Lisa Maunu returns as the Irish team captain in 2008-09.   Maunu and the Irish begin the 2008-09 season at the Cougar Classic in Charleston, S.C., where she shot a school-record -6 (210) to capture the first tournament title of her career in 2007.

Notre Dame 12th After First Round Of Central Regional

May 8, 2008

AUSTIN, Texas – A 14-over par 302 has the No. 25 Notre Dame women’s golf team in 12th place after the first round of the NCAA Central Regional at the par 72, 6,301-yard The University of Texas Golf Club on Thursday. Third-ranked UCLA leads the 21-team field with a five-under par 283.

Following the three-round event, the top eight teams and top-two individuals on non-qualifying teams will advance to the NCAA Finals. Notre Dame is currently three shots away from the cut heading into Friday’s second round. The tournament will conclude on Saturday.

TCU is two shots in back of UCLA, while Purdue (288), Denver (292) and Nebraska (294) round out the top five. Texas A&M (295), Florida State (298) and Texas (299) are also currently above the cut line.

UCLA’s Maria Jose Uribe is the individual leader after carding a seven-under par 65. Maria Hernandez from Purdue is one shot off the pace, while TCU’s Valentine Derrey is currently third with a 67.

Junior Lisa Maunu (St. Thomas, Ontario/Parkside Collegiate Institute) is among a 12-way tie for 18th place after leading Notre Dame on the day with a one-over par 73. That total matched her top round of the spring season. Irish freshman So-Hyun Park (Seoul, South Korea/Bradenton Prep) shot a two-over par 74 and is in a nine-way tie at 30th.

Notre Dame sophomore Kristin Wetzel (Middletown, N.Y./Hilton Head Prep) registered a four-over par 76 and is currently tied at 47th with nine other golfers. Her freshman teammate Katie Conway (Wading River, N.Y./Shoreham Wading River) notched a seven-over par 79 and resides in an eight-way tie for 73rd among the 108-golfer field.

Annie Brophy (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) completed the Fighting Irish lineup on Thursday with an 84. The sophomore had an up and down day, yet still posted a team-high five birdies, including four on the back nine holes. Maunu, Park and Wetzel all recorded four birdies, while Conway had one

The second round of the NCAA Central Regional will take place on Friday with tee times beginning at 8:10 a.m. (CT). Notre Dame will tee off between 12:30 p.m. and 1:10 p.m. (CT). Live scoring is available through Golfstat.com and results will be posted daily on www.TexasSports.com. For additional information, log on to ncaasports.com or und.com.

NCAA Central Regional
The University of Texas Golf Club
Austin, Texas, Par 72, 6,301 yards

Team Scores (18-hole totals): 1. UCLA 283, 2. TCU 285, 3. Purdue 288, 4. Denver 292, 5. Nebraska 294, 6. Texas A&M 295, 7. Florida State 298, 8. Texas 299, 9t. LSU 300, 9t. North Carolina State 300, 11. Texas State 301, 12. Notre Dame 302, 13t. Alabama 304, 13t. Pepperdine 304, 15. Kent State 305, 16t. East Tennessee State 307, 16t. Texas Tech 307, 18. Washington 312, 19. Illinois State 313, 20. Harvard 314, 21. Fairleigh Dickenson 354

Top-4 Golfers (of 108): 1. Maria Jose Uribe (UCLA) 65, 2. Maria Hernandez (Purdue) 66, 3. Valentine Derrey (TCU) 67, 4. Lauren Doughtie (North Carolina State) 69

Notre Dame Scores: 18t. Lisa Maunu 73, 30t. So-Hyun Park 74, 47t. Kristin Wetzel 76, 73t. Katie Conway 79, 101. Annie Brophy 8