2004 Golf Preview:  New Coach, Full Schedule Await Yellowjacket Golfers (Feb. 18, 2004)

BILLINGS, MT – Following a coaching change and a long winter break, the golf teams at Montana State University-Billings are set to tee up for their second season of NCAA competition with a full schedule of tournaments for both squads.  Roger Burckley, who took over the Yellowjacket golf program in October, has filled the roster and the schedule in his short time on the job.

“We started practicing at the beginning of February and everyone has put in some quality time hitting into nets and the simulators at Mitchell Golf,” said Burckley.  “We have had a chance to hit outside around the snow drifts up at Lake Hills for the past week and are excited to put some time in at our new home course, The Briarwood.”

The Yellowjackets are in their second year of NCAA Division II competition, and MSU Billings is the only NCAA affiliated university in Montana to offer both men’s and women’s golf.  The spring season looks to have many firsts for both squads.  The men’s and women’s teams will be competing in a full schedule of six tournaments each, and each team will have a full roster for the first time.  Last year, the first year for the MSUB program, the women’s team had just three players.

The Jacket men begin their season on February 23 at the Family Motor Invitational in Bakersfield, CA.  The women tee off on March 8 at the Subway Invitational in Chico, CA. 

“This is going to be a great test for the men to start the season,” said Burckley.  “Four schools ranked in the top ten nationally will be participating, with host Cal State-Bakersfield ranked No. 1 in the latest NCAA II poll.  The women will also be tested right away with the upper echelon teams from the West Region participating at the Chico tournament.”

MSU Billings will travel to tournaments in the Midwest and on the West Coast.  Both the men and the women compete in the NCAA West Region and will travel extensively for the regional competition necessary to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.  Beginning with the 2004-2005 season, golf will become a conference sponsored sport in the Pacific West Conference, which will crown a conference champion and automatic NCAA Tournament qualifier each year.

Burckley has seven men and six women on his rosters for this spring.  The men’s team is comprised of a number of upperclassmen who are experienced in terms of competitive golf.  The team is built around a nucleus of three seniors, Eric Staab, Judd Norman and Andy Eames.

“These three players have put in a lot of hard work and have been great examples to the younger players,” said Burckley.  “Eric has a lot of experience in both college tournament play and summer amateur events.  Judd is a household golf name in the Billings area.  And Andy grew up in a great golf family.  I’m excited for them to be able to compete in some quality tournaments at the end of their college careers.”

Other members of the men’s team include Matt Desin, Chris Haas, Chris McConnell and Bryan Barthelmess.  The women’s team will be led by Elizabeth Marshall, who has been with the team since its inception.  Her scoring average paced the Lady Yellowjackets last season.

“Elizabeth has watched this program grow from scratch.  She has a great attitude, and I look forward to watching her and her teammates take on a tough spring schedule.”

Rounding out the women’s team are Nicole Clayton, Amanda Rabenberg, Dusty Lindeen, Julie Clifford, and Heather Bowker.

2004 Men’s Roster
Judd Norman (Sr., Laurel, MT), Bryan Barthelmess (Jr., Condon, MT), Andy Eames (Sr., Billings, MT), Eric Staab (Sr., Powell, WY), Matt Desin (Jr., Billings, MT), Chris Haas (So., Bozeman, MT), Chris McConnell (So., Lewistown, MT). 

2004 Men’s Schedule
Feb. 23-24 – at Cal State-Bakersfield Invitational (Bakersfield, CA)
Mar. 22-23 – at Northwest Intercollegiate (Blaine, WA)
Apr. 4-5 – at South Dakota Invitational (Vermillion, SD)
Apr. 12-13 – at Cal State-Stanislaus Invitational (Turlock, CA)
Apr. 19-20 – at Nebraska-Kearney Invitational (Lincoln, NE)
Apr. 26-27 – at Northern Colorado Invitational (Greeley, CO) 

2004 Women’s Roster
Elizabeth Marshall (So., Worland, WY), Nicole Clayton (So., Wolf Point, MT), Dusty Lindeen (Fr., Huntley, MT), Heather Bowker (Fr., Havre, MT), Julie Clifford (So, Forsyth, MT), Amanda Rabenberg (So., Livingston, MT) 

2004 Women’s Schedule
Mar. 8-9 – at Cal State-Chico Invitational (Chico, CA)
Mar. 22-23 – at Northwest Intercollegiate (Blaine, WA)
Mar. 29-30 – at Grand Canyon Invitational (Phoenix, AZ)
Apr. 4-5 – at South Dakota Invitational (Vermillion, SD)
Apr. 12-13 – at Bear Spring Invitational (Windsor, CO)
Apr. 19-20 – at Nebraska-Kearney Invitational (Kearney, NE)