BILLINGS, Mont. – Despite facing significantly worse conditions on the second day of the Rocky Mountain College Invitational at Peter Yegen Golf Club, Montana State University Billings junior Bailee Dexter shaved two strokes off of her first-round score and shot a 3-over-par 74 to finish in second place at the tournament on Monday.
 
Dexter started the event with a 76 on Sunday, before battling through steady rain and wind on Monday with an even better round her second time through the course. Overall she carded a 150, finishing just three strokes behind individual medalist Hayden Flohr from Rocky. "Yesterday I kind of got off to a rough start, but with a couple of birdies I ended up being right where I wanted to by the end of the day," said Dexter. "Today with the weather, you really had to play hole-by-hole and shot-by-shot. I just tried to approach each hole thinking about doing whatever I could to par it."
 

Dexter's effort helped the Yellowjacket women take second place at the tournament, as MSUB shot a two-round total of 613 (307-306). "Our women had a good tournament, and to knock a shot off and go one lower today with much worse conditions is a tribute to them," said MSUB head coach Kevin Woodin. "Rocky at their own course was tough to beat, but we had consistency from Day 1 to Day 2 throughout our lineup and that's one of the best things about our women's team."
 
Putting together the best tournament of her career as a 'Jacket, sophomore Shealyn Hafer followed a first-round 76 with a 78 on Monday and wound up in a tie for fifth place with a 154. She and junior Sammy Walter posted the same score, as the latter cut off four strokes from her first-round 79 and put up a 4-over-par 75 on Monday. "I had my ups and downs, but towards the end I started to come back and really hit the ball well," Hafer commented on her first round. "One thing I've really been working on is my confidence out on the golf course, and I feel like the mental part of my game is a lot better." 
Finishing in a tie for eighth place was sophomore Kortney McNeil, as she shot a 156 overall. McNeil followed her first-round 77 on Sunday with a 79 her second time through the course.
 
Rounding out the field of five golfers for MSUB was senior Haley Shackelford, who finished tied for 10th place with a two-round total of 158 (78-80).
 
Winning the team title was the host school, as the Battlin' Bears carded a two-round total of 606 (305-301). "This was a good tournament for the women after a few weeks off from competition," Woodin said. "Now they'll go to Washington for back-to-back events starting Friday, and it will be interesting to see how they do with golfers in their region."
 
THE BUZZ: Dexter was picked as the St. Vincent Healthcare Player of the Day…Dexter tied her collegiate personal-best with her 74 on Monday, and set a new two-round personal record as she bettered her old mark of 151…Dexter's sister Lynzee Dexter finished tied for 23rd place for Montana Tech.
 
AHEAD: With two more fall tournaments on the calendar, the Yellowjackets head west this week to compete in the Saint Martin's Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Olympia, Wash. MSUB then closes the fall season at the Western Washington Invitational, running Oct. 10-11 in Bellingham, Wash.
 
Rocky Mountain College Invitational
Peter Yegen Golf Club | Billings, MT
Final Results | October 3, 2016
Team – 1. Rocky Mountain College, 606 (305-301); 2. MSU Billings, 613 (307-306). Individual – 1. Hayden Flohr, RMC, 147 (78-69); 2. Bailee Dexter, MSUB, 150 (76-74); T5. Shealyn Hafer, MSUB, 154 (76-78); T5. Sammy Walter, MSUB, 154 (79-75); T8. Kortney McNeil, MSUB, 156 (77-79); T10. Haley Shackelford, MSUB, 158 (78-80).