Nov. 13, 2014
After a promising fall season that included a tournament win, four top-10 finishes and a No. 30 national ranking, the University of Notre Dame women’s golf team already has its eyes set on the next group of Fighting Irish standouts.
Three of the nation’s elite high school and junior golf student-athletes — Emma Albrecht (Ormond Beach, Florida/Father Lopez High School), Isabella DiLisio (Hatfield, Pennsylvania/Mount Saint Joseph Academy) and Maddie Rose Hamilton (Louisville, Kentucky/Sacred Heart Academy) — each signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Notre Dame beginning in the fall of 2015, Fighting Irish head coach Susan Holt announced today. The trio made their official commitments to Notre Dame during the early signing period that began Wednesday and continues through Nov. 19.
All three student-athletes are rated among the top 40 players in the nation according to the Golfweek Power 50 rankings, which combines the Golfweek/Sagarin junior rankings, American Junior Golf Association (AJGA)/Polo rankings, World Amateur Golf Ranking and other input. DiLisio stands at No. 21 in the Golfweek Power 50, with Hamilton (No. 32) and Albrecht (No. 36) not far behind.
Notre Dame is one of only two schools in the country (along with Georgia) to have three signees appearing in the Golfweek Power 50 rankings. In fact, besides Notre Dame and Georgia, just five other schools in the nation had multiple Golfweek Power 50 signees — Arizona State, Florida, Northwestern, UCLA and USC.
“We are really excited about the addition of these three outstanding student-athletes to our women’s golf family,” Holt said. “It’s a great day for our program, as we bring this group of talented players into the fold, along with the solid foundation we have with our returning players. The future is bright and we are looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.
“All three of our signees verbally committed early in the recruiting process and made a conscious effort to play in many of the same tournaments this past year so they could spend time together and begin to form a tight bond,” Holt added. “This will certainly help their transition into our program next fall. As a group, they are very competitive and passionate about the game of golf, something that really got us excited when we had the opportunity to sign all three players. They are not just golfers — they are athletes who know how to compete. They also have a strong desire to win and want to be part of something special here at Notre Dame.
“With our recent move to the Atlantic Coast Conference, we now are in one of the premier women’s golf leagues in the country,” Holt concluded. “Winning an ACC golf title means you will be competing for a national championship which is what all these players want to do at the college level. The opportunity to do that is real and tangible here at Notre Dame, and we are so excited for the future of our program.”
The 2014-15 Fighting Irish return to action Feb. 22-23, 2015, in the Westbrook Spring Invitational, hosted by the University of Wisconsin at the Westbrook Village Golf Club in Peoria, Arizona.
For more information on the Notre Dame women’s golf program, sign up to follow the Fighting Irish women’s golf Twitter pages (@NDsidMasters or @NDwomensGolf) or register for the Irish ALERT text-messaging system through the “Fan Center” pulldown menu on the front page at UND.com.
A capsule look at the newest additions to the Fighting Irish women’s golf program follows:
EMMA ALBRECHT (Ormond Beach, Fla./Father Lopez High School)
High School: Currently attends Father Lopez High School in Daytona Beach, Florida … posted a 70.20 stroke average last season while competing with her school’s boys team (Father Lopez is fielding a girls’ golf team for first time this year) … finished second at 2014 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Region 3-1A Tournament (68) and tied for 26th at 2014 FHSAA 1A Tournament (158, +14) … won 2013 FHSAA Region 3-1A girls’ title (competing as individual), and placed 14th at 2013 FHSAA Class 1A Tournament (148, +4) … fired career-low and tournament-record bogey-free 62 (-7) at 2013 Volusia-Flagler Tournament at Hidden Lakes Golf Club in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Junior Golf: Has combined 76.93 stroke average in 48 junior and amateur tournaments during past three years (2012-14), earning four wins and 31 top-10 finishes in that span … registered 74.38 stroke average in 16 tournaments during 2014 season, posting two wins and 10 top-10 finishes … part of 2014 results included eight Florida State Golf Association (FSGA) Junior Tour events in which she carded 74.17 stroke average with one victory and seven top-10 finishes … won 2014 AJGA Junior hosted by Ocala-Marion Sports Commission (215, -1) and 2014 FSGA junior tournament at Lake Wales (146, +4) … qualified for match play at 2014 United States Golf Association (USGA) Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship (147, +3) before falling in round of 64 … qualified as alternate during sectional qualifying for 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship (76) … tied for second at 2014 Florida State Girls’ Junior Championship (221, +8) … tied for fifth at 2014 Florida Women’s Amateur Stroke Play Championship … advanced to round of 16 in match play at 2014 Florida State Women’s Amateur Championship, eliminating 2012 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Meghan Stasi on the 20th hole in the round of 32 after registering 151 (+7) in stroke play qualifier … logged 76.71 stroke average in 18 events during 2013 season, including one win and 12 top-10 finishes … as part of that 2013 total, played in 10 FSGA Junior Tour events, compiling 76.19 stroke average with one victory and nine top-10 finishes (plus quarterfinalist berth in match play at Florida State Women’s Amateur Championship) … won 2013 FSGA Junior Tour event at LPGA International (149, +5) … in 2012, tallied 80.21 stroke average during 14 tournaments, collecting one victory and nine top-10 finishes, including 2012 FSGA Junior Tour win at Santa Lucia.
