March 1, 1999

DALLAS-FORT WORTH AIRPORT, Texas – The Notre Dame women’s golf team concluded a frustrating start to its spring season by slipping to a 12th-place finish at the Midwest Classic, following final-round action Sunday at the Hyatt Bear Creek Golf Course.

The Irish totaled a final-round 350, improving three shots from Saturday’s opening round, but dropped behind Illinois after the Illini posted a final-round 335 for a 691 total at the par-72, 5.838-yard course.

Notre Dame’s tough breaks included seeing the team’s individual entrantsophmore Becca Schlosspost the best two-round total of any Irish golfer. Schloss used rounds of 87 and 84 to finish tied for 43rd in the 74-player field, but her scores did not count to the play-five, count-four format due to her status as one of eight individual entrants in the tournament.

Freshman Kristin McMurtrie improved six shots in her second round (90-84) to lead the Irish starting five while junior captain Andrea Klee posted a final-round 86, after shooting 89 on Saturday. Sophomore Shane Smith (87-90) and junior Beth Cooper (87-92) fell off their first-day pace while sophomore Mary Klein completed her frustrating weekend with a second-round 90 for a 189 total (well above her career average of 82 strokes per round).

Tournament co-host Minnesota claimed the team title (316-311) by 18 shots over Penn State (322-323), followed by Wisconsin (325-323) and co-host Northwestern (325-324.

Illinois State’s Suzanne Walker held on for a two-stroke victory in the individual competition, despite posting a final-round 80 after firing a 70 on Saturday. Minnesota’s Michelle Ballou took runner-up honors (77-78).

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS (36 holes): 1. Minnesota 316-311/627; 2. Penn State 322-323/645; 3. Wisconsin 325-323/648; 4. Northwestern 325-324/649; 5. Michigan State 338-314/652; 6. Kent 334-325/659; 7. Michigan 336-328/664; 8. Ohio 342-23/665; 9. Southern Illinois 326-341/667; 10. Illinois State 343-346/689; 11. Illinois 356-335/692; 12. Notre Dame 353-350/703; 13. Northern Illinois 367-343/710.

TOP INDIVIDUALS (of 74): 1. Suzanne Walker (ISU) 70-80/150; 2. Michelle Ballou (MINN) 77-78/154; 3. Melanie Lepp (MINN) 76-78/154; 4. Kasey Gant (MSU) 80-75/155; 5. Laura Hammond (PSU) 76-81/157; 6. Emily Bastel (MSU) 80-78/158; Emily Gilley (NW) 78-80/158; Julee Sovesky (OHIO) 84-74/158; Allison Hiller (SIU) 81-77/158.

NOTRE DAME SCORES: 43. Becca Schloss (indiv.) 87-84/171; 48. Kristin McMurtrie 90-84/174; 50. Andrea Klee 89-86/175; 53. Shane Smith 87-90/177; 59. Beth Cooper 87-92/179; 69. Mary Klein 99-90/189.