Averill Earns Season Medalist Honor, Belles Finish Third

• Sammie Averill became the eighth golfer in program history to earn Season Medalist and MIAA Most Valuable Golfer honors.
• The Belles finished the fall season in third place overall.
• Averill was named to the All-MIAA First Team while Ali Mahoney earned All-MIAA Second Team honors.

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - Sammie Averill capped off a stellar conference season with an 80 on Saturday to finish one stroke ahead of Hope's Britni Gielow for MIAA Season Medalist honors as the Belles claimed third place in the final conference round and standings.

The Belles shot a 335 on Saturday to end the two-day end of season weekend jamboree with a 660 and finish in third place both at the event and in the final conference standings. Hope claimed the tournament and regular season MIAA titles after a 318 on Saturday and a two-day score of 643. Olivet was second (328-330--658).

Averill became the eighth golfer in program history to earn MIAA Most Valuable Golfer accolades for posting the lowest adjusted scoring average. The senior also earned All-MIAA First Team honors in addition to her season medalist recognition. Ali Mahoney earned a spot on the All-MIAA Second Team for posting one of the 12-lowest scores in league play this fall.

Averill and Taylor Kehoe each shot rounds of 80 to tie for the fourth-best score on Saturday at Bedford Valley Golf Course. Averill (79-80; t-4th) had 20 pars over the two-day end of season weekend jamboree and turned in three birdies. Kehoe (87-80; 13th) had a pair of birdies combined in the two rounds and added 15 pars.

Courtney Carlson (80-84; t-10th) turned in an 84 in the final round of the fall season. In Friday and Saturday's rounds combined, she had 20 pars and shot even scores on par three holes. Ali Mahoney (79-91; t-15th) and Kaitlyn Cartone (89-91; t-28th) both recorded 91s for the Belles. Mahoney had 15 pars on the weekend for the Belles.

Rachel Kim and Katie Zielinski competed as individuals on the weekend. Kim turned in a 90 on Saturday to match Friday's round and end tied for 28th. Zielinski also had a 90 on Saturday and finished tied for 30th (181).

By finishing in the top four in the conference, the Belles earned a spot in the spring automatic qualifying tournament. The top four teams (Hope, Olivet, Saint Mary's, Trine) will compete in three 18-hole rounds with the winning team earning a spot in the 2016 NCAA Division III Championship tournament.

The Belles' season resumes over spring break in March.