After a long break due to several tournament cancellations, the Saint Mary’s golf team was back in action over the weekend as they placed in the top 10 at the Kathy Niepagen Spring Fling hosted by Illinois Wesleyan University. The seventh-place finish, courtesy of an overall score of 647 (+71), shows improvement from their last outing, where the Belles finished ninth at the WashU Spring Invite.
Melanie Maier led the Belles as she finished 16th individually. The freshman scoring a 157 (+13), shooting 79-78. In addition to this, Maier tallied three birdies over the weekend, one at the par-four ninth on Saturday and the next two on Sunday at the par-four first and par-three 13th hole.
Katelyn Tokarz followed tied with a tie for 19th place after carding a 159 (+15) and shooting 82-77. The senior recorded 3 birdies on the weekend all during Sunday’s second round, at the par-four first, 12th and 14th holes.
Julia Lizak cnuck into the top 30 at a draw for 28th. The junior finished the tournament scoring a 161 (+17) while shooting 80-81. In the first round, Lizak showed up with back-to-back birdies on the par-four sixth and par-five seventh holes. Junior Amanda Melling rounded out the scorers for Saint Mary’s, as she finished in the top 70, carding 172 (+28) and shooting 82-90.
Junior Breana Harrington was the last competitor for the Belles. She placed in the top 72 with a score of 173 (+29), shooting 85-88. Sophomore Colleen Hand competed as an individual, placing in the top 100 competitors. She finished with a 179 (+35) and shooting 88-91.
The team now looks ahead to their final event before the MIAA Championship. They will travel to Angola, Indiana on Friday, April 18 for the Trine Invitational before the Championship begins in Battle Creek, Michigan the following week from April 21–22.
