Belles Claim Fifth at Loaded Spring Fling
Results (pdf)
NORMAL, Ill. - The Saint Mary's golf team moved up a spot and claimed fifth place at the talent-loaded Illinois Wesleyan Spring Fling on Sunday.
In a field of 17 teams that included ten NGCA top-25 teams, third-ranked DePauw won the tournament (306-328--634) by three strokes over fourth-ranked Centre (312-325--637). Just nine strokes separated the third through seventh place teams. No. 6 Wisconsin-Eau Claire (655) finished third, No. 17 Birmingham-Southern (659) finished fourth, and the Belles rounded out the top five with a two-day score of 660.
Saint Mary's, which has received votes in the NGCA poll, finished head of second-ranked Washington University in St. Louis, No. 12 Illinois Wesleyan, No. 21 Olivet, No. 22 Carroll, No. 23 Wisconsin-Whitewater, and No. 25 Rhodes.
Doyle O'Brien led the Belles with a
two-day score of 159 to give her
a share of third place overall.Doyle O'Brien continued to lead the way for the Belles. The sophomore shot an 81, which paired with her 78 yesterday gave her a share of third place overall (159). O'Brien finished the tournament with 19 pars and shared the lead for best par four scoring. Natalie Matuszak tied for 20th place individually after an 84 on Sunday gave the senior a two-day score of 165. Matuszak had 17 pars and tied for eighth in the field of more than 100 golfers in par four scoring.
Pagie Pollak and Janice Heffernan finished with two-day scores of 168 (83-85; t-29th) and 169 (84-85; t-31st) to wrap up the Belles' 660 on the weekend. Pollak had 18 pars while Heffernan carded 19 pars and was tied for third in par three scoring. Christine Brown was the fifth scoring-eligible golfer for Saint Mary's and had rounds of 83 and 88 (171) to take a share of 39th place.
Alexi Bown played the tournament as an individual and had a 94 to finish tied for 74th (90-94--184).
The Belles will now look to the three MIAA rounds that will determine the conference's automatic qualifier for the 2012 NCAA Championships. The first of the three rounds will be played on Tuesday, April 17 at Wuskowhan Players Club beginning at 2:00 p.m. and will be hosted by Hope.