Close Call: Three Vikings Card 75 in Intense Big Sky Championship Debut
Litchfield, AZ – With intense competition heating up at the Big Sky Conference Golf Championship, the stakes couldn’t be higher at the renowned Wigwam Golf Club. Following a nail-biting opening round, the Portland State Vikings find themselves in ninth place among ten teams, yet the battle is far from over with only nine shots separating the Vikings from the action-packed midfield, consisting of eight fierce competitors.
Round One Recap: Vikings Show Grit
In sweltering temperatures nearing 90 degrees, the Vikings achieved a collective score of 303 on Monday, positioning them just a single stroke behind Northern Colorado and a mere two shots adrift of Weber State, with Eastern Washington trailing them by three shots. Notably, only an eight-shot gap divides them from the coveted third place, setting the stage for an exhilarating battle over the next two rounds.
Taking the lead in the first stanza, Sacramento State, the conference frontrunners, finished strong with an impressive two-under par 282. Their closest rival, Montana State, sat comfortably in second with a score of 287. These two teams stand out as the only ones to create any notable separation from the tightly packed field.
Vikings Rising to the Occasion
On the individual front, three Vikings stood head and shoulders above the rest, each carving out a four-over par 75. Juniors Payten Shimizu and Bayler Brundage, alongside sophomore Momo Udom, each managed to secure a position tied for 21st among the 50 golfers in the field.
Shimizu, in particular, made her mark by rallying spectacularly on the back nine, shooting a one-under par 34 after nailing a birdie putt on the 18th hole. Both she and Brundage are no strangers to the pressure of this competition, as they are participating in their third Big Sky Golf Championship.
A Strong Supporting Cast
Right behind the leading trio, sophomore Cynthia Valerie Ong and graduate student Avery Kageyama each recorded 78, placing them tied for 37th overall.
Five players managed to conquer the course with subpar scores, showcasing the fierce competition within the championship. At the top of the leaderboard, Darla May Dela Torre from Sacramento State emerged as the individual leader with an impressive three-under par 68, while Scarlet Weidig from Montana State and Gabriella Ilardi from Eastern Washington followed closely at 69.
What Lies Ahead?
Despite scores being slightly higher than last year’s first round at the Wigwam Blue Course, a par-71, 5,951-yard track, there’s ample opportunity for movement across the leaderboard with two more rounds to go. The scoring average for the day was 75.22, and as the weather continues to heat up, fans can anticipate thrilling developments.
TAP-INS
Big Sky Conference Championship
Dates: April 14-16, 2025
Location: Wigwam Golf Club
Course: Par 71, 5,951 yards
Teams: 10 teams, 50 players
Team Scores
- Sacramento State – 282
- Montana State – 287
- Montana – 295
- Northern Arizona – 297
- Idaho – 298
- Eastern Washington – 300
- Weber State – 301
- Northern Colorado – 302
- Portland State – 303
- Idaho State – 304
Top 10 Players
- Darla May Dela Torre (Sacramento State) – 68
t2. Scarlet Weidig (Montana State) – 69
t2. Gabriella Ilardi (Eastern Washington) – 69
t4. Maddie Montoya (Montana State) – 70
t4. Raina Ports (Montana) – 70
t6. Jade Gruher (Weber State) – 71
t6. Tova Hatton (Sacramento State) – 71
t6. Caitlin Maurice (Sacramento State) – 71
t6. Elle Higgins (Montana) – 71
Portland State Scores
t21. Payten Shimizu – 75
t21. Bayler Brundage – 75
t21. Momo Udom – 75
t37. Cynthia Valerie Ong – 78
t37. Avery Kageyama – 78
As the Vikings gear up for their next rounds, one thing is clear: the Big Sky Championship is poised for a thrilling race. Stay tuned as the action unfolds!
