Palm Desert, CA – Senior Mariana Garcia Rosette and freshman Cynthia Valerie Ong never trailed in their opening matches of the Mountain Classic Match Play on Monday at The Classic Club. Rosette and Ong were Portland State's two winners as the Vikings, seeded eighth in the eight-team tournament, played top-seeded Boise State close before losing 3-2 in match play.
 
The Vikings will move on to face fifth-seeded North Dakota State on Tuesday in the consolation bracket. Boise State will face number-four seed St. Thomas in the championship bracket.
 
Garcia Rosette led from the fourth hole on, eventually building a 4-up lead. She played even par through 15 holes, with one birdie and one bogey, as she closed out Elli Gordon of Boise State, 4-and-3.
 
Ong, playing as the Vikings' number-one seed, was one-under par after four holes and took a 4-up lead on Boise State's Franca Polla. She then hung on as Polla rallied late in the round. Ong held a 1-up lead going to the final hole and matched Polla's par for the 1-up win.
 
Tannica Porter, playing as the Vikings' number two seed, lost in her match, 4-and-2. Porter was three over par for her round, making two birdies along the way.
 
Sophomore Payten Shimizu and freshman Momo Udom each lost their matches 4-and-2. 
 
Sophomore Bayler Brundage competed as an individual. Brundage started fast, taking a 4-up lead through seven holes. But her opponent, Angie Buffalino, got hot, making three straight birdies at one point to come away with a 4-and-2 victory.        
 

TAP INS

• The Mountain Classic is an eight-team, bracketed event with match play competitions between the teams. PSU placed seventh in last year's event, third in 2022.
• BIRDIE WATCHING (first round): Tannica Porter 2, Payten Shimizu 2, Cynthia Valerie Ong 2, Mariana Garcia Rosette 1, Bayler Brundage 1
• The second round of the Mountain Classic Match Play takes place on Tuesday with tee times starting at 10 a.m. Tournament information and live scoring can be found here.

 
MOUNTAIN CLASSIC MATCH PLAY
Hosted by Boise State and Wyoming
The Classic Club, Palm Desert, CA
Feb. 12-14, 2024
Par 72, 6,081 yards
8 teams
 
DAY ONE: Monday, Feb. 12

#1 Boise State def. #8 Portland State, 3-2
Cynthia Valerie Ong, PSU def. Franca Polla, BSU, 1-up
Leia Chung, BSU def. Tannica Porter, PSU, 4 & 2
Mariana Garcia Rosette, PSU def. Elli Gordon, BSU, 4 & 3
Teal Matsueda, BSU def. Payten Shimizu, PSU, 4 & 2
Macee Greenwood, BSU def. Momo Udom, PSU, 4 & 2
IND: Annie Buffalino, BSU def. Bayler Brundage, PSU, 4 & 2 
 
OTHER MATCHES
#4 St. Thomas def. #5 North Dakota State, 3-2
#2 Seattle vs. #7 Wyoming, not yet finished
#3 Northern Arizona vs. #6 Montana State, not yet finished
 
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