St. Thomas wins 3rd team title

SMU's Andrea Hanke is among 12 who earn All-MAIC honors

WINONA, Minn. — It was just another day at the office for Saint Mary's University women's golfer Andrea Hanke (Janesville, Minn.).

Only this time, the office just happened to be the biggest tournament of the season — the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships.

To Hanke, however, it really was just another day at the office, as the sophomore just went about her business, shooting rounds of 82-85 for a 167 total that not only was the best of any Cardinal golfer, but was also among the best by any golfer in the conference.

Hanke's 167 total tied her for fourth place overall with defending champion Maureen Hardwick of St. Thomas — and made Hanke just the second SMU golfer to ever earn All-MIAC honors.

Some day at the office.

"Andrea started the season very strong and never wavered," said SMU coach Dan Messmann. "She was a steady No. 1 player for us all year, and she just went about her business again this weekend.

"It was so nice to see her put together solid back-to-back days," continued Messmann, whose sophomore entered Sunday's final round as one of the tournament's co-leaders after her opening-round 82. "To earn all-conference honors is something she deserves and I couldn't be prouder of her."

Or of his team.

The Cardinals finished sixth — their highest conference finish ever — and just missed edging Carleton for the No. 5 spot by two strokes.

St. Thomas, led by meet medalist Katie Glorvigen, earned its third straight MIAC team title, cruising to a 665 team total, 35 strokes better than runner-up St. Benedict's 390. Glorvigen carded a tournament-low four-over-par 77 on Sunday to earn medalist honors with a 162. Teammate Tricia Nelson and Concordia's Katie Taylor — who was the only other golfer to card a round in the 70s with a second-day 79 — shared the No. 2 spot with 163 totals.

Caty Beel (Tucson, Ariz.) chipped in a 98-90 (188) for the Cardinals, while Dani Lynch (Williston, N.D. / 97-95—192) and Emily Nordstrom (Mendota Heights, Minn. / 95-98—193) rounded out SMU's top four.

"We turned the corner two weeks ago and have really been playing well of late," said Messmann. "This was a great way to end the fall season."