Oct. 26, 2012
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The University of Notre Dame women’s golf team finished fifth Friday after carding an eight-over par 296 during the first round of play at the Landfall Tradition at the Country Club of Landfall’s par 72 Jack Nicklaus Course (6,138 yards).
“I think we really battled well today,” Irish head coach Susan Holt said. “Talia (Campbell) and Ashley (Armstrong) started off rough, but really came alive on the back nine. Talia was six-over par on the front nine and finished with a one-under par on the back. Ashley was four-over on the front and finished the back one-over par.
“I’m proud of the way we stayed focused and I think that we really showed our maturity today with that. Overall we hung in with a very competitive field and look to come out strong tomorrow.”
Oklahoma State led the field of 17 teams with a four-over par 292. Notre Dame trails Purdue and Texas Tech, who tied for third with a six-over par 294, by two strokes. Duke held steady in second with a five-over par 293.
Kimberly Kaufman (Texas Tech) is the frontrunner in the field of 90 golfers after a five-under par 67. Kelsey Vines (Oklahoma State) landed in second after firing a three-under par 69.
Freshman Lindsey Weaver (Scottsdale, Ariz.) was the top performer for the Irish firing a two-under par 70. Weaver tied UNC Wilmington’s Johanna Bjoerk for third place. Friday’s outing marked the fourth round in a row the freshman has shot par or better, upping her season total to seven. Weaver also led Notre Dame with five birdies.
Sophomore Kelli Oride (Lihue, Hawaii) fired an even-par 72 and gathered in three birdies. Oride sits in a four-way tie for 11th place.
“Lindsey and Kelli played well for us today,” Holt said. “Both have remained consistent for us all year.”
Sophomore Ashley Armstrong (Flossmoor, III.) and freshman Talia Campbell (Dallas, Texas) each finished with a five-over par 77 and are tied for 43rd.
Junior Kristina Nhim (Cypress, Calif.) finished tied for 86th after firing an 11-over par 83.
The combined stroke average of the field in the opening round was 76.43. Four of the five Irish players held below a 76-stroke average entering the tournament.
The Irish return to action Saturday morning to begin day two of the three-day Landfall Tradition tournament.
–ND–
TOP FIVE TEAMS: 1. Oklahoma State 293; 2. Duke 293; t3. Purdue 294; t3. Texas Tech 294; 5. Notre Dame 296
TOP FIVE GOLFERS: 1. Kimberly Kaufman (Texas Tech) 67; 2. Kelsey Vines (Oklahoma State) 69; t3. Johanna Bjoerk (UNC Wilmington) 70; t3. Lindsey Weaver (Notre Dame); t5. Lori Beth Adams (UNC Wilmington) 71; t5. Celine Boutier (Duke) 71; t5. Allison Emrey (Wake Forest) 71; t5. Beverly Mendoza (Texas Tech) 71; t5. Caroline Powers (Michigan State) 71.
IRISH GOLFERS: t3. Lindsey Weaver 70; t11. Kelli Oride 72; t43. Ashley Armstrong 77; t43. Talia Campbell 77; t86. Kristina Nhim 83.