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Kelly Contreras raises the Rattlers' championship trophy at the Heartland Championship.

Women's Golf RattlerAthletics.com

CHAMPS! Women's Golf claims 1st Heartland crown since '04

Contreras, Howarth lead way as Rattlers set sights on regionals

By Chad Peters | St. Mary's Athletics Communications

HORSESHOE BAY, Texas — This was a long time in the making.
 
For the first time since 2004, St. Mary's Women's Golf can call itself Heartland Conference champions following a spectacular showing Tuesday at the Heartland Conference Championship. 

After a wild, rain-soaked tournament that saw the two-round tournament shrink to a single round stretched over two days, coach Chris Massoletti's Rattlers completed the team's stunning turnaround in crowning fashion at the Apple Rock Golf Course. 

Kelly Contreras and Allison Howarth led the way, tying for second place after shooting an even-par 72 to earn spots on the All-Tournament Team. Paige Weiss, a freshman, joined them on the All-Tournament Team after tying for fifth place with a 3-over 75. St. Mary's shot 296 as a team, bettering second-place St. Edward's by eight strokes.

"We've got a great group of girls that push each other," said Massoletti, who along with assistant Thomas Kearney have overseen the team's rapid development. "I guarantee you that they work harder than any other team in the country. I don't have to do anything. They push each other. The hard work and just the fact they're a good team of girls. They want the best for each other."

Though the Heartland Conference champion isn't granted an automatic bid to the regional tournament, St. Mary's stands to earn its first regional appearance in quite some time based on its regional ranking. Allison Howarth competed at regionals as an individual last year, but the Rattlers haven't earned a spot as a team since 2006.

"We have a one-season tournament coming up," Massoletti said. "We're going to go out and hopefully try to win another one."

Tuesday's performance continued the team's hot run this season, where the 301 stroke average it carried entering the tournament was No. 1 all-time for a single season in the school's history, bettering the old mark by 14 strokes. 

It also marked the team's seventh finish of third or better over 11 tournaments this season, and was the second time the Rattlers won a tournament this year, having also won the St. Mary's Lady Rattler Invite on Feb. 16. 

Contreras and freshman Maria Regina Gonzalez — who shot 85 in the tournament — also earned All-Heartland Conference First Team recognition Tuesday for their impressive efforts this season. Contreras and Howarth, sensational as always, each finished two strokes behind the tournament's champion, Ann Parmerter of Dallas Baptist. 

But through it all, not lost on the day was the surging performance of Haley Keller, the team's only senior, who shot 77 to tie for 13th. Keller was hugged by players and parents alike afterward for her massive role in the team's turnaround — not just Tuesday, but over the past three years as the Rattlers began their transformation from middle-of-the-pack to their newfound top-of-the-mountain rank. 

"Haley struggled in the spring," Massoletti said, "but she played well out in Phoenix a couple of weeks ago. Her confidence is up, and that helps everyone. It's a true team environment that everybody is taking care of each other."

Which has helped change the forecast for the champion Rattlers as they prepare for regionals.

"My expectations were minimal," Massoletti said. "Now they're absolutely through the roof."

Stay tuned to RattlerAthletics.com in the coming days for details surrounding the NCAA Division II regional tournament. 
 
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Players Mentioned

Kelly Contreras

Kelly Contreras

5' 0"
Sophomore
Allison Howarth

Allison Howarth

Redshirt Junior
Haley Keller

Haley Keller

Senior
Maria Regina Gonzalez

Maria Regina Gonzalez

Freshman
Paige Weiss

Paige Weiss

5' 6"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kelly Contreras

Kelly Contreras

5' 0"
Sophomore
Allison Howarth

Allison Howarth

Redshirt Junior
Haley Keller

Haley Keller

Senior
Maria Regina Gonzalez

Maria Regina Gonzalez

Freshman
Paige Weiss

Paige Weiss

5' 6"
Freshman

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