Tech’s Rhodes, Pasquarello, Ceartin place fifth
Sean Ramsbacher was carrying on what has become a school tradition Tuesday when he won the Montana Tech Invitational at the Butte Country Club.
The Oredigger senior fired a final-round 67 on the par-70 course to top Rocky Mountain College’s Mitch Thiessen by one shot for men’s medalist honors.
The senior from Missoula became the third straight Oredigger to win Tech’s tournament. Sean Benson won it in a sudden-death playoff in 2018, while Trey Hoagland shot a 64 to win it last September. (Men’s final results; Women’s final results)
Ramsbacher, the defending Frontier Conference men’s champion, shot a 73 and a 67 on Monday. His 207 total is 3 under par. Thiessen followed Monday’s 74 and 68 with a 66 for a 208. On Tuesday, Ramsbacher opened with a 35 on the front nine and came home with a 32.
Cash Golden of Rocky Mountain College hit a final-round 68 to place third at 215, one shot ahead of teammate Haydn Driver.
Tech’s Jace Rhodes and Nick Pasquarello tied for fifth place at 218. They tied Josh Neth of Carroll College, Ben Kaul of the University of Providence and Tristan Hanson of Rocky.
Rhodes, a sophomore, shot a 72 Tuesday after hitting a 72 and a 74 on Monday. Pasquarello, a true freshman playing in his first Frontier Conference tournament, hit a final-round 70 after a 73 and 75 on Monday.
Oredigger senior Isaiah Weldon was one shot back for 10th place at 219. He shot a final-round 72.
Rocky shot a blistering 276 to claim the men’s tam title at 854. The Battlin’ Bears took the first day lead with rounds of 290 and 288. The Orediggers shot 291, 291 and 288 for an 870 and second place.
Carroll College placed third at 901, which was 10 shots better than fourth-place Dickinson State.
Matt Hobbs finished at 228 for the Orediggers, while Jhett Braley hit 229, and Gabe Witham carded a 237.
On the women’s side, Rocky’s Claire Wright, Hailey Derrickson and Valentina Zuleta took the top three spots to lead the Battlin’ Bears to the team crown. After Monday’s 318, the Bears shot a 299 to run away with the title at 617.
Carroll placed second at 661, and Tech improved five shots for a 330 and a 665.
Wright followed Tuesday’s 75 with a 74 for a 149 and a one-shot win over Derrickson, who shot a 71 Tuesday. Zuleta shot a 72 for a 154.
Carroll College golfer Katie Fagg placed fourth at 157, while Montana Tech true freshman Franchi Ceartin placed fifth at 161. Ceartin followed Monday’s 80 with an 81.
Oredigger freshmen Cierra Sundheim and Sami Benson tied for seventh place with Rocky’s Kaitlyn Fleming at 165. Sundheim followed a 78 with an 87, while Benson improved 11 shots for a 77.
Also for Tech, Emily Kelly hit 174, Reyla Williams shot 181, Kennedy Lean carded a 183, and Lauren Williams shot 188.
Next up for the Oredigger golfers is the Argo Invitational next Monday and Tuesday in Great Falls.
