Belles Claim MIAA Automatic Qualifier to NCAA Championship in Commanding Fashion
Saint Mary's Stories
- The Belles won the MIAA NCAA Automatic Qualifying bid by 79 strokes over the field.
- Hunter Kehoe was the medalist of the round with a four-over par 76 on Saturday.
- Taylor Kehoe (78), Summer Stillson (81), and Kelsey Conkright (92) wrapped up the team's 327.
GRANGER, Ind. - The Saint Mary's golf team finished 37 strokes ahead of second place Hope in the final MIAA NCAA Automatic Qualifier playoff round to secure the league's bid to the 2018 NCAA Division III Championships in May.
The Belles posted a team score of 327 on Saturday at Knollwood Country Club's West Course. Hope placed second in the round with a 364. Alma placed third with a 375, and Olivet was fourth with a 377. The three-round cumulative totals for each team were Saint Mary's - 972; Hope - 1,051; Olivet - 1,060; and Alma - 1,090.
Hunter Kehoe was the medalist of the round with a four-over par 76 on Saturday. She had a round-best nine pars and added three birdies while leading the field in both par three and par four scoring. Taylor Kehoe was second overall after turning in a 78 as she had a round-high four birdies to go along with four pars.
Summer Stillson placed third overall with a score of 81. The freshman tallied two birdies, eight pars, and led the field in par five scoring on the day with an even score. Kelsey Conkright wrapped up the team score with a 92 to tie for eighth place overall. She had five pars and was two-over on par three holes for the round.
Courtney Quinlan posted a 95 as the fifth golfer in the lineup for the Belles. Quinlan had three pars on the day and was tied for the ninth-lowest scoring on par five holes.
The Belles now will compete in the 2018 NCAA Division III Golf Championship tournament, which runs from May 8-11 at the Mission Inn Resort & Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida. It is the eighth time the Saint Mary's golf team has earned a berth into the Division III Championship tournament. It is the first since berth 2012 and the first for head coach Kim Moore.