NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame freshman golfer Lindsey Weaver (Scottsdale, Ariz.) was selected as the 2013 BIG EAST Player of the Year and unanimously chosen as the Freshman of the Year by the conference’s eight head coaches the league office announced Thursday evening. In addition, Irish head coach Susan Holt was named the BIG EAST Coach of Year for the third time in her tenure (2008, 2011, ’13) at Notre Dame. Freshman Talia Campbell (Dallas, Texas) and sophomore Ashley Armstrong (Flossmoor, Ill.) join Weaver on the all-BIG EAST team as unanimous selections.
“Both honors achieved by Lindsey (Weaver) warrant the success she has had this season,” says Holt. “I am very proud of Lindsey and all of the golfers on the roster this year. It truly has been a team effort. Talia (Campbell) and Ashley (Armstrong) are also very deserving of their conference accolades.”
Holt, currently in her seventh year, has coached five BIG EAST Championship medalists and helped the Irish place third or better at the league tournament since 2007. Furthermore, under Holt’s watch, the Irish have had 17 different golfers earn all-BIG EAST honors.
The 2012-13 season marks the first time in the history of the program an Irish golfer has been named the Player of the Year since the program first began in 1988. Weaver becomes the first golfer in the history of the conference to be named both Player and Freshman of the Year in a single season.
Weaver, the No. 16 player in the nation, is the second-straight Irish golfer to be chosen as the Freshman of the Year with Armstrong earning the accolade last season. It is also the seventh-straight year that Notre Dame has had at least three golfers named to the all-BIG EAST team.
Weaver has finished 10th or better in eight of the 10 tournaments played during her first season. The freshman has finished four tournaments under par and accumulated a total of 14 even or under par rounds in 25 rounds played.
The 2012-13 Irish all-BIG EAST team trio earned their league citation as they chase multiple school records.
Armstrong is ranked second in career stroke average (minimum 35 rounds) for Notre Dame with a 74.98 average and is third in the lowest rounds (relative to par) with a five-under 67. Armstrong is tied with Katie Brophy (2002-06) as the program’s record holder in medalist honors with three, attaining two tournament victories this season.
Campbell is ranked third in the Notre Dame record books in season stroke average (minimum 20 rounds) with a 74.54 average. The freshman is tied for seventh for the lowest round (relative to par) fired with a three-under 69. Campbell is tied for second with Weaver and Lisa Maunu (2007-08) for the lowest 54-hole tournament score, carding a six-under-par 210 at the 2013 BIG EAST Championship.
Weaver leads all Irish golfers in the history of the program with the lowest season stroke average (minimum 20 rounds) with a 72.56.
Holt and the No. 26 Fighting Irish captured the program’s fifth BIG EAST title April 23 at Reunion Resort and Golf Club’s par-72 Tom Watson Course (6,124 yards), firing a three-day total of a six-under-par 861 (294-285-282) through 54 holes.
The 54-hole total stands as the best team score for the Irish in the BIG EAST Championship in the history of the tournament and as the program’s second best score.
Weaver and Campbell each fired six-under par totals of 210 to share medalist honors. The six-under par mark was the lowest 54-hole total in the history of the BIG EAST women’s championship. Armstrong tied for fifth at the conference championship carding a three-over-par 219 (77-72-70) for the 54-hole tournament.
The Irish earned their automatic bid in the NCAA East Regional after capturing the conference championship. Notre Dame will play as the No. 9 seed in the region of 24 teams and in a pool of 72 teams spread throughout three regions. The Irish are set to tee off in the school’s sixth-straight team entry (eighth overall) into the NCAA Regional May 9-11 at Auburn University Club (Auburn, Ala.). Follow UND.com for all the coverage surrounding the NCAA Championship tournament.
2012-13 BIG EAST AWARDS
Susan Holt BIG EAST Coach of the Year
Lindsey Weaver BIG EAST Women’s Golf Player of the Year
Lindsey Weaver BIG EAST Freshman of the Year*
Lindsey Weaver BIG EAST Championship Co-medalist
Talia Campbell BIG EAST Championship Co-medalist
Talia Campbell All-BIG EAST Women’s Golf Team*
Lindsey Weaver All-BIG EAST Women’s Golf Team*
Ashley Armstrong All-BIG EAST Women’s Golf Team*
Lindsey Weaver BIG EAST Women’s Golf Player of the Month (Oct.)
Ashley Armstrong BIG EAST Women’s Golf Player of the Week (March 28)
Ashley Armstrong BIG EAST Women’s Golf Player of the Week (March 21)
Lindsey Weaver BIG EAST Women’s Golf Player of the Week (March 14)
* unanimous selection