On the links, the Hope College women's golf team has become a perennial title contender in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

The Flying Dutch's MIAA championship last fall marked the eighth consecutive season they finished either first or second in the league standings.

"We're very proud of that record. We take it to heart," head coach Greg Stafford said. "We're working every day to keep that up."

Hope begins its quest to repeat as MIAA champion this week with three different 18-hole events. This afternoon, the Flying Dutch host Calvin University for a 2:30 p.m. stroke-play match at Clearbrook Golf Club in Saugatuck.

The MIAA regular-season title will be determined this fall over six rounds and 108 holes. The first MIAA Jamboree is hosted by Saint Mary's College on Wednesday, September 14, at 1 p.m. at Knollwood Country Club in Granger, Indiana.

The fall season closes with the 36-hole Fall Finish at Bedford Valley Country Club in Battle Creek.

The MIAA's fall champion hosts the final two rounds of next spring's NCAA Division III Championship qualifier.

2022 Schedule

This is Stafford's 14th season as head coach. He has guided Hope with four MIAA championships and three NCAA Division III Championship appearances. The Flying Dutch have finished third or higher in each season he has coached.

Read more about head coach Greg Stafford.

The Flying Dutch field a team of 14 golfers, including six returning letterwinners. There are two seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and six freshmen.

Senior Grace VanDellen (Oxford, Michigan / Lutheran Northwest) was the MIAA season medalist and Most Valuable Golfer last fall. Junior Emlin Munch (Traverse City, Michigan / Central) also returns after claiming All-MIAA Second Team honors last season.

2022-23 Roster

VanDellen averaged 78.17 during MIAA play last fall and earned the season medalist honors by two strokes. The mechanical engineering major also helped the Flying Dutch win the fall title by 53 strokes. VanDellen also receive College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District honors as a junior.

Munch, a global French studies and music performance major, finished ninth in the MIAA and third on Hope's lineup at 81.17 strokes during league play.

Other returning letterwinners are: senior biology major Rita Cheney (Mason, Michigan / Mason), junior mechanical engineering major Abby Fansler (Muskegon, Michigan / Reeths-Puffer), junior psychology major Abby Derocher (Farmington, Michigan / Farmington North), sophomore Lauren Sass (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan / Marian), and sophomore Sarah Owens (Charlotte, Michigan / Charlotte).

"Our top five are very competitive. They all fight for their scores," Stafford said. "I think we're going to be competitive this year. Right now there is a big difference between the top five and the rest. I think they're good golfers. We're young, which is good. They'll improve as the season goes on."