The Montana State women’s golf team finished as runner-up at the Bobcat Desert Classic on April 15, concluding the regular season with a 54-hole score of 876 at the Golf Club of Estrella in Goodyear, Arizona.
This result marks the team’s sixth top-three finish of the 2025-26 season and their second consecutive top-three placement. The strong performance sets up Montana State as they prepare for the upcoming Big Sky Conference Championship Tournament.
Eva Heinz led the Bobcats with her second top-10 individual result of the season, finishing ninth at two-over-par 218. Lauren Greeny placed twelfth with a five-over-par 221, while Norah Seidl and Ashleigh Wilson tied for nineteenth at six-over-par 222. Head coach Brittany Basye said, “Obviously wasn’t the finish we were expecting, but we’re going take the positives from this tournament and use them as momentum to get us ready for the Big Sky Conference Championship Tournament.” Basye also said, “Our focus now is ahead on preparing and being ready for what we’ve set out to accomplish since the beginning of our season for this tournament. We’ve got a lot of things to be proud of, and these girls are gritty. I have no doubt that we’re going to give the Big Sky title a run for its money, and I’m hoping that, come that final day, we have an opportunity to be in the final pairing, show them what the Bobcats are made of, and go out there and just play some golf.” She added: “We also need to use these rounds where we’re having the opportunity to take the lead and keep the lead. Each time we put ourselves in this position is a learning opportunity… We’re going to move forward and get ready for the Big Sky Conference Championship… We have high expectations… It’s [the] biggest tournament of year, and we’ve been preparing since last August for this one.”
Seattle University won first place in Montana State’s home event with a nine-over-par total score (873), three strokes ahead of Montana State’s twelve-over (876). Utah Tech (878), Wyoming (880), and North Dakota State (882) rounded out third through fifth place among teams competing.
Individually among other schools’ players, Wyoming’s Kiley Reisner earned medalist honors with a five-under-par score across three rounds. Three golfers—Samantha Phelan from Utah Tech; Berkley Ledesma from Eastern Washington; Zoe Rubichon from Seattle U—tied for second place at two-under par.
Montana State will compete next in Goodyear at Wigwam Golf Club Blue Course during April 20-22 when they participate in this year’s Big Sky Championships.
