Sept. 13, 2013
-THE EVENT
The 30th annual Mary Fossum Invitational, hosted by Michigan State University, Sept. 14-15, Forest Akers West Golf Course, East Lansing, Mich.
-THE LAYOUT
The Forest Akers West Golf Course was redesigned in 1992 by Michigan State alumnus Arthur Hills. Renovations included extending the course’s yardage and adding new bent grass greens, bent grass tees, rye fairway grass and all new bunkers. The par-72, 6,236-yard layout was given a 4.5 star rating in 2009 by Golf Digest.
-HOLT ON THE COURSE
“Our players really like the MSU course. It’s a great test of golf and you need to hit quality golf shots to score well. I think across the board our players are great ball strikers and the course sets up well for our team.”
-36 ON FIRST DAY, 18 THE LAST
The 54-hole stroke play tournament begins with a shotgun start Saturday at 9 a.m. (ET). Players will complete two continuous 18-hole rounds on the tournament’s first day. The third and final round will commence Sunday, with a shotgun start set for 8:30 a.m.
-GEOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE TOURNAMENT FIELD IN EAST LANSING
The 2013 Mary Fossum Invitational features schools from eight different states as a part of its 15-team field. Joining host Michigan State and Notre Dame is Eastern Michigan, East Tennessee State, Ferris State, Florida International, Indiana, Miami (Fla.), Northwestern, Oakland, Ohio State, Oregon, Toledo, ULM and Western Michigan.
-TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Results will be posted on the UND Athletic Department web site (www.UND.com) at the conclusion of play on both Saturday and Sunday. Live tournament results can be found at golfstatresults.com.
-LOOKING AHEAD
Notre Dame travels to Knoxville, Tenn., for the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship on Sept. 20-22 at the Cherokee Country Club.
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame women’s golf team began the 2013-14 season in unique fashion at last week’s IU Fall Kickoff. The Irish, off to their earliest calendar start since head coach Susan Holt’s second season at the helm of the team in 2007, entered five players in the event but did not compete for a cumulative team score, as all Notre Dame golfers played as unattached individuals instead.
The departure from a more traditional tournament start, both in terms of the earlier competition date and overall strategy entering the 36-hole season-opener, is something Holt feels will be an advantage for her team at this weekend’s Mary Fossum Invitational, hosted by Michigan State University, at the Forest Akers West Golf Course in East Lansing, Mich.
“The players have been able to focus on their own games and work on areas that needed to be addressed from last weekend’s play,” Holt said. “I think they have been very productive in their preparations for this weekend’s event.”
Freshman Jordan Ferreira led the way for Notre Dame at the IU Fall Kickoff in Noblesville, Ind., last Sunday, pacing the Irish with rounds of 76 and 73 to finish in a tie for eighth place at 149 (+5). Junior Kelli Oride (150, tie for 13th place), senior Kristina Nhim and sophomore Talia Campbell (each with a 151, tied for 16th place) also finished among the top-20 players and ties, while freshman Janie Fineis earned her first career collegiate start.
Holt was encouraged by the way each of the players responded to the difficult Purgatory Golf Club layout, leading to an Irish quartet placing in the event’s final top 20.
“I think we got one solid round out of each of our players last weekend,” Holt said. “What we need is consistency from round to round. If we can do that, I think we can compete with anyone in the country.
“Jordan got off to a great start in her college career last weekend, she played pretty steady in each of her rounds. Kelli shooting a 71 in the second round was also great to see. If we can get her back to being a consistent contributor this year, that will be great for the team.”
The Irish are no strangers to the Mary Fossum Invitational, now in its 30th season and named in honor of the legendary coach who served at Michigan State from 1973-97. Notre Dame is making its 19th all-time appearance at the tournament and has finished in the event’s top five on six different occasions, including a first-place showing in 2010 (298-295-297-897, +26).
Having a sense of familiarity with the golf course, along with past success in the tournament, are merely two variables for Notre Dame entering the event. The ability to execute at the opportune time, according to Holt, will be the key for the Irish this weekend in East Lansing.
“Our players do feel comfortable on the course and are familiar with how the course is set up, which will be helpful in final preparation,” Holt said. “I think our Friday practice round will be very productive because our players know where the pin placements will likely be, and can get in some quality practice to those locations.”
–ND–
— Tony Jones, Athletic Media Relations Assistant