Freshmen lead way for Notre Dame girls golf team at Dalhousie

Ten days ago, the Notre Dame girls golf team finished three strokes behind Massac County, Illinois, and tied for third place at the Massac County Invitational in Metropolis, Illinois.

Things played out differently Tuesday as the Bulldogs edged Massac by two strokes to come away with a victory in a three-team match that also included Carterville, Illinois, at Dalhousie Golf Club.

"It's nice to get a win. This is a different course," Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim said about the par-36 front nine. "They play a flat course over there, and this course right here teaches a lot of teams that they're not as good as they think they are."

The Bulldogs finished with a team score of 181, while Massac (183) took second and Carterville (223) placed third.

Dalhousie presents plenty of obstacles even in benign conditions -- a clear sky with temperatures in the upper 60s -- with the navigation of woods, high grass, deep bunkers and undulating greens.

"There are a lot of hazards, and it's a long course. The girls have got to hit the ball pretty well to beat the course," Grim said. "Since it's cooled off, we've played pretty good golf. We came out here for the first time this season, and it was 90 degrees with the heat index in the 100s. This is a lot better weather."

Notre Dame’s Mattie Beussink putts on the fourth hole Tuesday at Dalhousie Golf Club. (Fred Lynch)

Notre Dame freshman Allison Bray earned medalist honors with a 4-over-par 40. Bray double bogeyed No. 3 and bogeyed Nos. 2, 6 and 9, but she was able to pick up a birdie on the 94-yard, par-3 No. 8 to stave off the three golfers who tied for second place.

"We're getting good production from the top, and the girls from the bottom up have kind of taken turns stepping up and helping out," Grim said. "It's really made us more consistent."

Notre Dame freshman Sarah Bell, Carterville's Avery Rea and Massac's Page Ellerbusch each carded 41 to finish a stroke behind Bray.

Grim said he's pleased with the production he's getting from his two leading freshmen.

"They're not used to playing every day," Grim said. "It's been a little bit of a trial. They're actually capable of shooting a lot better than they did."

Mattie Beussink fired a 45 for Notre Dame, while Taylor Ivy had a 55 to round out the Bulldogs' team score.

Notre Dame’s Sarah Bell hits a fairway wood on the seventh hole.

The victory improved Notre Dame to 5-4 on the season.

Grim said he isn't stressing anything in particular to his players.

"I'm just letting them play golf. They've had enough instructions. They love the game, and they work at the game. That's the most important thing right there," Grim said. "I don't shoot fire from my eyes or anything. They just relax and play golf, and hopefully it will help. Right now, with them in school and all that, it's a lot different than their tournaments in the summer, so their scores have [risen] a little bit. ... They've got so many things going on, I don't see how kids make it today."

Sarah Bell hits a fairway shot to the seventh hole for the Notre Dame girls golf team Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014 at Dalhousie Golf Club. (Fred Lynch)

Notre Dame returns to action Thursday at Dalhousie against visiting Farmington.