by Eva Dean Folkert
The Hope College women's golf team finished lower than first place for the first time this season after the opening round of the two-day MIAA Fall Finish on Friday.
The Flying Dutch claimed second place with a 325 at Bedford Valley Country Club in Battle Creek, just three strokes back of Saint Mary's College which shot a 322. Adrian College was third (328) and Kalamazoo College took fourth (334).
Hope still maintains a solid lead in the overall standings with 1,621 total strokes after five rounds and a 46-stroke lead over second-place Saint Mary's (1,667). Calvin University stands in third place with 1,670 strokes while Adrian College is fourth with 1,674.
As she has done in three other times in league play for the Flying Dutch, Grace VanDellen led the Hope squad in scoring. The junior from Oxford, Michigan (Lutheran Northwest) fired a seven-over 79. It's the fourth time she's broken 80 this season.
Hope's next three golfers each shot an 82: Senior Megan Jenkinson of Traverse City, Michigan (Traverse City West), sophomore Emlin Munch of Traverse City (Traverse City Central), and senior Megan Radaz of Alma, Michigan (Alma).
Rounding out the Flying Dutch starting lineup, sophomore Abby Fansler of Muskegon, Michigan (Reeths-Puffer) finished with an 84.
Playing as an individual, junior Rita Cheney of Mason, Michigan (Mason) carded an 87.
The 2021 MIAA Fall Finish concludes tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 9 at Bedford Valley. Tee time is 10 a.m.
