Reece Garey Wins College of Idaho Invite in Thrilling Fashion

CALDWELL, Idaho - The Yotes wrapped up hosting The College of Idaho Invite at the Timberstone Golf Course. Needing a dramatic playoff, Reece Garey won her first ever tournament title in front of a home crowd. The women's team would finish tied for third and the men's team finished in fourth.

Garey came out big in the first round of the tournament, shooting 70 (-2) to set the tone for the invitational to hold the day one lead.  The Yote carded five birdies in day one. She followed up with a day two filled with harsh rain and cold conditions with a score of 74. Keira Hou would not go down silently. After shooting 75 in round one, the University of British Columbia golfer would post the best single round score of the tournament with a 68 to force a playoff with both golfers carding 144 over the two rounds. Garey and Hou, supported by their teams met at hole 10 for an epic shootout. The duo would go hole-for-hole until there was a victor. After the coin toss, Garey would go first. With the pressure on her shoulders, she hit a solid drive into the fairway to set up a par. Meanwhile, Hou's drive placed her between two tough trees. She would match the composure she had shown already on the the day and calmly struck the ball to lay up for what would be a par as well. The two would need another hole. Hou's drive sent her into a bunker, a rare mistake on the day. The Thunderbird would get into the cup first, but with a bogey. Garey on the other hand, had a chance to earn the title with a clutch par.  She stepped up to the three yard put and knocked it in to send the Yote crowd into jubilation. 

Garey paced the Yotes women's team which shot 642 (314-328) over the two days. They tied Lewis-Clark State College for third. Just ahead was Oregon Tech with 632 and the winning team University of British Columbia which scored a 597. Lauryn Bulger also finished in the top ten. Her 155 over two rounds placed her tied for seventh in a field of 44 golfers. She played consistently scoring 77 on day one and 78 on day two. Olivia Lammey (81-84-165) and Karissa Goff (86-92-178) rounded out the scorers for the Yotes.

On the men's side, the Yotes finished in fourth with a 910 (306-300-304). They trailed the Lewis-Clark State Warriors (887), Oregon Tech (882) and team winners University of British Columbia (853). Carson King (77-74-73-224) paced the Yotes with his 16th place finish. Lucas Rynearson (76-73-78-227) and Braden Brown (77-77-74-228) both earned top 25 finishes in a field of 60 golfers. 

The Yotes will have a short turnaround before heading to the LC State Invite in Lewiston Idaho on October 20th.