- The Belles maintained their second place standing in the spring MIAA NCAA Automatic Qualifying rounds.
- Ali Mahoney led the way with an 81, and Taylor Kehoe shot an 82.
- Courtney Carlson (85) and Kelsey Conkright (86) rounded out the team's 334.
SAUGATUCK, Mich. - The Saint Mary's golf team shot a 334 to place second at the first of two MIAA NCAA Automatic Qualifying rounds hosted by Hope on Friday.
Host Hope extended their lead going into Saturday's final round of play to determine the conference's automatic representative at the 2016 NCAA Championships in May. The Flying Dutch shot a 311 at their home course, the Ravines Golf Club, to take a 34-stroke lead into the start of the final 18-holes of play. Saint Mary's 334 on Friday gives the Belles a cumulative score of 671. Olivet and Trine tied on Friday with 347 as Olivet has a score of 685 and Trine a 692 going into Saturday.
Hope's Megan Klintworth was the round medalist with a four-over par 76.
Ali Mahoney continued her strong spring season with an 81 to lead the Belles while tying for sixth place overall. Taylor Kehoe was right behind the junior with an 82 to place eighth. Courtney Carlson carded an 85 for a share of 10th, and Kelsey Conkright turned in an 86 (t-12th) to complete the team score. Sammie Averill added a 93 (17th) as the team's fifth golfer in the lineup.
The third and final MIAA NCAA Automatic Qualifying round begins at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at the Ravines Golf Club.
