The Hope College women's golf team is 18 holes away from the eighth Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship in team history and the second in a row.

The Flying Dutch tied for first Friday during the first round of the MIAA's season-ending tournament and extended their overall lead to 24 strokes.

Hope's team score of 325 at Bedford Valley Country Club in Battle Creek put the Flying Dutch 24 strokes ahead of second-place Olivet and 28 up on third-place Saint Mary's after five rounds. Tomorrow's final round tees off at 10 a.m.

Junior Britni Gielow of Norton Shores, Michigan (Mona Shores HS), carded the low round among 53 golfers by shooting a season-best, 3-over-par 75. She took over the lead in the race for seasonal medalist.

Sophomore Megan Klintworth of Jackson, Michigan (Hanover-Horton HS), chipped in a second-place 78. She is third in the individual standings.

Sophomore Nicole Meyer of Brighton, Michigan (Brighton HS), fired an 80 to tie for seventh place. She is fourth in the individual standings.

The Flying Dutch also received a 92 from sophomore Megan Wierenga of Byron Center, Michigan (Grand Rapids South Christian HS), and a 93 from senior Morgan Leep of Hastings, Michigan (South Christian HS).

Hope last repeated as MIAA champion in 1993 when the Flying Dutch completed a stretch of three consecutive league titles.

The top four teams this fall advance to the MIAA's NCAA Division III Championships qualifier. The league champion hosts the final two rounds of the 54-hole, three-day event.

The MIAA standings are as follows:

Hope 1,643

Olivet 1,667

Saint Mary's 1,671

Trine 1,692

Calvin 1,781

Albion 1,788

Alma 1,816

Adrian 1,879