EUREKA, Mo. - The Saint Mary's golf team shot a 315 and moved up to take fourth place at the Washington University in St. Louis Spring Invitational.

 

Host and No. 4 ranked Washington University in St. Louis won the tournament after Sunday's round of 299 gave the Bears a 605 for the weekend. Illinois Wesleyan, who is tied for 15th in the latest national poll, took second after a 302 gave the Titans a two-day score of 616. No. 11 St. Catherine was third (629). The Belles ended the tournament with a two-day score of 643 to edge No. 24 ranked Grinnell  by two strokes to take fourth place in a field with six nationally-ranked programs. 

 

As a team, the Belles did not record a single hole score above a double bogey on the day in their 126 holes played collectively on Sunday.

Sydney Kuo from Washington University in St. Louis posted her second-consecutive even-par 72 to win the individual title.

 

Katherine Hopkins led the Belles with a 77 on day two and moved up eleven places to tie for 19th individually (161). The senior had a birdie on par four No. 14 before finishing her round with a birdie on par four No. 5. Hopkins added eleven pars in the round and went 38-39. 

 

Erin Bennett shot a 78 and moved up nine spots to tie for 26th (163). Bennett did not have a score above a bogey while going 39-39. She added a birdie on par four No. 18 before rattling off five consecutive pars. Bennett ended the tournament in the top 22 players in total pars with 18.

 

Julia Lizak turned in a 79 and climbed two spots on the leaderboard to tie for 15th (160). Lizak also did not post a score on any hole above a bogey, had a birdie on par five No. 16, and tallied nine pars. The freshman finished the tournament even on par three holes, which was tied for the fifth-best effort on short-length holes.

 

Katelyn Tokarz posted an 81 and also tied for 15th (160). Like Bennett and Lizak, Tokarz did not card a score above a bogey while circling a birdie on par five No. 11.  She posted seven pars on Sunday, and her 19 total pars put her among the top 20 in the field and was one-over on par five holes for the weekend. 

 

Isa Patacsil rounded out the top five for the Belles with an 84 and tied for 37th (168). The senior had nine pars on the day.

 

Joanna James and Breana Harrington each competed as individuals at the tournament. James shot an 82 and moved up four spots to tie for 41st (170). The sophomore had the best front-nine score among all Saint Mary's players (+1) with a birdie on par three No. 3. James added nine total pars. Harrington carded an 87 to tie for 60th (180). The freshman posted six pars on the day.

 

The Belles now have their sights set on the MIAA NCAA Automatic Qualifying rounds. Saint Mary's hosts the first of three 18-hole rounds on Tuesday, April 11 at Elbel Park Golf Course in South Bend starting at 1:00 p.m.