Noriko Nakazaki concluded her Notre Dame career as the record-holder for both career and single-season scoring average.

Notre Dame Leads Lady Irish Invitational After 36 Holes

Sept. 23, 2006

Complete First and Second Round Results in PDF Format
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Notre Dame, Ind. –

The Notre Dame women’s golf team fired back-to-back rounds of 306 on Saturday at the 5,965-yard, par-72, Warren Golf Course to hold a one-stroke lead over Illinois State after 36 holes of the Lady Irish Invitational. The final round of action will be played on Sunday morning with a 9:00 a.m. shotgun start.

The Irish and Redbirds were tied after 18 holes of play with identical 306 totals. Notre Dame matched that in the second round for a 612 total while Illinois State shot a 307 for a 613, one shot off the Irish lead. Following Illinois State in the third spot, just four strokes off the lead is the University of Cincinnati with a 616 total after rounds of 310 and 306. Western Michigan sits in the fourth spot after 36 holes, six shots behind the Irish with a 618 mark (310-308. Rounding out the top five is Eastern Michigan with a 621. The Eagles were one stroke behind Notre Dame and Illinois State after 18 holes with a 307, but slid in the second round with a 314 mark.

Individually, Cincinnati’s Hillery Wilson leads the tournament with a two-over par 146 as she shot a 77 in the first round and followed it with a three-under par 69 in the second, including a sizzling, five-under par 31 on the back nine. She leads Illinois State’s Hilary Anderson by two strokes. Anderson shot a 148 with an opening round 72, followed by a 76.

Three players are tied for third, three strokes behind Wilson with seven-over-par 149. Stephany Fleet of Eastern Michigan (73-76), Kim Kester of Toledo (75-74) and Erica Deschamps of Western Michigan (77-72) round out the top five.

Notre Dame’s individual leader is junior Noriko Nakazaki who is one of two players tied for sixth place with an eight-over par 150. Nakazaki shot rounds of 74-76 and will go into the final round on Sunday, four strokes off the pace. She is tied with Wyoming’s Jonelle Martinez who also fired rounds of 74-76 for her 150 total.

Following Nakazaki for the Irish, in a tie for 12th place, is freshman Kristin Wetzel who struggled in the opening round with an 81, but put it all together in the afternoon to shoot an even-par 72 for a 36-hole total of 153. Junior Jane Lee, who is playing as an individual entry at the Lady Irish Invitational, is tied for 20th after shooting 81-74 for a 155.

Rounding out the scoring five for Notre Dame behind Nakazaki and Wetzel are freshman Annie Brophy who is tied for 23rd with a 156 mark. She had a 77 in the morning round and followed with a 79 in the second 18. Sophomore Lisa Maunu is tied for 25th with a 157 (76-81) and senior Stacy Brown is tied for 27th with a 158 (79-79).

Lady Irish Invitational (Warren Golf Course – Notre Dame, Ind., Par 72, 5,965-yards) Team Scores (36-hole totals): 1. NOTRE DAME 612 (306-306); 2. Illinois State 613 (306-307); 3. Cincinnati 616 (310-306); 4. Western Michigan 618 (310-308); 5. Eastern Michigan 621 (307-314); 6. Toledo 622 (309-313); 7. Iowa 625 (313-312); 8. Wyoming 633 (311-322); 9. Wichita State 636 (314-322); 10. Xavier 637 (317-320); 11. Georgetown 638 (319-319); Illinois 638 (320-318); Columbia 650 (326-324); IPFW 693 (343-350).

Top-6 Golfers (36-hole totals): 1. Hillery Wilson (Cincinnati) 77-69-146; 2. Hilary Anderson (Illinois State) 72-76-148; 3. Stephany Fleet (Eastern Michigan) 73-76-149; Kim Kester (Toledo) 75-74-149; Erica Deschamps (Western Michigan) 77-72-149); 6. Noriko Nakazaki (Notre Dame) 74-76-150); Jonelle Martinez (Wyoming) 74-76-150.

Notre Dame Scores (36-hole totals): t6. Noriko Nakazaki 74-76-150; t12. Kristin Wetzel 81-72-153; t20. Jane Lee 81-74-155; t23. Annie Brophy 77-79-156; t25. Lisa Maunu 76-81-156; t27. Stacy Brown 79-79-158.