April 17, 2004
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Notre Dame women’s golf team is in ninth place at the Lady Boilermaker Invitational after turning in scores of 314 and 321 in the first two rounds on Saturday. With their 36-hole total of 635, the Irish are 39 strokes behind tournament-leader Indiana’s mark of 596 as the Hoosiers shot back-to-back 298s on day one. Indiana has a six-shot lead over Michigan State, which sits in second place with a score of 602 (299-303). The 54-hole event is being played with a “six-count-four” format at the par-72, 6,225-yard Kampen Course at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex.
Leading Notre Dame after the first two rounds is freshman Noriko Nakazaki (Hanover Park, Ill.). The Irish newcomer shot a three-over par 75 in the opening round, but struggled in the second 18 holes as she shot an 81, giving her a first-day score of 156. Nakazaki is in a tie for 22nd, 17 shots behind Danah Ford of Indiana who is in first place after carding impressive rounds of 71 and 68 for a five-under par total of 139.
After Nakazaki is junior Karen Lotta (Los Angeles, Calif./Marymount), who had a two-round total of 157. Lotta fired rounds of 76 and 81 on day one, putting her in a tie for 26th place.
Following Lotta in West Lafayette is senior co-captain Rebecca Rogers (Alpharetta, Ga./Centennial). With 18-hole marks of 83 and 80 for a 163, Rogers is tied for 43rd. The senior is putting forth quite an effort to finish her collegiate career on a high-note, playing as a member of the scoring lineup in back-to-back tournaments for the first time since participating in the first four events of the 2002-03 campaign.
Sophomore Sarah Bassett (Spokane, Wash./Lewis and Clark) and senior co-captain Shannon Byrne (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) are are fourth and fifth, respectively, among Notre Dame golfers. Bassett carded rounds of 85 and 79 on the first day for a 36-hole total of 164, while Byrne shot 165 (80-85) for two rounds.
Sophomore Katie Brophy (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) rounds out the Irish contingent this weekend. Brophy has had a tough outing thus far, turning in scores of 87 and 83 in the opening two rounds of play.
The final round of the Lady Boilermaker Invitational will take place on Sunday, April 18, and will get underway with a shotgun start at 8:00 (EST). Results will be available on www.und.com following Sunday’s action.
— ND —
TEAM RESULTS (36-hole totals): 1. Indiana 596 (298-298); 2. Michigan State 602 (299-303); 3. Purdue 612 (298-314); 4. Iowa 614 (311-303); 5. Michigan 616 (303-316); 6. Northwestern 621 (315-306); 7. Kent State 629 (317-312); 8. Wisconsin 631 (310-321); 9. Notre Dame 635 (314-321); 10. Minnesota 646 (319-327); 11. Illinois 650 (325-325); 15. Jacksonville State 659 (325-334).
TOP SEVEN INDIVIDUALS (of 68): 1. Danah Ford (Indiana) 139 (71-68); 2. Gabby Wedding (Kent State) 148 (76-72); 3.(tie) Liz Bennett (Iowa) 149 (77-72), O. Sattayabanphot (Purdue) 149 (74-75), Alice Kim (Northwestern) 149 (74-75), Rachel Meikle (Michigan State) 149 (76-73); 7. Ambry Bishop (Indiana) 150 (74-76); 8. Six players tied at 151.
NOTRE DAME INDIVIDUALS (of 68): 22.(tie) Noriko Nakazaki 156 (75-81); 26.(tie) Karen Lotta 157 (76-81), 43.(tie); Rebecca Rogers 163 (83-80); 48.(tie) Sarah Bassett 164 (85-79); 52. Shannon Byrne 165 (80-85); 58.(tie) Katie Brophy 170 (87-83).