Awards/Honors: 2014 Hewlett-Packard Scholastic Junior All-America Team selection (presented by AJGA) … 2013 Hewlett-Packard Scholastic Honor Roll choice … 2013 Daytona Beach News-Journal All-Area Girls Golfer of the Year … 2013 Daytona Beach News-Journal All-Area First Team … ranked No. 31 in Class of 2015 by Golfweek/Sagarin junior rankings … ranked No. 36 according to Golfweek Power 50 … ranked No. 53 by Junior Golf Scoreboard … ranked No. 106 by AJGA/Polo rankings.
Personal Data: Daughter of Annie and Eric Albrecht … older of two children … will be the second Florida native to play for Notre Dame and first since two-time team captain and St. Petersburg resident Shane Smith competed for the Fighting Irish from 1998-2001 … currently ranked No. 2 (out of 127 students) in her high school class with a 4.58 cumulative grade-point average … served in various roles in high school student government … has expressed interest in studying biology at Notre Dame.
Coach Holt on Albrecht…
“Emma quietly goes about her business on the course and just keeps it steady and tempered. She is always in a positive place and that mindset really keeps her competitive throughout her rounds.”
ISABELLA DiLISIO (Hatfield, Pa./Mount Saint Joseph Academy)
High School: Presently enrolled at Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Flourtown, Pennsylvania … part of Mount Saint Joseph squad that won 2013 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class 3A championship, along with four Athletic Association of Catholic Academies (AACA) league titles (2011-14) … won 2013 PIAA Class 3A individual title (148, +4) with eagle on final hole … won 2012 PIAA District I championship.
Junior Golf: Registered 73.79 stroke average in nine junior tournaments during 2014 season, including one victory and five top-10 finishes … won 2014 AJGA Ravenwood Junior Championship (212, -4) … placed 18th at 2014 Junior PGA Championship (295, +7) … 2014 Pennsylvania Women’s Golf Association (PSWGA) state amateur champion … won 2013 Montgomery County Junior and Women’s Amateur championships … competed in nine sanctioned events on International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) from 2011-14, compiling 79.60 stroke average with three wins and eight top-10 finishes … claimed wins in 2013 IJGT events at White Manor and Hershey Links, as well as 2012 IJGT tournament at Penn Oaks … 2010 Women’s Golf Association of Philadelphia Junior Championship medalist … competed in 31 sanctioned events on Philadelphia Section Junior PGA Tour from 2009-12, carding 80.74 stroke average with 13 tournament wins and 30 top-10 finishes in those 31 tournaments (placed 11th in other event).
Awards/Honors: 2014 Rolex/AJGA Junior All-America Honorable Mention selection … 2014 Hewlett-Packard Scholastic Junior All-America Team pick (chosen by AJGA) … earned 2014 Essay Award as part of HP Scholastic Junior All-America Team selection (wrote feature on great-grandfather who was caddie for Ben Hogan at 1950 United States Open) … 2013 Norristown Times-Herald Golfer of the Year … 2011 Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy (GGGA) Junior All-Star Team selection … ranked No. 21 in Class of 2015 according to Golfweek Power 50 … ranked No. 25 in Golfweek/Sagarin junior rankings … ranked No. 47 by Junior Golf Scoreboard and AJGA/Polo rankings.
Personal Data: Daughter of Dina and Sam DiLisio … great-grandfather Nick Ciocca was caddie for legendary Ben Hogan when he returned from near-fatal car accident to win 1950 U.S. Open at famed Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania … served as standard bearer (scoreboard carrier) for two rounds at 2013 U.S. Open, also held at Merion … will be the second Pennsylvania resident and Mount Saint Joseph Academy graduate in as many seasons to join the Notre Dame roster, following current freshman (and Collegeville product) Alison Snakard … also will be the fifth Pennsylvania native in program history (prior to Snakard, most recent was West Middlesex resident Kristin Schaner, a two-time National Golf Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete while competing for Notre Dame from 1995-97) … among leaders in her high school class with 4.12 cumulative grade-point average … has indicated desire to study marketing at Notre Dame.
