Sept. 22, 2016
By Claire Kramer
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Notre Dame Women’s Golf Team will begin the 2016-2017 season this weekend at the Schooner Fall Classic in Norman, Oklahoma.
The Irish have high hopes for the new campaign, which have been building since their 13th-place finish at the 2016 NCAA Regional Tournament last spring, and will be looking to start the season on a high note at an event they have previously found success.
In 2015, the Irish finished fifth and broke the Notre Dame women’s golf 36-hole record, carding a two-day total of 567 (-1). That mark easily topped the old record of 588 (+20), set at the 2013 Mercedes-Benz Championship (also played on a par-71 course).
This year, the 12-team tournament boasts four top-25 ranked teams.
“The field is really strong this week as always,” Head Coach Susan Holt said. “Most of the teams will all have a new look after graduating some players and then adding some freshmen but I expect all these teams have reloaded with great talent like they do each year. It will be the first event for most of the teams this year but I expect scores to be low as the golf course lends itself to that.”
THE DETAILS
Date: Sept. 24-26, 2016
Format: 18 holes on Saturday, Sunday and Monday
Tee Times: Shotgun start at 10:00 a.m. ET each day
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
The Course: Belmar Golf Club (Par-71, 5,939 Yards)
Tournament Field: Alabama, Florida State, Texas A&M, Iowa State, Clemson, Kansas, Kent State, LSU, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas State
Live Scoring: BirdieFire.com
Tournament Twitter: @SchoonerFC
Hashtag: #Schooner16
THE LINEUP
Sophomore Emma Albrecht will lead the Irish in the #1 spot, coming off her individual Florida State Amateur title win this summer. She will be followed by senior Jordan Ferreira, sophomores Maddie Rose Hamilton and Isabella DiLisio, and freshman Mia Ayer respectively.
DiLisio will look to keep up her momentum after taking medalist honors with Albrecht earlier this month in the U.S. Amateur Four Ball Qualifier. This will be Ayer’s first collegiate tournament after being ranked in the top 30 in the nation in the Class of 2016. Junior Alison Snakard will compete as an individual.
HOLT QUOTES
Coach Holt on the course …
“We’re really excited to get the season started in Norman this weekend. We love the golf course, it’s a great course to get some good rounds posted and boost the confidence of the team early in the season. Four of our players have played this course already which is a bonus going in as they know what to expect. That knowledge will help Mia and Alison get a good feel for the course during the practice round.”
Coach Holt on the lineup …
“Qualifying for our lineup spots was really competitive and we had some really solid rounds posted by everyone. This will be the start of a busy fall travel schedule and I am really looking forward to it.”
— ND —
Kramer is a junior student assistant for Fighting Irish Media, working closely with the Athletics Communications Directors for the men’s golf, basketball and tennis programs. An American Studies major with minors in Theology and Journalism, Ethics and Democracy, Kramer is from Olathe, Kansas.