March 21, 2004
BOERNE, Texas – The Notre Dame women’s golf team shot a final-round 323 for a 54-hole total of 961 (319-319-323) at the Baylor-Tapatio Springs Shootout on Sunday. The Irish finished in 13th place in the field of 19 teams at the event that featured five top-50 teams (Golfweek/Sagarin), 65 strokes behind tournament-winner Indiana. The Hoosiers (297-294-305-896) came into the final day with a 10-shot cushion and in the end, secured first place by 13 shots over Missouri (306-300-303-909). The tournament was played on the par-72, 6,007-yard course at Tapatio Springs Golf Resort.
Individually, the Irish were led throughout by freshman Noriko Nakazaki (Hanover Park, Ill./Hoffman Estates) who turned in 18-hole scores of 71, 80 and 81 for a 16-over par 232. Nakazaki concluded play tied for 15th in the 113-player field, 15 strokes behind tournament-medalist Malinda Johnson of Wisconsin as she came from four stokes down after two rounds to win the tourney with a one-over par 217 (74-72-71). Indiana’s Karen Dennison (73-72-73-218) and Danah Ford (72-70-77-219) finished second and third, respectively.
Following Nakazaki for Notre Dame was junior Karen Lotta (Los Angeles, Calif./Marymount) who came in tied for 45th place. Lotta fired the team’s low round on Sunday, five-over par 77, to give her a three-round mark of 239 (81-81-77).
Sophomores Katie Brophy (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) and Lauren Gebauer (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) were next for the Irish. Brophy shot rounds of 81, 77 and 85 for a 54-hole total of 243, which was good for 64th. Gebauer shot 253 over the three days in Texas (90-81-82).
Sarah Bassett (Spokane, Wash./Lewis and Clark) was the fifth player for Notre Dame with a score of 257 (86-88-83).
The Irish have some time off before their next outing. Notre Dame will not be in action again until Saturday-Sunday, April 3-4, at the Indiana Women’s Invitational.
– ND –
TEAM RESULTS (54-hole totals): 1. Indiana 896 (297-294-305); 2. Missouri 909 (306-300-303); 3. Texas Tech 910 (296-305-309); 4. Baylor 926 (303-304-319); 5. Wisconsin 931 (317-302-312); 6. Rollins College 933 (315-304-314); 7.(tie) New Mexico State 941 (311-316-314), Illinois 941 (314-312-315), Iowa 941 (315-310-316); 10. UTEP 948 (316-314-318); 11. Minnesota 955 (329-311-315); 12. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 960 (328-312-320); 13. Notre Dame 961 (319-319-323); 14. Nebraska 967 (319-315-333); 15. Xavier 973 (328-319-326); 16. Arkansas State 977 (323-317-337); 17. North Texas 980 (319-328-333); 18. Texas-Pan American 991 (334-330-327); 19. McLennan Community College 1060 (349-355-356).
TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS (of 113): 1. Malinda Johnson (Wisconsin) 217 (74-72-71); 2. Karen Dennison (Indiana) 218 (73-72-73); 3. Danah Ford (Indiana) 219 (72-70-77); 4. Sheila Mendez (Texas Tech) 222 (73-71-78); 5. Maria Ohlsson (Missouri) 224 (78-72-74); 6. Molly Redfearn (Indiana) 225 (74-75-76); 7. Marla Cox (Illinois) 227 (74-76-77); 8.(tie) Denise Knaebel (Missouri) 228 (78-72-78), Meredith Jones (Baylor) 228 (78-73-77); 10. Liz Bennett (Iowa) 229 (79-71-79).
NOTRE DAME INDIVIDUALS (of 113): 15.(tie) Noriko Nakazaki 232 (71-80-81); 45.(tie) Karen Lotta 239 (81-81-77); 64. Katie Brophy 243 (81-77-85); 90.(tie) Lauren Gebauer 253 (90-81-82); 102. Sarah Bassett 257 (86-88-83).