Coach Holt on DiLisio…
“Isabella has a great demeanor on the golf course and carries herself the same no matter how she is playing. That’s a great quality to have and one that really allows her to get the most out of her talent. She is a player who fights hard to post a score and, as a coach, you love that in a player.”
MADDIE ROSE HAMILTON (Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart Academy)
High School: Currently a student-athlete at Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, Kentucky … helped Sacred Heart win four Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) state championships (single-division tournament) during her career, setting state records for largest margin of victory (43 strokes in 2011) and lowest team score (615 in 2013) … individually won 17 high school tournaments, including 2013 KHSAA regional and prestigious Sacred Heart Bunny Daugherty Invitational twice (2013 and 2014) … posted 71.50 stroke average as a senior in 2014, winning four invitational tournaments, placing second at regional tournament (70, -2) and fifth at state tournament (146, +2) … made 14-foot putt on final regulation hole of state tournament to force team playoff that Sacred Heart won … registered 71.00 stroke average in junior season (2013), winning nine tournaments and shooting under par in 10 of 16 competitive rounds … won regional title (71, -1) and placed second at state tournament (145, +1) … won Bunny Daugherty Invitational at Hurstbourne Country Club with course-record 66 … took third at state tournament as sophomore in 2012 (149, +5).
Junior Golf: Owns combined 74.56 stroke average in 33 junior and amateur tournaments during past two years (2013-14), earning nine wins and 23 top-10 finishes in that span … compiled 74.30 stroke average in 14 tournaments during 2014 season, earning two victories and nine top-10 finishes along the way … won 2014 Kentucky Section PGA Junior Qualifier at Maywood Country Club (137, -3) on strength of opening-round and course-record 63 … won 2014 AJGA Huntsville Junior Championship (222, +6) … finished 26th at 2014 Junior PGA Championship (300, +12) … posted 74.79 stroke average in 19 tournaments during 2013 season, earning seven wins and 14 top-10 finishes … won 2013 PGA Junior Series event at Kearney Hills (213, -3) to qualify for Junior PGA Championship … placed 23rd at 2013 Junior PGA Championship (294, +6) … finished second at 2013 USGA Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship qualifier (76, +4) … tied for 64th in stroke play at 2013 USGA Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship (155, +11), falling in playoff to advance to match play … won 2013 Golfweek Junior Tour Championship at University of Kentucky (212, -1) … won two Plantations Junior Golf Tour events (Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Lexington, Kentucky) and two Hurricane Junior Tour outings (Louisville and Owensboro, Kentucky) … won Musselman Dunn Junior Tour event at University of Louisville (148, +4) … has carded two holes-in-one during her junior golf career.
Awards/Honors: 2014 Rolex/AJGA Junior All-America Honorable Mention selection … 2013 Hewlett-Packard Scholastic Honor Roll choice (presented by AJGA) … 2013 Kentucky Golf Association Junior Player of the Year … 2013 Kentucky Miss Golf … 2013 Sacred Heart Academy Athlete of the Year … three-time all-state selection (2012-14) … four-time all-region choice (2011-14) … four-time all-county pick (2011-14) … 2012 Plantations Junior Tour Player of the Year … National Honor Society … Spanish National Honor Society … ranked No. 27 in Class of 2015 in Golfweek/Sagarin junior rankings … ranked No. 32 according to Golfweek Power 50 and Junior Golf Scoreboard … ranked No. 58 in AJGA/Polo rankings.
Personal Data: Daughter of Kim and Vince Hamilton … older of two children … will be the second player from state of Kentucky to tee off for the Fighting Irish, and first since another Louisville native, Lauren Fuchs, played two seasons for Notre Dame (2000, 2002) … grandfather Allen Hamilton played for two legendary football coaches during his college career — Paul Brown at Great Lakes Naval Training Station in 1944 during World War II (future Notre Dame head coach Ara Parseghian was a halfback on that Great Lakes team) and Paul “Bear” Bryant at the University of Kentucky in 1946 and from 1948-50 (counting future Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee George Blanda among his teammates) … near forefront of her high school with 3.95 cumulative grade-point average … has indicated interest in studying business at Notre Dame.
Coach Holt on Hamilton…
“Maddie Rose is a real competitor and has a bit of a spark about her when she is on the course which really drives her and keeps her dialed in. I love that about her because it’s who she is and, as long as she gets positive energy from it, her scores will always be respectable.”
— Chris Masters, Associate Athletic Media Relations Director