BU claims sixth-straight NSAA title; Pinedo earns medalist honors
EAGLE, Neb. — Behind a complete team performance and an individual title from senior Maria Pinedo, the Bellevue University women's golf team captured its sixth consecutive North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Championship, completing the four-round event on Tuesday afternoon at Woodland Hills Golf Course.
The NSAA Championship was contested across two venues, with the first two rounds played during the fall portion of the season at Crossroads Golf Course in Carrington, N.D., on Sept. 22-23, and the final two rounds held this spring at Woodland Hills.
Bellevue dominated the field, finishing with a 61-over par team total after posting a 27-over 311 on Tuesday. The Bruins won the championship by 65 strokes over second-place Dickinson State University.
Pinedo claimed medalist honors, finishing 9-over par for the tournament. She carded a 10-over 81 in Tuesday's final round, highlighted by eight pars and a birdie to pull away from the field and win by eight strokes.
All five BU golfers placed inside the top seven, earning first-team all-NSAA recognition:
- Tilde-Li Andersson finished third overall at 22-over par, closing with a 6-over 77 that included nine pars and two birdies.
- Aaricia Noel-Traissac placed fifth at 23-over par, tallying a 13-over 84 on the final day with nine pars.
- Ilysia Ibnu secured sixth place at 24-over par, turning in the round of the day with a 2-over 73, featuring four birdies and nine pars.
- Chloe Blandinieres rounded out the top finishers, placing seventh at 25-over par after a 9-over 80 highlighted by 10 pars.
In addition to her individual title, Pinedo was named the NSAA Golfer of the Year. Head coach Craig Marsh earned NSAA Coach of the Year honors for the second-straight season, and Ilysia Ibnu was Bellevue's Champions of Character Award recipient.
The win marks Bellevue's 12th conference championship in program history and secures the Bruins' automatic berth to the NAIA Women's Golf National Championships, set for May 13-16 at Eagle Crest Golf Club in Ypsilanti, Mich.
