March 15, 2002

Tampa, Fla. – The Notre Dame women’s golf team shot a final round of 304 on Friday afternoon to finish with a 36-hole total of 617 (313-304), placing them second in the Snowbird Invitational. The 22-team tournament was played at the par 72, 5,940-yard Pebblecreek Golf Course.

The 617 total put the Irish 17 strokes behind Arkansas State University’s tournament total of 600 (305-295). Arkansas State, which was in first by two strokes entering Friday’s action, set a 36-hole tournament record (600), as well as a single-round record with Friday’s seven-over par round of 295. In third place, one stroke behind the Irish, was the University of Southern Mississippi (307-311-618). Southern Illinois University finished fourth at the tournament hosted by Northern Illinois University with a 620 (312-308).

Individually, Arkansas State’s Shellie Wenzel protected her first-round lead of two strokes and finished as the tournament medalist. After shooting the only under par round on Thursday, Wenzel shot a single-round record-tying four-under par 68 in the final round to give her a 36-hole total of 139 (71-68), a record setting 36-hole total. Three strokes behind Wenzel, Southern Illinois’ Alison Hiller also tied the single-round record of 68 on Friday as she finished in second place with a two-under par 142 (74-68). Breanne Hall of the University of Toledo finished third with a 145 (73-72).

Notre Dame’s top golfer was freshman Karen Lotta (Los Angeles, Calif.), who tied for fifth after shooting rounds of 77 and 73 for a 150 total, 11 strokes behind Wenzel.

Senior Kristin McMurtrie (Calgary, Alb.) tied for ninth after shooting 153 with a 77 in the first round and a round of 76 today. Junior Terri Taibl (Elm Grove, Wis.) who shot a 155 (76-79) tied for 13th and Shannon Byrne (So., Arlington Heights, Ill.) finished tied in 25th place with rounds of 83 and 76 for a 159 total. Sophomore Rebecca Rogers (Alpharetta, Ga.) shot an 170 (86-84) and finished tied in 75th place.

Senior Lauren Fuchs (Louisville, Ky.) participated in the tournament as an individual entrant and tied for 47th place with a pair of 82’s for a 164 total.

TEAM RESULTS (36-hole totals): 1. Arkansas State 305-295-600, 2. Notre Dame 313-304-617, 3. Southern Mississippi 307-311-618, 4. Southern Illinois 312-308-620, 5. Toledo 314-310-624, 6. Lynn University 315-323-636, 7. Wichita State 331-308-639, 8. Northern Illinois 329-317-646, 9. Methodist College 321-326-647, 10. Bowling Green 327-325-652, 11. Yale 328-326-654, 12. Youngstown State 335-323-658, 13. Texas Pan-Am 334-326-660, 14. St. Mary’s (TX) 328-342-670, 15. Minnesota State 341-332-673, 16. Missouri-Kansas City 338-336-674, 17. Ball State 334-341-675, 18. Florida Southern 345-340-685, 19. John A. Logan 348-346-694, 20. Western Illinois 360-343-703, 21. Creighton 361-343-704, 22. Bucknell 365-345-710.

TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS (of 128): 1. Shellie Wenzel (Arkansas State) 71-68-139, 2. Alison Hiller (Southern Illinois) 74-68-142, 3. Breanne Hall (Toledo) 73-72-145, 4. Leigh Ann Jones (Arkansas State) 77-72-149, t5. Jennifer Keefe (Southern Mississippi) 76-74-150, Karen Lotta (Notre Dame) 77-73-150, 7. Shelley Binzel (Bowling Green) 75-77-152, t8. Jillian Wyne (St. Mary’s) 77-76-153, Kristin McMurtrie (Notre Dame) 77-76-153, Sara Seo (Yale) 80-73-153.

NOTRE DAME INDIVIDUALS (of 128): t5. Karen Lotta 77-73-150, t8. Kristin McMurtrie 77-76-153, t13. Terri Taibl 76-79-155, t25. Shannon Byrne 83-76-159, t47. Lauren Fuchs 82-82-164, t75. Rebecca Rogers 86-84-170.

— ND —