With a firm foundation built upon a mix of players that came within a few shots of qualifying for the NCAA Tournament last season, the 2008-2009 version of Saint Mary’s golf has their eyes set on a return trip to the national tournament. They also have a keen focus on claiming the MIAA Championships for the first time in two seasons.
Last year’s squad featured just one senior, and with much of that talent returning, this year could shape up into one of the most memorable seasons ever put together by a Belles golf squad.
“Although we are a young team, we proved that we belong among the best teams in the country last year and we are looking to carrying that momentum through to this season,” said seventh year head coach Mark Hamilton.
While the Belles did graduate league MVP Katie O’Brien, there are a host of players who will pick up where she left off.
Emily Gore garnered Second-Team MIAA honors last year and was consistently among the top scorers for Saint Mary’s. A consistent player with rounds in the mid-80’s, she placed among the top five scorers for the Belles in every tournament.
Another sophomore, Rosie O’Connor, put together the second best scoring average on the squad last season. Her 85.95 stroke average placed her in the top 100 golfers among all Division III players. During the spring season, she posted five Top 10 finishes among the seven events Saint Mary’s played in.
The Belles will have to wait until the spring portion of their season to see how Michelle Hird’s second year with the Belles will pan out. Hird, who is studying abroad this fall, could also see her scoring averages improve after posting averages in the low 90’s last season. During their first year as collegiate players last season, the current sophomore class posted one of the best adjusted scoring averages in the nation.
“Katie’s graduation is certainly a loss but with players like Emily and Rosie continually improving their game, we will definitely be able to remain among the top teams in every tournament,” Hamilton said. “The three sophomores are going to be really good collegiate players and that should begin this season.”
The senior class will be made of Perri Hamma and Meredith Fantom. Last year Hamma carded steady rounds in the high 80’s and posted a Top 10 finish during the MIAA playoff’s second round in the spring. Fantom, meanwhile, tallied a 90.38 scoring average for the Belles and produced a top 10 finish in two MIAA events last year.
“We are going to make some noise in the league once again,” Hamilton said. “I really believe that this team will once again be the toast of the league. We are going to have a good mix of leadership and talent that could propel us to a Top 10 national ranking.”
