MSU’s Nau leads Women’s Am

BOZEMAN — A trio of Montana State Bobcats and a pair of Montana Grizzlies lead the field after the first round of the 109th Montana State Women’s Amateur Championship at Cottonwood Hills Golf Club.  

MSU sophomore Lauren Nau (Scottsdale, Ariz.) jumped out to a commanding four-stroke lead after day one, posting an opening round 66. She started her round hot, shooting 4-under (32) on the front that included birdies on holes 1, 3, 6 and 11 as well as an eagle on the par-5 seventh. Nau then added her second eagle of the day on number 12.  

Fellow Bobcat teammate Sailor Graham (Malibu, Calif.), also finished in red numbers with a 2-under 70. The sophomore had four birdies on holes 1, 7, 8 and 12, with heronly blemish a double bogey on No. 5. Graham finished the last 13 holes 3-under thanks to a bogey-free back nine.  

In a three-way tie for third are Montana Grizzlies Katie Lewis (Frenchtown) and Raina Ports (Oro Valley, Ariz.), and Bobcat Eva Heinz (Goodyear, Ariz.), all at even par.

Lewis’ eagle on the seventh helped her overcome four bogeys over the first 10 holes. A 2-under finish helped the 2026 Montana State Match Play champion back to par.  

Heinz battled through a rollercoaster round that included five birdies and five bogeys. The All-Big Sky Conference golfer ended the day with bogeys on holes 17 and 18.

Meanwhile, Ports — the defending Women’s State Amateur Champion — has work to do if she wants to repeat. 

Payton Tryan leads a field of 14 juniors for the Carla Berg Trophy — for the  18-and-under golfer with the lowest three-day score. Tryan, the State AA champion for Billings Senior, finished her first round at 5-over 77.