by Eva Dean Folkert
After Monday's MIAA Jamboree, it's as if the reset button was been hit on the season for the Hope College women's golf team.
The Flying Dutch came in as runners-up by one stroke to the Saint Mary's College Belles at Clearbrook Golf Club in Saugatuck, Michigan, and now the two teams are tied for first place in the MIAA standings after four rounds.
Hope shot a team total of 324 while the Belles finished with 323. Calvin University took third place with 337.
After 72 holes of league play, the Flying Dutch and the Belles each have 1,292 strokes while the Knights are a distant third with 1,321.
"I was very happy with our first match here (at Clearbrook)," said head coach Greg Stafford. "We had a very good score; 324 is very respectable. We're right where we want to be."
Even being neck-and-neck with the tenacious Belles?
"Our opponent is always the course," Stafford declared. "We play against the course and then look for results. We're looking forward to the rest of the league season."
Shooting her lowest round of the spring thus far was senior Jordyn Rioux of Farmington, Mich. (Livonia Ladywood HS), pictured, who fired a six-over-par 78.
Sophomore Grace VanDellen (Oxford, Mich. /Lutheran Northwest HS) was Hope's next low scorer with an 81.
Rounding out the rest of the scores for the Flying Dutch was freshman Emlin Munch (Traverse City, Mich./Traverse City Central HS) who carded an 82 while senior Abigail Meder (Lansing, Mich./ Lansing Catholic Central HS) and junior Megan Jenkinson (Traverse City, Mich./ Traverse City West HS) each shot an 83.
The Flying Dutch's next match is Saturday, April 10. The fifth MIAA Jamboree will be hosted by Adrian College at Lenawee Country Club. Tee time is 1 p.m.
