Tigers tie for second in first meet of season

Dani Bellet

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University women’s golf team won its second straight Great Plains Athletic Conference title in May, and Friday it opened the 2010 season with a strong performance at the Northwestern Red Raider Invite.

Dakota Wesleyan, led by Dani Bellet, the two-time defending GPAC Golfer-of-the-Year, tied for second at the Red Raider Invite in Orange City, Iowa. The Tigers shot a 355 and finished two strokes behind Midland Lutheran College, which won the event with a 353. Host-school Northwestern also shot a 355. Morningside College took fourth with a 381 and Iowa Western Community College was fifth with a 384.

Bellet started her junior campaign with a first-place finish – her 10th in the past 11 tournaments dating back to the 2009 fall season. Not counting the NAIA National Tournament, where she fnished tied for 20th and earned Honorable Mention All-American honors, Bellet has won 10 straight tournaments. Friday, Bellet shot a 78 for a six-stroke win. She shot a 36 on the front nine despite 30 mph winds.

Two other Tigers also finished in the top 10. Senior Carly Hayes competed as an individual and took fifth with an 85. Freshman Molly Webster, in her first collegiate golf tournament, tied for sixth with an 89. Freshmen Kamie Roesler and Chelsea Burback tied for 14th with 94s and sophomore Emilie Palo tied for 17th with a 95.

Also golfing individually for DWU were freshman Samantha Mogck, who tied for 17th and sophomore Chelsea Boddicker who carded a 99 and tied for 22nd.

The Tigers are off until Sept. 7 when they travel to Sioux City, Iowa, for the Morningside Invite. The first GPAC Qualifier of the season is Sept. 11 and will be hosted by the Tigers at Lakeview Golf Course.