This past Tuesday, the Saint Mary's golf team took home the MIAA championship. The Belles finished with an overall score of 1,907 with an average of 318 across the six conference rounds as Trine took second place with an overall score of 1,936 with a team average of 323, which included four jamborees in the fall and two rounds in the Spring Finale. This will mark the sixth first place standing that the team has brought home as they round up the regular season.
Freshman Melanie Maier and junior Julia Lizak led the way for the Belles as they both finished in the T3 position. The duo each earned a final score of 160 (+16), as Maier carded an 83-77 and Lizak posted a 79-81.
Following the top five finishers would be senior Katelyn Tokarz and junior Amanda Melling, who both placed in the top 20 at a tie for 18th place with an overall score of 174 (+30). Tokarz managed scores of 85-89 while Melling bounced back from a 93 in round one to post an 81 her second time out.
Junior Breana Harrington took 21st place after shooting a 175 (+31) and carding a 93-82. Following Harrington was sophomore Colleen Hand, who finished in 37th place after shooting 186 (+42) and carding a 99-87.
Maier was the top scorer for the Belle's throughout the season, being named Most Valuable Golfer after posting a season low scoring average of 76.17. It marked the 13th time a Saint Mary's golfer had been given the award, and the second Belle in a row to win it. In addition to this, Maier was named to the All-MIAA First Team, and was joined by her teammate Lizak, who finished with an 80.33 scoring average. Tokarz and Hand were named to the All-MIAA Second Team, with averages of 81.67 and 83.33, respectively. It was Tokarz's third time being named to an MIAA team in her college career and Hand's first.
With this win, the Belles earned the MIAA Automatic Qualifier for the NCAA Division III Championship that is set to begin on May 13 and extend through May 16 at the Kingsmill Resort and Spa in Williamsburg, Virginia. In addition to this, the Belle's hold fifth position in the Division III Great Lakes conference. The teams in front of them include Carnegie Mellon (No. 1), Illinois Wesleyan (No. 2), Denison (No.3) and DePauw who takes the No. 4 spot.
