The 2008-09 year was marked by many highlights in each of Bethel University's 18 varsity sports. Over the course of the summer, we will continue to relive those highlights sport-by-sport. We continue our series with women's golf.
Women's sports at Bethel University have come along way in the last 15 years or so, especially in terms of available opportunities to compete at the varsity level. Dating back to the addition of women's soccer as a varsity sport in 1993, the school has added two other sports in the last 10 years. Women's hockey became a varsity sport during 1999-00 after one year of being a club sport, and most recently, the addition of women's golf gave Bethel an equal number of women's and men's sports for the first time in school history.
When the lady Royals teed off for the first time against Northwestern on September 4, 2008, a new chapter in Bethel athletics began. The Royals went on to defeat Northwestern as well as Saint Mary's in dual meet competition, which all served as practice for the MIAC Championship meet. In that meet, Bethel saved its best for last as the team shot a collective 371 for their lowest round of the season in their inaugural year. The Royals finished the 54-hole MIAC Championship, played at Bunker Hills Golf Course, 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 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.
Hannah Hunstad (Jr., Medina, Minn.) finished in 35th 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."
The Royals are scheduled to begin their second season of play beginning in September.
