Katie Conway fired a three-over par 75 to lead the Irish in the second round of play at the LSU Tiger/Wave Classic.

Irish Fifth After First Round Of Betsy Rawls Invitational

March 17, 2008

AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 20 Notre Dame women’s golf team fired a 317 (+29) during Monday’s first round of the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational at a windy par 72, 6,344-yard The University of Texas Golf Club. The Fighting Irish currently reside in fifth place, 14 shots off the pace established by New Mexico (303), heading into Tuesday’s second round.

Following the 22nd-ranked Lobos in the team standings is No. 5 Florida with a 305. Texas (308), No. 6 Arkansas (311) and the Irish round out the top-five spots of the 18-team field.

Florida’s Ornella Jouven is atop the individual leader board after carding an even-par 72 during Monday’s opening round. Alexandra Phelps of New Mexico is one shot off the pace and in second place.

Notre Dame freshman Katie Conway (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham Wading River) led the Fighting Irish on day one by registering a five-over par 77. Conway is among an eight-way tie for 11th. So-Hyun Park (Seoul, South Korea/Bradenton Prep) is one shot behind her classmate as she posted a 78 and is in a five-way tie for 19th. Conway and Park both notched two birdies during the first 18 holes of play.

Sophomore Annie Brophy (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) shot an eight-over par 80 for the Irish and she is one of 10 golfers currently tied for 33rd. Lisa Maunu (St. Thomas, Ontario/Parkside Collegiate Institute), a junior co-captain, posted an 82, which included a team-best three birdies, and is tied for 52nd. Completing the Notre Dame lineup during the first day of competition was sophomore Kristin Wetzel (Middletown, N.Y./Hilton Head Prep), who recorded an 85. Wetzel is tied for 75th.

Tuesday’s second round of the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational will get underway with morning tee times. The third and final round will take place on Wednesday. Live scoring is available through Golfstat.com and results will be posted daily on www.TexasSports.com. For additional information please log on to und.com or call the Notre Dame athletics hotline at (574) 631-3000.

Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational
The University of Texas Golf Club – Austin, Texas, Par 72, 6,344 yards

Team Scores (18-hole totals): 1. New Mexico 303, 2. Florida 305, 3. Texas 308, 4. Arkansas 311, 5. Notre Dame 317, 6. Nebraska 319, 7t. Oklahoma 320, 7t. Indiana 320, 7t. Iowa State 320, 7t. Missouri 320, 11t. Ohio State 321, 11t. TCU 321, 13. SMU 323, 14. Kansas 325, 15t. Baylor 329, 15t. Kansas State 329, 15t. Wisconsin 329, 18. Texas (B) 331

Top-6 Golfers (of 90): 1. Ornella Jouven (Florida) 72, 2. Alexandra Phelps (New Mexico) 73, 3t. Julia Best (Texas) 74, 3t. Stacy Lewis (Arkansas) 74, 5t. Britney Choy (New Mexico) 75, 5t. Caney Hines (Texas) 75

Notre Dame Scores: 11t. Katie Conway 77, 19t. So-Hyun Park 78, 33t. Annie Brophy 80, 52t. Lisa Maunu 82, 75t. Kristin Wetzel 85