NCAA Regionals
Women's Golf
LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. – The University of Notre Dame women’s golf team completed their annual Clover Cup on Wednesday with a pair of top-10 individual finishes from two freshmen and a fifth-place team finish with an overall score of 855(+15). Maddy Bante’s 206(-4) placed her fifth as an individual while fellow newcomer Bridget Wilkie finished at 211(+1) for 10th overall.
“We were really excited to host the Clover Cup again this year in the greater Phoenix area,” head coach Caroline Powers Ellis. “Wigwam was a high quality venue and was a true test of golf. In order to succeed on the Blue course, players had to have a lot of discipline and stick to their game plan with the small greens and strong winds. It felt like a breakthrough tournament for our team to execute all the things we have been working on this year with course and game management and the scores reflected that.”
Bante rounded out her time in Arizona with three rounds at or under par as she bookended the tournament with a duo of 68(-2) scores and posted a score of 70(E) on day two. The fifth-place finish ties a career best for the rookie, having previously finished in a tie for fifth at the Evie Odom Invitational last fall. The 206(-4) overall score for Bante was also a career-best, finishing under par for the first time in her collegiate career.
Wilkie’s 211(+1) ranked her 10th among all individuals and second for the Irish squad. After posting a 71(+1) score in the opening round, she finished the tournament with a pair of even-par scores of 70(E) to close out the tournament.
Alex Lapple took third among all Irish competitors, finishing in 31st overall with a score of 222(+12). The sophomore recorded a 75(+5) in the first round of competition before posting a score of 72(+2) on day two. She finished the tournament with another 75(+5) score to close out the annual tournament. Lapple tied with Faustine Errecade for 31st overall as the freshman posted scores of 71(+1), 72(+2), and 79(+9), respectively, at the three-day tournament.
Montgomery Ferreira rounded out the competition for the Irrish, finishing 41st overall with a final score of 225(+15). The senior opened the tournament with a score of 72(+2) in round one, before posting a 77(+7) score on the middle day. The final day of the tournament saw Ferreira record a 76(+6) score for the three-day final of 225(+15).
“Maddy continues to put herself in a position to win and we know her time will come. Bridget had another strong showing and the most exciting part is that they know they have the talent and the work ethic to be in contention week after week,” Powers Ellis added.
The women return to the course March 24-25 when they compete at the Pinetree Country Club Women’s Collegiate in Kennesaw, Georgia.