April 11, 2002

Notre Dame, Ind. – Notre Dame women’s golf coach Debby King announced today the addition of two more golfers for the 2002-03 season. Joining the Irish in the fall will be Lauren Barbir (Montgomery, Texas) and Suzanne Hayes (Dublin, Ireland).

Barbir joins the women’s golf team after a standout career at Montgomery High School where she is participating in her final season this spring. A four-year letterwinner, Barbir had a 76.00 average and a 6.5 handicap going into the spring season. Last spring, she tied for second in the Region III-4A state tournament with an 11-over par 157 (78-79). She followed that impressive performance with a 10th-place finish in the state tournament firing a 156 (81-75). Barbir won the Houston Golf Association tournament last season and was 10th in the Texas State Junior Championship with a 54-hole total of 233 (79-75-79). Barbir is also an excellent student as she recorded a perfect 800 on the math portion of the SAT’s.

“Lauren is an outstanding student who should be able to hold her own in her first year of collegiate golf. She will have a chance to make our travel squad this fall,” says King.

Hayes joins the Irish after playing amateur golf in her native Ireland the past year following graduation from Lureto High School in 2001. She has played Irish International golf the past two years winning the Munster Girls title in 2000 and 2001 and the Connaught Girls Championship in 2001. Hayes finished second in the Irish Girls Order of Merit for the 2001 campaign. A strong, all-around athlete, Hayes has a four handicap and is an outstanding student.

“Suzanne brings a strong golf game to Notre Dame and I believe she will be in the running for the top spot on the team next season,” says King.

Hayes and Barbir join Sarah Bassett (Spokane, Wash.) and Katie Brophy (Spokane, Wash.), who signed national letters-of-intent in November, to round out King’s first recruiting class at Notre Dame. They will join five returnees in the fall of 2002.

“Our four new players will compliment our returning players to give us a well-rounded, competitive team in the 2002-03 season,” says King.