April 3, 2013
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The 23rd ranked University of Notre Dame women’s golf team (97-25-0) will participate in its final 2012-13 regular-season tournament this weekend (April 5-7) as it travels to Dallas, Texas for the 54-hole SMU Dallas Athletic Club Invitational at the Dallas Athletic Club. The three-day contest will tee off at 9:00 a.m. (EST) Friday and conclude on Sunday with a 9:30 a.m. (EST) shotgun.
FORMAT: The tournament will be held within a three-day period, playing 18 holes each day. Participants will tee off from holes one and 10 on the first two days. A shotgun start will be administrated on the final day.
Live Scoring: Hole-by-hole scoring will be updated every three holes throughout the three-day span at the link provided. Scores will be sent via text message at the conclusion of each day for individuals who have signed up for “Irish Alerts.” Fans can additionally track the team via Twitter by following @NDwomensGolf.
http://www.golfstatresults.com/public/index.cfm?tournament_id=4194
TEAMS (15): Denver, Kansas State, Louisville, Marshall, Missouri State, Nebraska, North Texas, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, SMU, UTSA, Wisconsin
“Once again this weekend we are facing some great competition,” says head coach Susan Holt. “Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are teams we have seen multiple times this season and have yet to beat. I know the team is looking forward to getting another chance to come out on top against these teams in particular.”
“Our focus really needs to be on ourselves and doing what we need to do in order to continue to improve on our own games,” says Holt. “If we can do that the rest will take care of itself. It’s not so much about beating other teams at this point. It’s about not beating ourselves. We can do this by staying focused and motivated throughout each round we play and trying to beat the course. The team(s) and player(s) that can do this will be the one(s) that contend on the final day.”
THE COURSE: The Dallas Athletic Club will serve as the host venue. The total yardage will read 6,301 yards on the first two days and 6,359 yards on the third day. Hole five (par 4) will play 364 yards on the opening two days and will increase to 422 yards on the final day. The course has been given a 76.2 course rating and a 149 slope rating by the United States Golf Association.
BREAKING DOWN THE FIELD: The Irish hold a 13-6 record against the teams in the field. Notre Dame will get their first look at BIG EAST foe, Louisville, this season and look to improve on its 4-0 conference record this year. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are the only teams the Irish have not beaten in tournament play when given the opportunity. Marshall, Missouri State, North Texas and Oregon State all will match up against Notre Dame for the first time this season. Notre Dame holds a 17-4 record against the Big Ten this season and will look to add to that mark as they face Wisconsin (3-0) and Ohio State (3-0) for the fourth time this season. The Irish are additionally 1-1 against host SMU and hold a 2-0 record over UTSA and Kansas State.
Oklahoma State’s Kelsey Vines enters the weekend as the highest ranked golfer in the field at No. 2 nationally on Golfstat.com’s list. Chirapat Jao-Javanil from Oklahoma ranks No. 15 followed by Irish freshman Lindsey Weaver, who enters at No. 18 to round out the top-25 golfers in the country represented in the contest.
LAST TIME OUT: Last weekend the Irish captured their first tournament title of the season with a winning score of 42-over-par 906 (317-300-289) at the Briar’s Creek Invitational in John’s Island’s, S.C. Ashley Armstrong led the way, claiming medalist honors after carding a one-over-par 217 (74-71-72), capturing her second-consecutive tournament title. Notre Dame defeated a total of 17 teams, including BIG EAST foe Georgetown. Armstrong surpassed 95 competitors. The sophomore earned BIG EAST Women’s Golf Player of the Week and Golfweek’s National Player of the Week honors for her efforts.
“Coming off a win in our last tournament has our confidence high right now, which is huge at this point in the season,” says Holt. “We are getting great rounds from everyone and that is great to see. We have the depth needed to post four good scores each day, we just have to execute and get it done.”
HOMETOWN HERO: Freshman Talia Campbell (Dallas, TX/Ursuline Academy of Dallas Prep) returns to the area for the first-time this season in competitive play and will look to have a successful homecoming this weekend. The Irish rookie has notably finished in the top-25 on five occasions and the top-10 on three occasions.
“Talia played this course last summer so her local knowledge of the course should benefit her and the team during the practice round for sure,” says Holt. “Just having some insight on the course is always helpful. I try to get close to home for our players when I can and this is the first time SMU has hosted in awhile so it worked out great this year.”
STROKE AVERAGE: Notre Dame is still in the running to ledger the best team stroke average within in a full season in program history as they currently carry a 298.00. The top team stroke average to date was set by the 2010-11 team after finishing the season with a 299.70.
ON A RUN: The Irish have placed fifth or better as a team the last three tournaments within a minimal field of 16 teams and have had three golfers finish in the top-25 through each of those tournaments. Notre Dame also tied its best round of the season during the third round of the most recent outing.
NEXT STOP: The Irish will take a one-week break before competing next at the BIG EAST Championship, April 21-23, in Orlando, Fla., at the Reunion Resort and Golf Club.
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