April 30, 2009
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Irish women’s golfer Becca Huffer (Denver, Colo.) has been named to the 2009 BIG EAST women’s golf Freshman of the Year, it was announced by the BIG EAST Conference on Thursday. Additionally, senior captain Lisa Maunu (St. Thomas, Ontario), junior Annie Brophy (Spokane, Wash.) and sophomore So-Hyun Park (Seoul, South Korea) join Huffer as members of the 2009 All-BIG EAST team.
In previous seasons, the BIG EAST honored an All-Tournament team based on top-10 finishes at the conference championship tournament, but the format was switched to an All-BIG EAST team for the 2009 season. The league’s coaches voted for the Player of the Year, the Freshman of the Year and the Coach of the year, as well as for the All-BIG EAST Team. When the votes were tallied, the Irish comprised four of the 11-player all-conference team.
Huffer most recently finished tied for 11th at the BIG EAST Championship on April 21 in Dade City, Fla. She shot a plus-nine 225. For the season, she boasts a 75.43 stroke average to go along with four top-15 finishes and two under-par rounds.
2009 marks Maunu’s third BIG EAST honor, having earned top-10 finishes in 2007 and 2008 to garner All-conference accolades in those seasons as well. Her medalist finish at the 2009 BIG EAST Championship helped ensure she received the appropriate amount of votes to place her on the 2009 All-BIG EAST team. She earned the individual title by virtue of an impressive back nine on the final day of play that included birdies on five of the last eight holes. For the season, she carries a 76.10 stroke average and has posted a team-high seven under-par rounds.
Brophy, the 2008 BIG EAST medalist, has now earned All-BIG EAST accolades in each of her first three seasons with the Irish. She shot a plus-eight 224 at the 2009 BIG EAST Championship to tie for ninth. She carries a 76.33 stoke average for the 2008-09 season. Her best tournament of the year was a fourth-place finish (out of an 82-player field) achieved on October 19 at the Lady Northern Invitational.
Park, named the program’s first All-American following her freshman campaign, earned her second All-BIG EAST honor in 2009. She finished tied with Brophy for ninth place at the 2009 conference championship. She shot an impressive minus-two 70 in the first round, including a hole in one on the par-3 fourth. She has a team-best 75.40 stroke average through ten events of play.
All told, the Irish have now combined for 23 all-BIG EAST honors since 2003. Noriko Nakazaki, a 2007 Notre Dame graduate, is the program record holder with four all-conference accolades.
The women’s golf team returns to action at the NCAA Central Regional in Columbus, Ohio on May 7-9 at Ohio State’s Scarlet Course. With a top-eight finish at the Central Regional, the Irish would advance to the NCAA Finals for the first time in program history. For more information on the 2009 NCAA Women’s Golf Championship, log onto ncaa.com. To stay up-to-date on the Notre Dame women’s golf team as the NCAA tournament approaches, visit und.com.
BIG EAST Women's Golf Player of the YearCindy LaCrosse, Louisville
BIG EAST Women's Golf Freshman of the YearBecca Huffer, Notre Dame
BIG EAST Women's Golf Coach of the YearKelly Rothberg, Louisville
All-BIG EAST Women's Golf Team*Laura Anderson, LouisvilleAnnie Brophy, Notre DameRenee Cloutier, St. John'sChelsea Curtis, GeorgetownBecca Huffer, Notre DameCarly Hunt, GeorgetownCindy LaCrosse, LouisvilleLisa Maunu, Notre DameSara-Maude Juneau, LouisvilleSo-Hyun Park, Notre DameDaphne Parker, Louisville
* - extra player due to tie in voting