Bismarck Tribune

Minot golfer Shantel Montgomery admits that Bismarck's Riverwood Golf Course isn't one of her favorites.

"I've golfed here many times and I'm well known for messing up," the Minot senior said. "Especially the last three holes. Those are the toughest holes on a very tough course."

On Saturday, Montgomery saw a three-stroke lead evaporate after messing up some on the course's seventeenth and eighteenth holes.

However, she went on to best Williston's Ashley Beard in a one-hole playoff to earn medalist honors at the Bismarck High Invitational.

Montgomery and Beard both had a score of 76 after 18 holes. In the playoff, Montgomery shot par, while Beard bogeyed.

"I had a frustrating last two holes, but it ended well," Montgomery said. "Overall, it was a good day. I haven't won here in about two years. This is very exciting to me."

Montgomery, who was the medalist with a sparkling two-under 70 at the Century Invitational on Friday at Tom O'Leary Golf Course, led the Majettes to their fourth team title in as many tournaments this season. Minot totaled 322 strokes, a whopping 31 less than second-place Century.

Mickayla Nagel added an 80 for the Majettes, Mackenzie Nagel an 81 and Emma Kusick an 85. The top four Minot golfers all finished in the top nine.

"We had another good day today," Minot coach Eric Hendrickson said. "Yesterday we shot a 295 (at Bismarck's Tom O'Leary Golf Course) and that was outstanding. Today's score was higher, but it was about as impressive considering we were on a much tougher course. We expected the scores to be a little higher, but we had four girls shooting under 90. We've seen that kind of consistency in all of our tournaments."

Consistent would best describe Montgomery on this day. She parred the first 12 holes, and 15 of the first 16.

"I was very happy with the start I had," Montgomery said. "I was hitting the ball well and putting well. I couldn't get any birdies to drop, but I was hitting the pins."

Then came a troublesome No. 17, where Montgomery took a double bogey.

"It started with an errant tee shot," she said. "It almost went into the water. I managed to punch it out, but on my third shot, I blew it over the green. I wound up with a six (on a par four), but it could have been much worse. You're always going to have at least one bad hole. Mine was the 17th."

Montgomery went on to bogey No. 18, which enabled Beard to pull even. The Williston standout erased a three-stroke deficit by parring No. 17 and 18.

Beard, who finished fourth in Friday's tournament, also had a solid round, parring 14 of the 18 holes.

"Ashley's such a good golfer. …. We've been playing against each other for years," Montgomery said. "Having her and (Jamestown's) Laura Kraft out there with me really pushes me to do my best. And the fact that my team is doing so well pushes me, too."

Kraft, who shot an even-par 72 on Friday, carded an 81 and finished in a tie for sixth place with Mackenzie Nagel. Mickayla Nagel, Century's McKenzie McMillan and Bismarck's Theresa Ebertz tied for third with 80s.

Bismarck finished fourth in the team standings with 364 strokes.

Saturday at Riverwood Golf Course

Team scores

1. Minot 322. 2. Century 353. 3. Dickinson 361. 4. Bismarck 364. 5. Williston 395. 6. Jamestown 400.

Individual results

1. (tie) Shantel Montgomery, Minot, and Ashley Beard, Williston, 76 (Montgomery defeated Beard in a one-hole playoff for medalist honors). 3. (tie) Mickayla Nagel, Minot; McKenzie McMillan, Century, and Theresa Ebertz, Bismarck, 80. 6. (tie) Laura Kraft, Jamestown, and Mackenzie Nagel, Minot, 81. 8. Caitlin Dunn, Dickinson, 83. 9. Emma Kusick, Minot, 85. 10. Adrianna Harris, Century, 88.

By team

Minot (322): Shantel Montgomery 76, Mickayla Nagel 80, Mackenzie Nagel 81, Emma Kusick 85.

Century (353): McKenzie McMillan 80, Adrianna Harris 88, Krissy Aasen 89, Alexa Dvorak 96.

Dickinson (361): Caitlin Dunn 83, Steph Wallace 90, Jenna Wellenstein 92, Megan Dunn 96, Lexi Erickson 96.

Bismarck (364): Theresa Ebertz 80, Lauren Kringstad 91, Courtney Kramer 95, Kristen Goulet 98.

Williston (395): Ashley Beard 76, Miranda Zavalney 94, Kayla Barke 109, Cari Zavalney 116.

Jamestown (400): Laura Kraft 81, Caroline Hemmer 97, Mercedes Westereng 109, Megan Stark 113.

Mandan (no team score): Anna Helmers 104, Breanna Schauer 110.

Turtle Mountain (no team score): Jackie Azure 95, Kristen Azure 117.