CRESCENT, Mo. – The Trine University Women's Golf team opened the spring portion of their season with a strong seventh place showing in a weather shortened WashU Spring Invite. Rylee Smith placed seventh for the Thunder.
 
In a field littered with seven nationally ranked teams, Trine toppled two. They beat #36 Saint Mary's by four strokes and #50 Rose-Hulman by 16 shots. The Thunder shot a 313. Four of the six teams finishing ahead of Trine are ranked nationally. #31 Grinnell and #42 Wisconsin-Stout tied for the team crown, #18 Illinois Wesleyan was third, #3 Washington (Mo.) was fourth, and IWU's B team was fifth. Dubuque took sixth.
 
Smith carded four birdies and six pars for a three over 74. She started on hole #5 with a par, pars on six, eight, and ten were part of a strong start. Back-to-back birdies on the par three eleventh and twelfth got Smith back to level par. She added another on 16 and carded out the back nine even. A birdie on the par four first was her final one of the round.
 
Grace Dubec took 22^nd with a six over 77. She started on hole four and notched back-to-back birdies on seven and eight, she finished the front half at level par.
 
Natalie Kulka was 33^rd with a 79 that included 10 pars and six of those 10 coming consecutively.
 
Grace Thiele took 52^nd with an 83, she notched two birdies on nine and 15, and five pars.
 
Trine had three others compete individually. Brooke Anderson took 28^th with a 78, Bailey Bravata shot an 86 for 71^st and Kayleigh Aguliaro was 74^th with an 87.