings 156 (75-81); 33.
Pygmy Kompoj, MSU Billings 163 (86-77); 39.
Hannah Adams, MSU Billings 166 (86-80).
Travis Roy Memorial Invite
Results – September 16, 2025
Powder Horn Golf Club – Sheridan, WY
Team – 1. Colorado Mesa University, 563 (290-273); T8. MSU Billings, 606 (307-299).
Individuals – 1. Dylan Everett, Colorado Mesa University 136 (69-67); T14.
Aubrey Kelley, MSU Billings 147 (78-69); T21.
Kaopun Akmaneenin, MSU Billings 149 (70-79); T30.
Bowdie Fox, MSU Billings 152 (78-74); 49.
Peyton Toney, MSU Billings 159 (81-78); T50.
Pete Netrnilweerachot, MSU Billings 160 (82-78).
