The Saint Mary’s golf team took home four first-place finishes and two second-place finishes under first-year head coach Kristin Holt this season. Both Holt’s mother, Susan Holt, who was the head coach of the Belles from 2023 to 2025, and her father, Tim Holt, served as assistant coaches.
Overall, the Belles had an up-and-down year. The team began its season in early September and struggled in its first four invitationals, finishing second, sixth, fourth and 11th, respectively. After the initial hardship, however, the Belles began to find success, taking first place in the second and third MIAA Jamborees, before tying for second out of nine teams in the fourth Jamboree.
In March and April, when the squad kicked off the spring half of its season, it seemed to repeat its fall inconsistency. The Belles came 17th out of 19 teams in the Savannah Invitational, tied for sixth out of 15 at the Washington University Spring Invitational and placed seventh out of 21 in the Illinois Wesleyan University Spring Invitational. Following that, the Belles rounded out their season with two wins, taking first place out of nine at both the Trine Spring Classic and the MIAA Championship on April 24 and 25.
In addition to team improvement, many individual golfers found success, including the team’s three senior captains — Breana Harrington, Julia Lizak and Amanda Melling — all of whom have made a significant impact over their time with the Belles.
Harrington competed in her freshman, sophomore and senior years. This past season, she participated in all fall invites, averaging 83.5 with a season low of 80 but did not compete in the spring. As a senior, Lizak shot an average of 80 in the fall, with her lowest score being 76. She shot an average of 77.6 in the spring and had a season low score of 72. Melling finished her season with an average of 79.2, averaging 81.5 in the fall and 77.1 in the spring.
Junior Colleen Hand also provided consistency following her Second-Team all-conference honors a year ago, as the Michigan native competed in every tournament of the season. Hand finished her third campaign averaging 82.8 in the fall and 83.44 in the spring, with her lowest score of both halves at 78.
While the Belles have completed their regular season, they now advance to the NCAA championships that will take place at Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Beach, Calif., from May 19 to 22.
