May 8, 2015
2015 NCAA South Bend Regional Championship Web Site
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — In college golf, the second round often is referred to as “moving day,” as teams look to rise up the standings and move into position for the stretch run on the final day of the tournament.
On Friday, virtually no squad in the 18-team field at the NCAA South Bend Regional made a bigger move up the leaderboard than the University of Notre Dame women’s golf team, as the Fighting Irish climbed three spots into ninth place after carding a five-over par 293 in the second round of the regional, which is being played at Notre Dame’s Warren Golf Course (par 72/6,301 yards).
The Fighting Irish carded the second-lowest single-round score in an NCAA regional in program history, one stroke behind their first-round 292 in the 2013 NCAA East Regional in Auburn, Alabama. Through two rounds of this year’s regional, Notre Dame is at 19-over par 595 (302-293), two shots back of sixth-place Tulane for the final qualification spot to advance to the NCAA Championship.
“I’m very proud of the way the team responded with a really solid round,” Fighting Irish head coach Susan Holt said. “They needed to go out and post a low number to get back into contention and they got the job done. I’ve got a great deal of confidence in this group that they will finish strong and advance to the NCAA finals.”
Despite having to wait three hours late in the afternoon to finish the second round due to lightning in the area, Duke holds the 36-hole lead at the NCAA South Bend Regional at one-over par 577 (288-289), five strokes ahead of Purdue, which posted the low team score of the tournament thus far with a five-under par 283 on Friday, moving up seven spots on the leaderboard.
A pair of Duke players also stand atop the individual ladder through two rounds, with Celine Boutier continuing to remain in front at five-under par 139 (67-72), one stroke ahead of teammate Leona Maguire in the 96-player field. The top three individuals that are not members of an advancing team from the NCAA South Bend Regional will earn a berth into the NCAA Championship.
Notre Dame is led by sophomore Jordan Ferreira (University Place, Wash./Bellarmine Prep), who is tied for 10th place at one-over par 145 (73-72), following Friday’s even-par 72, which matched the third-lowest single-round score in a regional in program history.
Senior Kelli Oride (Lihue, Hawaii/Kauai) added her second consecutive stellar round, rising into a tie for 23rd place at four-over par 148 (75-73). Prior to this week, Oride’s best round in an NCAA regional had been 77, a mark she has topped in both rounds this week.
“The rounds that Jordan and Kelli have posted the first two days have been outstanding,” Holt said. “We have the talent and depth to post a much-needed low number (Saturday).”
Junior all-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) selection Talia Campbell (Dallas, Texas/Ursuline Academy) used three consecutive birdies early on her back nine (the front side of the Warren layout) to move into a tie for 33rd place at six-over par 150 (77-73). Both Oride and Campbell tied the eighth-lowest single-round score by a Fighting Irish player in an NCAA regional, a mark most recently posted by Ferreira in Thursday’s first round.
Senior captain Ashley Armstrong (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) currently is in a 44th-place tie at eight-over par 152 (77-75), while freshman Kari Bellville (Granger, Ind./Penn) shares 66th place at 11-over par 155 (78-77).
“Talia, Ashley and Kari all have played well this week — they just need to have more putts drop,” Holt said. “They’re striking it well off the tee and really it’s just a matter of maintaining that consistency for the entire round. For Talia and Ashley, they’ve started well, but had a stumble or two later. On the other hand, Kari has started slowly, but really come on late and finished very well in both of her rounds. I really think if they can find that consistency (Saturday) — Kari getting off to a good start and Talia and Ashley closing just as strong — all three of them will put some great scores on the board.”
Notre Dame heads back to the Warren Golf Course for the third and final round of the NCAA South Bend Regional at 8 a.m. (ET) Saturday, starting on the No. 1 tee — live scoring will be available through the Golfstat web site.
For more information on the Notre Dame women’s golf program, sign up to follow the Fighting Irish women’s golf Twitter pages (@NDsidMasters or @NDwomensGolf) or register for the Irish ALERT text-messaging system through the “Fan Center” pulldown menu on the front page at UND.com.
NCAA South Bend Regional
May 8, 2015 — Through 36 Holes
Warren Golf Course (par 72/6,301 yards)
Notre Dame, Ind.
TEAM SCORES (36-hole totals): 1. Duke 577 (288-289); 2. Purdue 582 (299-283); 3. Wake Forest 585 (293-292); 4. Arizona 586 (294-292); 5. UC Davis 589 (295-294); 6. Tulane 593 (298-295); 7. (tie) Oklahoma State 594 (296-298) and Harvard 594 (298-296); 9. NOTRE DAME 595 (302-293) ; 10. Kent State 598 (296-302); 11. Louisville 601 (305-296); 12. Kentucky 602 (301-301); 13. Pepperdine 607 (299-308); 14. North Carolina 610 (308-302); 15. Eastern Kentucky 611 (307-304); 16. San Jose State 613 (310-303); 17. Troy 621 (310-311); 18. Youngstown State 633 (311-322).
TOP NINE INDIVIDUALS PLUS NOTRE DAME GOLFERS (of 96): 1. Celine Boutier (DU) 139 (67-72); 2. Leona Maguire (DU) 140 (72-68); 3. Lindsey Weaver (UA) 141 (71-70); 4. *Michaela Fletcher (UM) 142 (73-69); 5. (tie) August Kim (PU) 143 (74-69), Sierra Sims (WF) 143 (74-69) and Marissa Dodd (WF) 143 (70-73); 8. (tie) Isabelle Johansson (UK) 144 (70-74) and Paige Lee (UCD) 144 (71-73); 10. (tie) Jordan Ferreira (ND) 145 (73-72); 23. (tie) Kelli Oride (ND) 148 (75-73); 33. (tie) Talia Campbell (ND) 150 (77-73); 44. (tie) Ashley Armstrong (ND) 152 (77-75); 66. (tie) Kari Bellville (ND) 155 (78-77).
* – competing as individual participant
— Chris Masters, Associate Athletic Media Relations Director