May 29, 2013
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. – Ashley Armstrong (Flossmoor, Ill.), a rising junior on the Notre Dame women’s golf team, participated in one of 20 36-hole U.S. Women’s Open sectional qualifiers Tuesday afternoon (May 28) at the par-72 Minneapolis Golf Club (6,244 yards). Armstrong fired a 164 total (83-81) through the single-day tournament, tying for 24th place in the field of 43.
The Minneapolis Golf Club proved to be a tough venue as just four golfers fired one round at even or under par through the 84 rounds completed.
Ayako Uehara, who ranks No. 84 on the Ladies Professional Golf Association, was the tournament medalist shooting a 146 (76-70). Kirby Dreher finished as the runner-up, earning the second qualifying spot with a 147 (74-73). Lauren Mielbrecht (72-77-149), and Jennifer Ha (80-70-150) each claimed the first and second alternate spots.
The U.S. Women’s Open Championship hails as the oldest women’s major, launching its inaugural year in 1946. The tournament is one of 13 national championships governed by the United States Golf Association (USGA), while also being recognized as one of five LPGA Tour major championships.
Armstrong one of 1,420 entries accepted into the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open Championship, the largest amount of participants ever compiled in the history of the tournament. To be accepted into the open, the participant must be a registered professional golfer or carry a USGA Handicap not exceeding 4.4.
In 2012, Armstrong tied for 142nd at the U.S. Women’s Open on Blackwolf Run in Kohler, Wisc. with an 18-over-par 162.
Armstrong has been a key contributor for the Fighting Irish golf program in her first two seasons. She helped her squad win the 2013 BIG EAST title and earn a six consecutive berth into the NCAA Championship. The 2012 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year was named Golfweek’s National Player of the Week in late March after winning back-to-back crowns at the Insperity Lady Jaguar Intercollegiate (March 15-17) and Briar’s Creek Invitational (March 25-26).
Armstrong currently carries a 3.891 cumulative GPA through four semesters as a chemical engineering major in the College of Engineering and was recently named to the Capital One Academic District V Women’s At-Large first team.
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