MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. - The Saint Mary's golf team posted one of their best scores of the 2021-22 year on the first day of the Washington University in St. Louis Spring Invitational as the Belles shot a 323 on Sunday.

 

No. 19 ranked Illinois Wesleyan leads the field after 18 holes of play as the Titans shot a blistering 290. The host and No. 11 ranked Washington University in St. Louis squad sits in second with a 297. DePauw is in third after a 305. The Belles are in tenth place but are within 12 strokes of the seventh place team in the field heading into day two. The highly competitive field features five top-25 teams and three programs receiving votes in the latest Women's Golf Coaches Association Division III Coaches Poll. 

 

Illinois Wesleyan's Macy Ludwig shot a three-under par 67 to take the early lead into the clubhouse after day one.

 

Erin Bennett led the Belles on day one with a 78 and holds a share of 24th place overall. After starting on No. 17, the junior had a stellar showing on the front nine. Bennett was even after carding seven consecutive pars from No. 2 through No. 8 before completing a 34 on the front with a birdie on the par four No. 9 hole. Katherine Hopkins shot an 80 and is tied for 38th after the first day of competition. Hopkins had seven pars on the back nine to go along with three pars on the front. 

 

Sydney Hruskoci turned in an 82 and is tied for 52nd. The senior opened her round with a birdie on par four No. 15. Hruskoci was two-over on the front nine with five pars and a birdie on par four No. 9. Isa Patacsil wrapped up the team scoring with an 83 and is tied for 54th. She had five pars on the front nine and four pars on the back nine in the round. Haley Angel competed as the fifth player in the Belles' lineup and shot an 84 for a share of 62nd. Angel tallied eight pars on the day.

 

The Belles are scheduled to begin day two of the Washington University in St. Louis Spring Invitational at 9:30 a.m. CDT at the Quarry at Crystal Springs Golf Club.