Complete Women's MIAC Championship Results

COON RAPIDS, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University women's golf team got off to a flying start in the opening round of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships on Saturday, firing an opening-round 367 — and the Cardinals never took their foot off the accelerator.

The Cardinals posted a season-best 354 in the second round, then closed out the three-day tournament with a 363 to help them to a sixth-place finish in the 10-team field — SMU's highest team finish since the 2003 season.

Gia Puch (Des Plaines, Ill.) led the way for the Cardinals on Monday, carding a final-round 85, while Rachel Lamberty (Farmington, Minn.) added an 86 and Dana Kreuser (Maplewood, Minn.) added a 92. Lauren Ulbrich (Rochester, Minn.) and Jenna Mrozinski (North St. Paul, Minn.) added rounds of 100 and 101, respectively, to round out the Cardinals' lineup.

Lamberty sandwiched a pair of 86s around a second-round 84 to finish with a 256 total and a ninth-place individual finish — earning the Cardinal junior All-MIAC honors.

Puch finished a shot behind at 257 (90-82-85) and finished in a tie for 13th, while Mrozinski ended at 289 (97-91-101), followed by Ulbrich (94-97-100—291) and Kreuser (102-99-92—293).

Gustavus had little trouble defending its conference team title, as the Gusties — getting a first-second finish from Katie Schenfeld and Taylor Drenttel — rolled to a 974 (327-323-324) total, 46 strokes better than runner-up St. Olaf. Saint Benedict (347-343-340—1030), Carleton (343-346-351—1040) and St. Thomas (355-358-336—1049) rounded out the top five.

Schenfeld completed the three-day tournament in eight-over-par, opening with back-to-back 73, followed by a final round 78 for her 224 total and 15-stroke victory over Drenttel. Saint Benedict's Kathryn Hauff and Sarah Hupperts finished third and fourth, respectively, with 241 (80-81-81) and 248 (86-82-80) totals, while St. Olaf's Molly Knutson rounded out the top five with a 248 (86-82-80) of her own.