TECUMSEH, Mich. - The Saint Mary's golf team shot a 314 and finished seven strokes behind host Adrian to stay well within striking distance of the Bulldogs heading into the final MIAA NCAA Automatic Qualifier.

 

Adrian posted a 307 to move ahead of Saint Mary's in the cumulative standings as the Bulldogs have a 36-hole total score of 620 to the Belles' 626. Hope shot a 330 and has a 36-hole total of 648. Alma turned in a 356 and has a two-round cumulative score of 702.

 

As a team, the Belles posted 12 birdies on the day - twice as many as Adrian.

 

Erin Bennett and Sara Bevington shared round medalist honors with matching scores of 75. Bennett had an even-par front nine score on her way to a 36-39 round. The senior co-captain circled birdies on par four No. 2, par four No. 5, and par four No. 17. She did not have a score above a bogey and turned in nine pars while leading the field in par four scoring. 

 

Katelyn Tokarz shot a 76 and was tied for third at the conclusion of the round. The sophomore had a round-best four birdies on the day after circling her scores on par four No. 2, par three No. 6, par three No. 13, and par five No. 14. Tokarz went 38-38 in her round with no score above a bogey as she added six pars and led the field in par three scoring.

 

Isa Patacsil carded an 80 and finished eighth. Patacsil tied for the team's best back-nine scoring with a 38 after making the turn. She had birdies on par three No. 13 and par four No. 17. She added eight pars, was two-over on par threes, and one-over on par fives on the day. 

 

Julia Lizak shot an 83 to place eleventh. The freshman had a birdie on par three No. 4 and posted seven pars in the round. Lizak was even on par three holes in the round and finished the day three-over on par five holes.

 

Katherine Hopkins was the fifth golfer in the Belles' lineup and shot an 85 (t-14th). Hopkins circled birdies on par five No. 7 and par four No. 9 while collecting pars on eight holes in the round. The senior finished one-over on par five holes on Friday.

 

The third and final MIAA NCAA Automatic Qualifier round is set to start at 11:00 a.m. at Tecumseh Golf Club on Saturday. The team with the lowest 54-hole cumulative score will receive the conference's bid to the NCAA Championships in May.