Oct. 10, 2005
FRANKLIN, Ind. – For the first time since last fall the Notre Dame women’s golf team posted consecutive rounds below 300 to currently place third, and one shot off the lead, following the first two rounds of the Shoot-Out at The Legends. In round one, the Fighting Irish carded a 298 (+10), which placed them first after the initial 18 holes of play at the par 72, 6,073-yard Legends of Indiana Golf Course. Notre Dame fired a 297 (+9) in the afternoon’s second round and will hope to have similar success during Tuesday’s third and final round.
Sophomore Jane Lee (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif./Peninsula) led the field after carding a one-under par 71 in the morning’s first round. She followed that score up with a three-over par 75 to currently reside in a tie for sixth. The round of 71 was the second-best 18-hole total of her Notre Dame career.
“Jane has always been a good ball-striker,” states Notre Dame head coach Debby King. “She has struggled with her putting, but it came around this week and that was the difference today.”
Kent State and Missouri are tied for first after each carding an 18-over par 594. Kent State’s second round total of 291 was the top score among the 19-team field on day one.
Notre Dame senior Katie Brophy (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) is tied for 21st after carding a six-over par 150 (76-74) on the day. Freshman Lisa Maunu (St. Thomas, Ontario/Parkside Collegiate Institute) continues to play well as she posted a seven-over par 151 (76-75) to reside in a tie for 23rd.
Irish senior Lauren Gebauer (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) also saw her hot play continue with a two round eight-over par mark of 152 (75-77). She is tied for 28th heading into day two. Junior Noriko Nakazaki (Hanover Park, Ill./Hoffman Estates) shot an uncharacteristic 10-over par 82 in the first round, but rebounded nicely with a one-over par 73 in round two and is currently tied for 46th.
“It was neat to see a lot of birdies today,” King said. “Our goal was to have 15 birdies per round and we had 14 in the first so that was pretty good. We had seven in the second round but we also had two eagles.”
The last time Notre Dame fired two straight rounds below 300 was at the Edwin Watts/Palmetto Intercollegiate to close out last year’s fall season on Nov. 1-2.
“We feel very confident that we can pull this off,” King commented. “It’s more fun to come from behind to win so hopefully we can do that.”
Tuesday’s third and final round of The Shoot-Out at The Legends will get underway with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. (CT). Results will be posted on iuhoosiers.com. For additional information please log on to und.com or call the Notre Dame athletics hotline at (574) 631-3000.
Shoot-Out at The Legends (The Legends of Indiana Golf Course – Franklin, Ind., Par 72, 6,073-yards)
Top-8 Team Scores (36-hole totals): 1t. Kent State 594 (303-291), 1t. Missouri 594 (301-293), 3. Notre Dame 595 (298-297), 4t. Toledo 599 (301-298), 4t. Illinois State 599 (301-298), 6. Eastern Michigan 602 (299-303), 7. Illinois 605 (305-300), 8. Indiana 608 (305-303).
Notre Dame Scores (36-hole totals): 6t. Jane Lee 146 (71-75), 21t. Katie Brophy 150 (76-74), 23t. Lisa Maunu 151 (76-75), 28t. Lauren Gebauer 152 (75-77), 46t. Noriko Nakazaki 155 (82-73).
— ND –