Plourde’s 73 helps women’s golf team win MIAA playoff round #1

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Led by senior Adrienne Plourde's (Livonia/Redford Thurston) course-record 73, the Olivet College women's golf team won the first of three Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) playoff rounds today at the Blackthorn Golf Course in South Bend, Ind. The school with the lowest cumulative total after the three rounds will receive the league's automatic bid to the 2014 NCAA Division III National Championships May 13-16 in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.

Plourde's 73 allowed the Comets to edge Saint Mary's (Ind.) College by four strokes, 325-329. Trine (Ind.) University was third with a 359, followed by Calvin College at 374. Overall, four of Olivet's starting five golfers finished in the top 10, with two individual scorers also placing in the top 10.

Starting on the fifth hole, Plourde was one-under par when she made the turn at the 18th hole. She had birdies on three holes (No. 10, No. 16 and No. 18). Plourde finished her round by posting bogies on holes two and three.

Seniors Theresa Damico (White Lake/Lakeland) and Ashley Stark (Grass Lake) both carded an 83 to tie for fourth-place. Sophomore Brooke Kastamo (Hartland) shared ninth-place in the player standings with an 86. Sophomore Casey Lamp (Kalamazoo/Hackett Catholic) completed her round in 91 strokes.

Sophomore Kirstin Langer (Battle Creek/Pennfield) and freshman Laura Bacso (Trenton) were the individual scorers. Langer was seventh with an 85, while Bacso tied for ninth with an 86.

Olivet will host the final two rounds Saturday and Monday, April 26 and 28, at The Medalist Golf Club in Marshall. Both rounds will have tee times starting at 12:30 p.m.