The young season for Saint Mary’s golf ramped up in a big way this past weekend, as the Belles played on three out of four days. After starting the season in 10th place at the Lynn Schweizer Invitational, the team recorded two top-five finishes. At Thursday’s first MIAA Jamboree, the Belles took first with a single-round score of 303. Then, between Saturday and Sunday, they finished fourth among 19 teams with a two-round total of 608 at the Illinois Wesleyan Fall Classic.
For postseason-aspiring teams like the Belles, success at MIAA Jamboree events are paramount. Each of the four jamborees throughout the fall season factors into conference postseason seeding in the spring. Saint Mary’s took full advantage of its opportunity in such an event, outscoring second-place Calvin by eight strokes to win as a team.
Freshman Melanie Maier scored her first collegiate win at the MIAA Jamboree, going 2 under par across her final seven holes. Overall, Maier finished with a 3-over par 75, tying atop the leaderboard with Trine’s Grace Dubec. Junior Julia Lizak followed her with a fourth-place 77 that included a team-best score of 37 on the front nine. Sophomore Colleen Hand (80), who carded two birdies during her round, and senior Katelyn Tokarz (81) also slotted into the top 10. Junior Breana Harrington and senior Georgie Kersman competed for the Belles, too.
Teeing off again just two days later at the Illinois Wesleyan Fall Classic, the Belles set a program record with their 36-hole score of 608. The previous record of 609, set at the UW Whitewater Fall Invite, had held up for five years.
Lizak paced the Belles this time, shooting a 1-over-par 73 in both of her rounds to finish in a tie for fifth. Her six birdies ranked fourth among all golfers. Maier found success once again, shooting a 7-over-par 151 to take 17th place. Harrington also found the top 30 with a 23rd-place score of 155. Rounding out the active Belles, Tokarz and Kersman competed once again, while sophomore Colleen Hand got involved with a second-round 74 that put her in 32nd place.
Up next, the Belles will look to defend their title at the second MIAA Jamboree on Sept. 24. Saint Mary’s will host the event at Elbel Park Golf Course on the western edge of South Bend.
