Katie Allare made her irish debut in the first round of the Bettie Lou Evans Invitational.

Irish Women's Golf In Sixth At The Bettie Lou Evans Invitational

Sept. 25, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Irish women’s golf team carded a 16-over par 304 in first round play at the Bettie Lou Evans Invitational, which is being played on the University of Kentucky’s Big Blue Course at the UK Golf Club. Senior Annie Brophy (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) led the Irish with a plus two 74, tying for fifth after one round of play.

Brophy, a three time all-BIG EAST selection, had an eventful day that included two birdies, a bogey and a double to go along with 14 pars. She closed out her round by playing the final five holes at a minus-one clip.

After a tough scoring day on which only one player in the 80-person field broke par, Brophy trails Florida State’s Macarena Silva, the 18-hole leader with a minus-two 70, by four strokes. As a team, the Irish trail the leaders from Florida State (+10/298) by just six strokes.

Notre Dame junior So-Hyun Park (Seoul, South Korea/Bradenton Prep) had an up and down day for the Irish, turning in a solid plus-three 75 to land in a tie for 13th. Park, a two time all-BIG EAST selection, carded a 35 (-1) on the front nine but she was four over par on the back nine. Her day included birdies on the eighth and 15th holes.

Sophomore Becca Huffer (Denver, Colo./Littleton) and junior Katie Conway (Wading River, N.Y.) also scored for Notre Dame. Huffer carded a four-over par 76. She had back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th but was hurt by six bogeys on the day. Conway shot a seven-over par 79 that included closing birdies (holes nine and 18) on the front and back nines. Huffer and Conway are tied for 20th and 48th, respectively.

Also playing as a member of the starting five, senior Kristin Wetzel (Middletown, N.Y./Hilton Head Prep) shot a 13-over par 85.

Senior Julie Kim (Bayside, N.Y./Bayside) and sophomore Katie Allare (Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier Prep) participated as individuals, giving Notre Dame seven total players at the event. Allare fired a seven-over par 79 in her Irish debut, placing her in a tie for 48th. Kim registered a nine-over par 81.

The Bettie Lou Evans Invitational continues tomorrow, with tee times starting at 8:30 a.m. A recap of all the second round action will be posted on UND.com, while live hole-by-hole scoring of the Bettie Lou Evans Invitational is available through Golfstat (to access the site go to http://www.golfstatresults.com).

The Bettie Lou Evans Invitational – The UK Golf Club

Top-Five Team Scores (18-hole totals): 1. Florida State (298); t2. UCF (301); t2. Coastal Carolina (301); 4. Texas State 302); 5. Chattanooga (303).

Top-Five Golfers (18-hole scores): 1. Macarena Silva (Florida State/70); t2. Victoria Tomko (UCF/72); t2. Valdis Jonsdottir (Texas State/72); Emma de Goot (Chattanooga/72); t5. Annie Brophy (Notre Dame/74); t5. seven others

Notre Dame Scores (18-hole totals): t5. Annie Brophy (74); t13. So-Hyun Park (75); t20. Becca Huffer (76); t48. Katie Conway (79); t73. Kristin Wetzel (86); t48. Katie Allare (I/79); t58. Julie Kim (I/81).

— ND —