Oct. 6, 2009
GLENVIEW, Ill. –
The Notre Dame women’s golf team shot a final round 301 (+13) at Northwestern’s Windy City Collegiate to, along with the host Wildcats, earn a share of fourth place in a field that included several top-25 ranked teams. Sophomore Becca Huffer (Denver, Colo./Littleton) led the Irish by firing an even-par 72 in the final round of play at The Glen Club.
For the tournament, Huffer carded an even-par 216 to finish in fifth. It marked her best career finish with the Irish as well as her best three round total (even par). She had three birdies on the day, giving her 11 birdies for the tournament.
Senior Annie Brophy (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) finished just behind Huffer, as she tied for sixth with two other golfers. Brophy turned in a final round 75 to put her at one-over par for the tournament (69-73-75-217), with the 217 marking the second best 54-hole score of her Irish career. She also combined with Huffer to give Notre Dame two top-10 finishers at the same regular season tournament for the first time since the 2008 Lady Northern Invitational.
“Becca and Annie are playing really well right now and for them to finish fifth and sixth out of that tough of a field is really impressive,” head coach Susan Holt said.
Junior Katie Conway (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) matched Brophy’s final round 75 to total an 11-over par 227 (75-77-75) for the tournament, as she tied for 35th. As was the case with Huffer and Brophy, all three of Conway’s rounds at the Windy City Collegiate counted towards Notre Dame’s team score.
Junior So-Hyun Park (Seoul, South Korea/Bradenton (FL) Prep) also scored for the Irish in the third round, turning in a seven-over par 79. She totaled a 21-over par 237 (81-77-79) to finish tied for 66th.
Senior Kristin Wetzel (Middletown, N.Y./Hilton Head (SC) Prep School) rounded out the Irish contingent with a final round 85. She also turned in a 21-over par 237 (74-78-85) to finish tied with Park in 66th-place.
“It was a more consistent performance from our whole team, which is what we will need moving forward to the Mercedes Benz Championship, which will be the toughest field we face this fall,” Holt added. “For instance, Kristin’s first round 74 was huge for us yesterday.”
Purdue captured the 2009 Windy City Collegiate by finishing with a minus-four 860, 14 strokes better than second place Tulane. Boilmaker Maude-Aimee LeBlanc turned in a minus-5 211 to claim medalist honors.
The Irish women’s golf season continues at the Mercedes Benz Collegiate Championship in Knoxville, Tenn. The three-day tournament will be hosted by Tennessee on October 16-18.
— ND —