April 18, 2004
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Notre Dame women’s golf team finished in seventh place at the Lady Boilermaker Invitational after firing a 319 in the final round on Sunday, giving the Irish a 54-hole total of 90-over par 954 (314-321-319). Interestingly, Notre Dame was one of only three teams in the 12-team field to shoot below 320 in the final 18 holes. The Irish concluded play at the Purdue event 36 strokes behind Michigan State, which won the tournament by shooting scores of 299, 303 and 316 for a 918 three-round total. The Spartans trailed Indiana by six shots after the first day, but wound up securing the tourney title by four strokes over the second-place Hoosiers (298-298-326–922). The 54-hole event was played with a “six-count-four” format at the par-72, 6,225-yard Kampen Course at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex.
The Irish were led individually by freshman Noriko Nakazaki (Hanover Park, Ill./Hoffman Estates). The rookie shot a three-over par 75 in round one, followed by 18-hole marks of 81 and 79, giving her a 19-over par 235 for 54 holes. Nakazaki finished tied for 18th, 14 shots shy of the five-over outing of 221 (71-68-82) turned in by tournament-medalist Danah Ford of Indiana.
After Nakazaki was junior Karen Lotta (Los Angeles, Calif./Marymount), who had a solid two days. Lotta took 27th after shooting an opening-round 76 and a pair of 81s for a 54-hole mark of 238. Lotta has shot 81 or better in 17 of her last 18 rounds.
Senior co-captain Rebecca Rogers (Alpharetta, Ga./Centennial) was third among Notre Dame participants. Continuing her drive to finish the season strong, Rogers turned in totals of 83, 80 and 80 for a season-low score of 243. The senior’s performance was good for a 31st-place tie, which is the top finish by Rogers since tying for 22nd with a 234 (78-76-80) at the Pine Needles Invitational, November 4-5, 2002. Participating in both the Indiana Invitational and Lady Boilermaker, Rogers played as a member of the scoring lineup in back-to-back tournaments for the first time since taking part in the first four events of the 2002-03 campaign.
Following Rogers was sophomore Katie Brophy (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Prep), who finished the tourney on a high note after struggling in the first two rounds. With a 79, Brophy tied Nakazaki for the low round by an Irish golfer on day two to go with scores of 87 and 83, giving her a 54-hole total of 249.
Sophomore Sarah Bassett (Spokane, Wash./Lewis and Clark) and senior co-captain Shannon Byrne (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) rounded out the Irish contingent in West Lafayette. Bassett carded rounds of 85, 79 and 87 for a 251 two-day total, while Byrne shot 252 (80-85-87) for the tournament.
Notre Dame will next be in action in its final tournament of the 2003-04 season, the BIG EAST Women’s Golf Championship. Defending-champion Notre Dame will host the BIG EAST tournament at the Warren Golf Course, Saturday-Sunday, April 24-25. Admission to the event is free and open to the public with action beginning at 8:00 a.m. (EST) both days.
— ND —
TEAM RESULTS (54-hole totals): 1. Michigan State 918 (299-303-316); 2. Indiana 922 (298-298-326); 3. Northwestern 931 (315-306-310); 4. Purdue 932 (298-314-320); 5. Iowa 935 (311-303-321); 6. Michigan 945 (303-313-329); 7. Notre Dame 954 (314-321-319); 8. Kent State 956 (317-312-327); 9. Illinois 975 (325-325-325); 10. Wisconsin 976 (310-321-345); 11. Minnesota 979 (319-327-333); 12. Jacksonville State 994 (325-334-335).
TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS (of 67): 1. Danah Ford (Indiana) 221 (71-68-82); 2. Alice Kim (Northwestern) 224 (74-75-75); 3. Myrte Eikenaar (Purdue) 228 (73-79-76); 4.(tie) Karen Dennison (Indiana) 229 (75-76-78), Becky Wood (Kent State) 229 (74-77-78); 6.(tie) O. Sattayabanphot (Purdue) 230 (74-75-81), Gabby Wedding (Kent State) 230 (76-72-82); Laura Holmes (Iowa) 230 (78-76-76), Heather Ross (Michigan State) 230 (74-77-79), Rachel Meikle (Michigan State) 230 (76-73-81).
NOTRE DAME INDIVIDUALS (of 67): 18.(tie) Noriko Nakazaki 235 (75-81-79); 27. Karen Lotta 238 (76-81-81); 31.(tie); Rebecca Rogers 243 (83-80-80); 44.(tie) Katie Brophy 249 (87-83-79); 49.(tie) Sarah Bassett 251 (85-79-87); 53. Shannon Byrne 252 (80-85-87).