The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) women's golf team began the 2018 spring season with a seventh-place finish in the Rockhurst Golf Tournament March 26 and 27 at Wichita, Kan.
The Bears turned in 18-hole scores of 376 and 381 for a 36-hole total of 757. William Jewell College (WJC) took the team championship with a score of 657 and WJC's Alex Trask won individual medalist honors with rounds of 79 and 74 for a 36-hole score of 153.
DMACC was led by sophomore Jamie Bellingham of Auckland, New Zealand, who posted rounds of 86 and 81 for a 167 total, tying for 12th place.
Other DMACC results included a 190 by sophomore Kortney Orr of Columbus Junction, a 196 by freshman Alison Schweers of Carroll and a 204 by freshman Kylie Nichols of Ogden. Orr shot rounds of 90 and 100 to finish in 32nd place, Schweers turned in two rounds of 98 to finish in 36th place and Nichols finished 38th on identical rounds of 102.
"We're very excited about our outlook for the spring season," DMACC women's golf coach Chris Seaboch said. "We've got our first-ever returning All-American leading the team and that in itself is exciting to see what Jaime Bellingham can do going forward."
Seaboch said his team made great strides during the fall season and the goal is to keep improving during the spring season.
"Kortney Orr had some really good scores in the fall and our freshmen put a lot of good work in during the fall and we're gearing them up for the spring season," Seaboch said.
Seaboch pointed out that inclement weather has prevented his team from doing much practicing or playing outside and that the Rockhurst tournament was the women's first real experience outside this spring.
"We were able to get outside for a couple of days last week and a couple of days the week before, but we haven't been able to string three, four or five days together so it has made for a little bit of a challenge for us," Seaboch said. "At the same time, all the other teams are in the same boat as we are."
Seaboch said he saw some good things from his team in the Rockhurst tournament, but also saw some things that the players need to work on.
"You could tell we haven't been outside and gotten to play much so when we have been practicing it's really just been on the driving range or putting green and not really playing," Seaboch said. "We did see some good things and we just need to keep working as best we can."
The DMACC women's golf team will play in the DMACC Invitational April 4 at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny.