Aug. 9, 2004
ERIE, Pa. – The Notre Dame women’s golf program took another step in its rapid ascent to national prominence Monday afternoon when two Irish players — rising juniors Katie Brophy (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) and Lauren Gebauer (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington HS) — teed off in the first round of the 104th U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship in Erie, Pa., at the par-72, 6,356-yard Kahkwa Club. The 156-player field will complete stroke play Tuesday afternoon, with the top 64 players advancing to match play beginning on Wednesday. Brophy currently is in position to qualify for match play, tying for 45th place after one round with a five-over par 77. The two-time all-BIG EAST Conference selection and 2003 BIG EAST Championship co-medalist bogeyed the first and sixth holes, but came back with a birdie at the par-five eighth hole to go out in one-over par 37. The back nine proved to be a bit tougher for the Spokane, Wash., native, who had four bogeys, including three on her final six holes. Meanwhile, Gebauer covered the front side in three-over 39, mimicking her teammate with a birdie on No. 8. However, the back side of the course was especially unforgiving for the Columbus, Ohio, resident, who was saddled with three double bogeys and two triple bogeys. She ended the day in a tie for 153rd place with a 17-over par 89. Spain’s Tania Elosegui leads after the opening round, carding a score of four-under par 68. Other notables in the field include: 2003 U.S. Amateur Public Links Champion Michelle Wie (tied for 24th place at three-over par 75), 1973 U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion Carol Semple Thompson (tied for 92nd place at eight-over par 80) and 2003 BIG EAST Championship co-medalist Tina Miller from the University of Miami (Fla.) (tied for 126th place at 11-over par 83). Brophy and Gebauer will return to the links Tuesday for the second round of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. Gebauer will tee off on the first hole at 12:55 p.m. (EDT), while Brophy will begin on the 10th tee at 2:05 p.m. (EDT). In-progress scoring updates are available on the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship web site and a complete recap of Brophy and Gebauer’s second-round performances will be available Tuesday night right here on the official Notre Dame athletics web site.
— ND —