Nov. 2, 2009
Final women’s epee standings in pdf format 
MONTREAL, Canada – Sophomore epeeist Courtney Hurley (San Antonio, TX/Earl Warren) took home the women’s epee gold medal at a Junior World Cup event that concluded on November 1. It marks her second consecutive gold medal finish at the Montreal event, having won the gold last year as well.
After pool play, Hurley was the third seed entering direct elimination. In her final-16 bout, she downed fellow American Katharine Holmes, 15-4. In the quarterfinals, she knocked-off sixth-seeded Francesca Bassa, also of the USA, by a 15-11 margin. In the semifinals, Hurley downed American and second seed Hannah Safford, 13-9, to set up a championship showdown with top-seeded Grace Neveu, also of the USA. Hurley proved victorious in the gold medal bout, 15-7.
With the win, Hurley earned 32 points towards her junior ranking and now stands as the third-ranked junior women’s epeeist in the world (according to the fie rankings). She is currently 30th in the senior rankings as well. Since competing in her first junior tournament in 2003, Hurley has turned in 12 top-five finishes at various Junior World Cup events, including four gold medal finishes.
Hurley and the Irish fencing team’s next collegiate event of the year will be the Penn State open, which is scheduled to take place on November 21 and 22. The women’s portion of the tournament will take place on the 21, with the men fencing on the 22.
— ND —