Oct. 11, 2005
FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Notre Dame women’s golf placed fourth at the Shoot-Out at The Legends with an impressive final tally of 890 (+26), which is the second-best mark in program history. By firing a team score of 295 during Tuesday’s third and final round at the par 72, 6,073-yard Legends of Indiana Golf Course, the Fighting Irish finished below 300 (298-297-295) for all three rounds of a 54-hole tournament for the first time in school history. Notre Dame was the only team among the 19-team field to post all three rounds under 300. Kent State won the tournament with an 18-over par 882 (303-291-288).
Senior Katie Brophy (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep) and sophomore Jane Lee (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif./Peninsula) led the way for the Irish as they both placed in the top 10. Brophy carded a career-best four-over par 220 (76-74-70) for the tournament, including a two-under par 70 on Tuesday, to place eighth overall. Lee finished one shot in back of Brophy with a career-best total of 221 (71-75-75) to finish tied for ninth. Kent State’s Meixner made it a clean sweep for the Golden Flashes as she won the individual crown with a one-under par 215 (74-72-69).
“It was a bittersweet ending for us,” commented Irish head coach Debby King following Tuesday’s final round. “It was great to shoot a 295 but kind of disappointing to only place fourth. But I’m so proud of my team. We didn’t lose this tournament, we just got beat by a team that played really well.”
Illinois State placed second with an 886 (301-298-287) and Missouri was third with an 889 (301-293-295), followed by the Irish.
Notre Dame teammates Lauren Gebauer (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) and Lisa Maunu (St. Thomas, Ontario/Parkside Collegiate Institute) both finished in a tie for 30th with 228 (+12) totals. Gebauer, a senior, posted rounds of 75, 77 and 76, while the freshman Maunu carded rounds of 76, 75 and 77. Completing the field for the Irish was junior Noriko Nakazaki’s (Hanover Park, Ill./Hoffman Estates) total of 229 (82-73-74). That score placed her in a tie for 35th.
All five of the golfers in the Irish lineup for this event have established personal-bests at either this tournament or the previous one, the Lady Northern Invitational.
The top score in the history of the Notre Dame women’s golf program is a 25-over par 889, which was carded at the Cougar Classic in the fall of 2003. The Irish carded rounds of 285, 304 and 300 in that event. Last season, Notre Dame did finish under 300 (296-297) for the two rounds of the Jeannine McHaney Invitational/Central Regional Preview.
“We are on the right track,” said King. “It’s nice to see everyone shoot personal-bests. I’m really proud of them.”
The Fighting Irish return to the course on Sunday, Oct. 16 for the Lady Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark. The three-day event will be played at the Pinnacle Country Club. For additional information please log on to und.com or call the Notre Dame athletics hotline at (574) 631-3000.
Shoot-Out at The Legends (The Legends of Indiana Golf Course – Franklin, Ind., Par 72, 6,073-yards)
Top-10 Team Results (54-hole totals): 1. Kent State 882 (303-291-288), 2. Illinois State 886 (301-298-287), 3. Missouri 889 (301-293-295), 4. Notre Dame 890 (298-297-295), 5. Toledo 898 (305-294-299), 6. Illinois 910 (305-300-305), 7. St. John’s 912 (312-304-296), 8. Louisville 913 (312-302-299), 9. Eastern Michigan 914 (299-303-312), 10. Campbell 915 (313-302-300).
Top-4 Individual Results (54-hole totals): 1. Kira Meixner (Kent State) 215 (74-72-69), 2t. Samantha Richdale (Illinois State) 216 (76-71-69), 2t. Seul Ki Park (Illinois) 216 (73-69-74), 4. Denise K. Munzlinger (Missouri) 217 (74-72-71).
Notre Dame Results (54-hole totals): 8. Katie Brophy 220 (76-74-70), 9t. Jane Lee 221 (71-75-75), 30t. Lauren Gebauer 228 (75-77-76), 30t. Lisa Maunu 228 ( 76-75-77), 35t. Noriko Nakazaki 229 (82-73-74).
— ND –