March 22, 2011
STOCKBRIDGE, Ga. – The 25th-ranked University of Notre Dame women’s golf team notched a first-place finish Tuesday at the John Kirk/Panther Intercollegiate in Stockbridge, Ga. The Irish registered a three-round total of 888 (+24) to earn the honor. Junior Becca Huffer (Denver, Colo./Littleton) was the team leader and second-place finisher in the tournament as she carded a 54-hole total of 211 (-5).
Huffer’s second-place notch marked her top-finish this season, as well as her career-best 54-hole total (211). The junior’s previous top score was a 217, which was during the 2008 LSU Classic.
Maryland finished runner-up to the Irish and recorded a 905 (+41), followed by East Tennessee State in third place (906/+42). Both teams improved from a tie in fourth place after the first day of play.
Kristina Nhim (Cypress, Calif./Cypress) improved from a 17th-place tie after the first day to a tie for ninth place. The freshman carded a third-round score of 73 for a total of 223 (+7), which is her second-best performance this season. On October 24, 2010 Nhim recorded a 220 three-round total which is her career best.
Katie Conway (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading) finished tied for 16th place and logged a 54-hole total of 226 (+10) to improve her previous season best of 230 (+14) by four strokes.
So-Hyun Park (Seoul, South Korea/Bradenton Preparatory Academy) rounded out the Irish score with a 25th-place tie. Park stayed consistent as she recorded her second-straight 75 (+3) round. The senior concluded the tournament with a 229 (+13) score.
Nicole Zhang (Calgary, Alberta/Bishop Carroll) was unable to compete in the final round of play.
Competing individually, Katie Allare (Phoenix, Ariz./Xavier Prep) logged a 241 (+25) and a tie for 55th in the two-day event.
The Irish return to action Friday, April 1 at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic at the University of Georgia Golf Course in Athens, Ga.
Top-10 Team Scores:
1. NOTRE DAME (298-293-297-888/+24)
2. Maryland (303-306-296-905/+41)
3. East Tennessee State (299-310-297-906/+42)
4. Daytona State College (302-308-299/909/+45)
5. James Madison (306-297-310-913/+49) 6. Michigan (299-307-310-916/+52)
7. Mississippi State (305-307-305-917/+53)
8. Western Carolina (306-305-308-919/+55)
9. South Florida (302-307-313-922/+58)
T4. Middle Tennessee State (310-304-310-924/+60)
Notre Dame Scores:
2. Becca Huffer (70-71-70-211/-5)
T9. Kristina Nhim (77-73-73-223/+7)
T16. Katie Conway (72-75-79-226/+10)
T25. So-Hyun Park (79-75-75-229/+13)
WD. Nicole Zhang (79-74-153/+8)
–ND-