Different weekend. Different golf course. Same result.
For the third time this season, the Saint Mary's golf team played well, but couldn't overtake Hope College. The Belles shot a 344 at the Blackthorn Golf Course, one stroke behind the Flying Dutch's 343, and grabbed second-place in MIAA competition in South Bend Saturday.
"We were disappointed in not defending our home turf," Belles coach Mark Hamilton said. "The course played difficult. We had a couple of good scores and a couple scores that were a little higher than normal."
The Belles were led by Stefanie Simmerman and Julie Adams, who both shot 82, while Megan Mattia fired a 90, followed by Chrissy Dunham's 95.
Hope countered with medalist Lacey Wicksall's 81 to win the individual honor.
Hamilton knows his team is feeling a little bit of pressure.
"It definitely pushes us a little now, "Hamilton said. "They were not expected to play this well. We definitely want to beat them."
Saint Mary's took second at the Briton Invitational Sept. 16 with a 345 score, two shots behind Hope. The Flying Dutch fired a course record 343 in that tournament.
At Knox College a few days earlier, the Belles took fourth of 20 teams, but were two places behind Hope, who took second.
