RICHLAND, Wash. – The Carroll College Women's Golf team left Meadow Springs Country Club with a pair of trophies on Tuesday evening, taking second place as a team, thanks in large part to the first career victory for freshman Addison Slivinski at the Columbia Basin College Invitational.
 
Entering the day one stroke back of the lead, Addison Slivinski (Montpelier, Idaho / FR) showed impressive focus and determination, holding steady to battle back over the final four holes for the first Carroll Women's Individual Medalist honors since CC Hall of Famer Jackie Mee in 2013.
 
"I told myself all day – I just have to stay positive." said Slivinski "I'm not going to beat myself up if I make any mistakes, I just have to go out there and get back on track."
 
The words of affirmation worked for the freshman, as she showed her mettle time and again throughout the final round.
 
After a pair of double-bogeys over the first six holes, Slivinski slid down into a tie for third place. A mental reset on Hole 14 helped right the ship, however, and the following four holes would help vault the Freshman up to the top of the leaderboard.
Slivinski flashed solid ball-striking, sound decision-making, and several terrific lag putts on holes 14-17, a stretch of holes that played difficult for the rest of the field, making up lost ground in a hurry.
 
Things got a little dicey in the middle of the final nine holes, as Slivinski slipped back into a tie for the lead following another double-bogey with five to play. Resilient as ever, Slivinski hit some clutch shots down the stretch.  A birdie putt on the par five fourth hole lipped-out on the high side, but a par would give her a one-stroke lead with two to play.
 
The most impressive display of the young Saint's resolve came on the penultimate hole. Her tee shot clipped the trees at the bend of the sharp dogleg right, kicking the ball backwards a considerable amount and leaving little room to maneuver. After a pair of punch-out attempts to get away from the trees, Slivinski had 73 yards-in. She hit the shot of the day when it mattered most, stuffing a wedge, nearly holing-out, to scrape out an extremely important bogey to keep pace with the closest competitor and maintain her one-shot lead.
 
One final test stood in-between Slivinski and the trophy, one that she would pass with flying colors. A well-struck tee shot into the par three, and a two-putt par later, the win was secured.
 
Finishing the week at +43 (88-85-86, 259), Slivinski won by two shots, and was joined in the Top-12 by the Stastny twins and Stella Claridge (Kalispell, Mont. / SR). Ellie Stastny (Murtaugh, Idaho / SO) and Alli Stastny (Murtaugh, Idaho / SO) finished sixth and seventh, respectively, to help the Saints earn a second-place finish for the week as a team. Ellie finished +57 (90-89-94, 273), while Alli was one shot behind at +58 (96-93-85, 274). Claridge matched Alli Stastny for the low-round on Tuesday with an 85 to finish the week at +62. Kate Williams (Portland, Ore. / SR) finished +98, and Maddy Olson (Spokane, Wash. / JR) wrapped up the week at +104.
 
Montana Tech won the Women's title with a total of +144, but the Saints rallied from 13-shots down heading into the day, to pull within five strokes at +149 for the week.
 
The Carroll Men improved each round of the event, moving up into a tie for sixth-place following their best team round of the week in Tuesday's final round.  The Saints finished +116 for the week.
 
Kyle Kennah (Laurel, Mont. / SO) and Hudson Reinke (Filer, Idaho / SO) led the way for the Men, finishing tied for 23^rd on the week at +26 (242). Kennah went 85-79-78, while Reinke fired 84-80-78. TJ Fierling (North Bend, Wash. / JR) finished +32 (82-85-81, 248), while Tanner Cromwell (Anaconda, Mont. / SO) rounded-out the scoring at +37 (84-85-84, 253). JT Slivinski (Montpelier, Idaho / JR)  was one shot back at +38 (82-86-86, 254), while Jackson Hammond (Flagstaff, Ariz. / JR) finished +40 (85-89-82, 256).
 
Bellevue College (Wash.) won the Men's team competition at +56 for the week, while Corban's (Ore.) Isaac Laro took medalist honors at eight-over.
 
The Saints will now turn their attention towards next month's Frontier Conference Championship at Papago Golf Club in Phoenix, Ariz.