Results

COON RAPIDS, Minn. - Bethel saved its best for last today as the women's golf team shot a collective 371 for the lowest round of the season in its inaugural year. The Royals finished the 54-hole Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Championship in ninth place - 53 strokes ahead of Augsburg, and just 14 strokes back of Saint Mary's.

Paige Lemieux (Fr., Fargo, N.D.) improved continuously throughout the three rounds at the par-72, 5,800-yard Bunker Hills Golf Course to finish in a tie for 18th place with a 264 (91-88-85) as Bethel's lowest scorer. Her 85 in today's round is also a collegiate personal best.

"I knew I could play better than what I scored on Friday," said Lemieux. "It helped that we played at the same place three days in a row so I could get a better idea of how to manage the course. I just need to work on cutting down my shots around the green and really focus on sinking putts."

Hannah Hunstad (Jr., Medina, Minn.) finished in 35th place with a 279 (94-96-89) as Bethel's second lowest scorer.  Bree Eastlack (Sr., Rockford, Minn.) also posted steadily better numbers to finish at 291 (100-97-94), while Katie Mickelson (Sr., Foreston, Minn.) tallied a 309 (100-106-103) for her three rounds.

"I'm proud of the way things turned out for us," said head coach Joel Johnson. "We have room for improvement, but this year set the bar for us. Our goal is to continue to set that bar higher, and with the right blend of talent, I have no doubt we'll do so. I'm already looking forward to next year."

Today's round concludes the fall season of Bethel golf. Weather and schedule permitting, the Royals will return for a number of tournaments in the spring.