Women’s golf: Langer’s 79 helps Comets win round one of MIAA NCAA AQ Tournament

MARSHALL, Mich. – Junior Kirstin Langer shot a season-best 79 to help the Olivet College women's golf team win the first round of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) NCAA Automatic Qualifying Tournament today at The Medalist Golf Club in Marshall.

As a team, the Comets edged Hope College by two strokes, 323-325. Trine (Ind.) University was third with a 343, followed by Saint Mary's (Ind.) College with a 365. Britni Gielow was the tournament medalist with a 76.

Overall, Olivet had three golfers finish in the top five of the individual standings and all five placed in the top 10. Langer placed third with her 79, including a tournament-best three birdies. Juniors Brooke Kastamo and Casey Lamp shared fourth-place with 80s. Kastamo had a 40 on the front and back nines for her 80, while Lamp carded a 41 on the front nine and a 39 on the back nine.

Sophomore Laura Bacso completed her round in 84 strokes, including a 40 on the front nine, to finish in ninth-place. Sophomore Allyson Schultz finished one stroke behind at 85, with a 41 on the back nine, for a 10th-place finish.

Hope hosts the second and third rounds of the tournament next Monday, April 20, and Saturday, April 25, at the Ravines Golf Club in Saugatuck. The school with the lowest cumulative total after the three rounds will receive the MIAA's automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA DIII National Championships.

NOTE: Langer's 79 also tied her career-best, as she also had a 79 in the first round of the 2013 O.C. Labor Day Tee-Off Tournament. Her previous low round this season was an 80 in the second round of the 2014 O.C. Labor Day Tee-Off Tournament. The Comets have advanced to the NCAA DIII National Championships in seven of the last eight seasons, including the last two.