The Limestone Saints had an outstanding season, but fell short of playing for a national championship.

The team lost in their quarter-final match after leading the stroke play portion and earning the top-seed at the NCAA Division II championship at the TPC Michigan. It was the second time the Saint’s season ended in the first round of match play.

Division II uses a match-medal play format to determine its champion. The Saints were eliminated from the tournament by Grand Valley State 3-2.

The match-medal format is unique to the DII tournament making sure every match plays a full 18 holes. It is not used in the Division I Championships or any major conference championship.

Each match is scored by the cumulative number of strokes won by a golfer rather than the number of holes won. Up 3 means that the player is up 3 strokes, not 3 holes.  The player up by the most strokes after 18 holes wins the match.

Using this format, a golfer could win more holes, as in match play, but have one bad hole posting a big number and could lose the match.

Limestone golfers Ebba Hellman and Taylor Oberparleiter won their matches.

Hellman, who finished in a tie for sixth place in medal play was named a DII All-American.

While disappointed with the way the season ended Limestone coach Chad Seifert saw his team have an exceptional season.

“This year’s group was a special team with a lot of special people,” said Seifert.” Such an incredible year and really proud of all they accomplished,” he added.

The Saints won six regular season tournaments and finished as the #1 team in the stroke play portion of the DII championship.

The Saints were led by three seniors. All-American Hellman, Lena Schilowsky and Pilar Martinez.

Martinez ended her Limestone career with a top-10 finish at the national championship and two Player of the Year awards, one in Conference Carolinas and won in the South Atlantic Conference.

“Pilar is the absolute funniest person I’ve ever coached. Incredible person, incredible player, incredible career. I will always have a special place in my heart for her and am proud that I had the opportunity to coach her,” said the Limestone coach.

In addition to the South Atlantic Conference championship the Saints won 6-tournaments during the regular season and Limestone golfers earned 3-individual championships..