Sept. 20, 2013
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Notre Dame women’s golf team closed the first round of the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship, hosted by the University of Tennessee, in a tie for 12th place with a team score of 298 Friday at the Cherokee Country Club.
Play was delayed for roughly 40 minutes at the start of the round due to heavy fog in the surrounding area, but players were able to take the course for the remainder of the day with no extended delays.
Sophomore Talia Campbell bounced back from a three-over par 38 on her front nine with her first birdie of the tournament at the par 3 12th hole. The Dallas, Texas native then recorded the first Notre Dame eagle of the season at the 442-yard, par 5 15th, squaring her round at even par. Campbell continued the hot streak with a birdie at the par 5 16th hole to surge into red numbers at minus one. A rough stretch over her final two holes left Campbell in a tie for 33rd place at two-over par (38-35-73).
Freshman Jordan Ferreira put together the steadiest opening nine holes among the five Notre Dame starters, birdieing the par 3 eighth hole as part of an outward score of 36 (+1). Ferreira made nine straight pars before surrendering a shot at 18 to tie Campbell in 33rd place at two-over par (36-37-73).
Junior Kelli Oride carded a pair of back nine birdies during her opening round, including a three at the 369-yard 18th hole as part of a five-over 76 (39-37) to share 62nd place with senior Kristina Nhim (37-39). Junior Ashley Armstrong capped the Irish lineup after a seven-over par 78, while freshman Janie Fineis carded a first round 87 playing as an individual.
Central Florida’s Fanny Cnops and South Carolina’s Katelyn Dambaugh turned in the best rounds of the first day, each logging three-under par 68 to share the overnight lead. Dambaugh recorded an eagle two at the par 4 18th hole to close a back nine 34 (-2). Five players tied for third place following the opening round after posting two-under 69s, including Louisville’s Katie Petrino, Tennessee’s Hannah Pietila, Arkansas’ Regina Plascencia, South Carolina’s Samantha Swinehart and Arkansas’ Emily Tubert.
South Carolina opened a three-stroke advantage in the team competition after carding a combined five-under par 279. Arkansas earned the runner-up position with a 282 (-2), with Louisville (283, -1) Tennessee (285, +1) and Central Florida (286, +2) rounding out the top five.
The second round of the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate Championship is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. (ET) Saturday at the Cherokee Country Club.
Mercedes-Benz Championship-Cherokee Country Club-Par 71, 5,897 Yds.
TOP-10 TEAMS (After Round 1): 1. South Carolina 279, -5; 2. Arkansas 282, -2; 3. Louisville 283, -1; 4. Tennessee 285, +1; 5. UCF 286, +2; 6. Tulane 290, +6; T7. Penn State 292, +8; T7. Tennessee-Chattanooga 292, +8; 9. Mississippi State 293, +9; 10. Mississippi 294, +10; T12. Notre Dame 298, +14.
TOP-10 INDIVIDUALS (After Round 1): 1. Fanny Cnops (UCF) 68, -3; T1. Katelyn Dambaugh (South Carolina) 68, -3; T3. Katie Petrino (Louisville) 69, -2; T3. Hannah Pietila (Tennessee) 69, -2; T3. Regina Plascencia (Arkansas) 69, -2; T3. Samantha Swinehart (South Carolina) 69, -2; T3. Emily Tubert (Arkansas) 69, -2; T8. Robin Doig (UCF) 70, -1; T8. Mary Fran Hillow (South Carolina) 70, -1; T8. Ally McDonald (Mississippi State) 70, -1; T8. Emily McLennan (Chattanooga) 70, -1; T8. Laura Restrepo (Louisville) 70, -1; T8. Sarah Schmeizel (South Carolina) 70, -1; T8. Chessey Thomas (Tennessee) 70, -1.
NOTRE DAME INDIVIDUALS (After Round 1): T33. Talia Campbell 73, +2; T33. Jordan Ferreira 73, +2; T62. Kelli Oride 76, +5; T62. Kristina Nhim 76, +5; T80. Ashley Armstrong 78, +7; 93. Janie Fineis 87. +16.*
*- Competed as an individual
–ND–