May 23, 2013
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Sophomore Irish golfer Ashley Armstrong (Flossmoor, Ill.) is set to tee it up at the Minneapolis Golf Club (St. Louis Park, Minn.) on Tuesday (May 28) for the United States Golf Association’s 36-hole sectional qualifier. The single-day tournament is one of 20 sectional qualifying sites for entry into the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open Championship at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. (June 27-30).
Armstrong will be vying to earn a second consecutive berth in the U.S. Women’s Open Championship field. A year ago, she was a qualifier in 2012 and finished 142nd overall (1,364 entrants) at Blackwolf Run (Kohler, Wisc.) with an 18-over-par 162.
For eligibility, the participant must obtain a handicap at or below a 4.4 on the USGA Handicap Index, or be a registered professional.
“I have taken a few days off to relax,” says Armstrong. “I saw my swing coach last week and he made a few changes (grip and club face adjustment). I need to put in some hard work during the upcoming week. I don’t want to put pressure on myself and want to go into the qualifier with no expectations. This was similar to my outlook last year. Scores near or under par have a good chance of qualifying so my goal is to enjoy the day and take it one hole at a time. Every shot counts.”
Armstrong, a two-time all BIG-EAST recipient (`12, ’13), put together a strong campaign for the Fighting Irish over the course of the 2012-13 season, helping Notre Dame to it’s sixth-straight NCAA Regional appearance and its fifth BIG EAST title.
The sophomore won back-to-back individual victories at the Insperity Lady Jaguar Intercollegiate (March 15-17) and the Briar’s Creek Invitational (March 25-26) for a total of three tournament victories in her young collegiate career. The three medalist honors to date tie Kate Brophy (2002-06) for the most in the history of the program. The one-under-par 215 at Insperity Lady Jaguar was Armstrong’s lowest score fired in a 54-hole tournament during her collegiate career.
Through 10 tournaments, Armstrong posted a 74.64 stroke average, ranking her fourth all-time in Notre Dame’s season stroke average and boosts her to No. 2 in the career stroke average category in the Irish record books. All of Armstrong’s 28 rounds counted towards team scoring aiding to Notre Dame’s overall record of 119-46-1 (.717) and its No. 14 team ranking (Golfstat) at the conclusion of the fall state.
Armstrong also has attained previous experience in USGA sanctioned events as the sophomore tied for 69th place in the 2011 U.S. Women’s Amateur at the Rhode Island Country Club (Barrington, R.I).
Follow UND.com and the women’s golf twitter page (@NDwomensgolf) for updates surrounding the road to the U.S Women’s Open.
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