SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Saint Mary's golf team holds a share of seventh place after day one of the Bethel Pilot Invitational at Blackthorn Golf Club.

 

NAIA member Taylor University and Division III No. 14 ranked Illinois Wesleyan share the top spot in the team standings with rounds of 317 on Friday. Carthage, who is ranked No. 23 in the latest Division III poll, is third with a 318. Saint Mary's shot a 334 on day one and is tied with NAIA member Mount Vernon Nazarene. The Belles are just seven strokes behind the fourth spot in the field of 13 teams. Taylor University's Nicole Jung is the individual leader after day one after posting an even-par 72.

 

As a team, Saint Mary's led the field with six birdies on day one.

 

Haley Angel led the Belles with a solid 79 on a windy Friday round as the sophomore is tied for ninth overall after 18 holes of golf. She was tied for the second-most birdies with three as she came in under par on par three No. 8, par four No. 9, and par three No. 16. Angel added six pars and carded just one double bogey on the day. Katherine Hopkins shot an 83 and is tied for 18th overall after round one. Hopkins had a birdie on par three No. 16, was tied for the best par three scoring in round one, and tallied six pars with one double bogey. 

 

Erin Bennett and Sydney Hruskoci each shot rounds of 86 to wrap up the team score as the pair sit in a tie for 32nd overall. Bennett had birdies on par four No. 7 and par five No. 18 and had the team's second-best front-nine score (+4), trailing Angel's +3 on the front nine. Hruskoci had seven pars on the day and closed out her round two-over par in her final seven holes. 

 

Isa Patacsil was the fifth golfer in the Belles' lineup and shot a 90 to hold a share of 53rd place as the junior tallied three pars in the round. Joanna James is competing as an individual and shot a 97 (t-61st) after one round. James carded five pars on Friday.

 

The Belles are set to tee off day two of the Bethel Pilot Invitational at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday.