Oct. 10, 2010
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame women’s golf team finished fifth after carding an even 288 during the final round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship at the Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tenn. Freshman Nicole Zhang (Calgary, Alberta/Bishop Carroll) carded a 72 in the third round, totaling an 216 for par on the weekend.
Tennessee claimed the the Mercedes-Benz Championship crown for the second consecutive year. The Vols compiled a three-day total of 849 (-15), followed by Arkansas (869/+5). Kent State (874/+10) and Mississippi (875/+11) finished in third and fourth, respectively. Natalie Gleadall of Mississippi and Erica Popson of Tennessee tied for first place, totaling a 207 (-9) to capture the Mercedes-Benz tournament record for 54-hole score.
Zhang tied for ninth place, trailed by So-Hyun Park (Seoul, South Korea/ Bradenton (Fla.) Preparatory Academy) who tied for 13th place. The senior carded a final round score of 73 (+1) to place her one-stroke over par in the tournament. Junior Becca Huffer (Denver, Colo./Littleton) tied for 30th place, posting a 70 (-2) on Sunday, besting her first and second round score of 76 by four-strokes.
Kristina Nhim (Cypress, Calif./Cypress) improved her score from the second round by two-strokes. The freshman carded a 73 in the final round of play, compiling a 226 (+10) total. Senior Katie Conway (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) posted a 78, moving her three-day total to 232 (+16) and a 65th place finish. Individual Irish competitor Katie Allare (Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier Prep.) concluded the weekend with a total score of 235 (+19) at the 2010 Mercedes-Benz Championship.
The Irish will compete in the Landfall Tradition Fri. Oct. 22-Sun. Oct. 24 in Wilmington, N.C. at the Country Club of Landfall.
Top-Five Team Scores (54-hole totals)
1. Tennessee (280-284-285-849)
2. Arkansas (291-295-283-869)
3. Kent State (294-294-286-874)
4. Mississippi (291-295-289-875)
5. Notre Dame (295-293-288-876)
Top-Five Individual Scores (54-hole totals):
T1. Natalie Gleadall (Mississippi, 207)
T1. Erica Popson (Tennessee, 207)
3. Martina Gavier (Kent State, 208)
4. Sara Monberg (Tennessee, 209)
5. Paola Valerio (UTSA, 212)
Notre Dame Scores (54-hole totals):
9. Nicole Zhang (73-71-72-216)
13. So-Hyun Park (73-71-73-217)
T3O. Becca Huffer (76-76-70-222)
T42. Kristina Nhim (78-75-72-226)
65. Katie Conway (73-81-78-231)
–ND–