After a torrid start, No. 25 Notre Dame holds a nine-stroke lead over the rest of the field heading into the final day of competition at the Big East championship tournament at the Elks Run Golf Club in Batavia, Ohio.
The Irish (597) shot the two lowest rounds of the tournament, carding a 296 and 301, to stake out a comfortable lead over second-place No. 28 Louisville (606). Notre Dame sophomore Annie Brophy recorded back-to-back 74s to head into the final round tied for first. Three other Irish golfers played their way into the top-10.
Before play Sunday, Notre Dame head coach Susan Holt expressed confidence in her team.
"Our goal all year has been winning the Big East championship," Holt said. "That's what we expect to do, and we deserve to have that happen. We've been playing good golf. We're hitting the ball well and we want to keep that going. The only thing that will beat us is ourselves."
The entire Irish squad turned in solid performances, with no golfer ending Monday lower than 16th overall. Behind leader Brophy, junior captain Lisa Maunu added a 76 to her first-round best 73 to finish the five-over par day tied for fourth overall, a single stroke behind the leaders. Also tied for fourth overall, freshman standout So-Hyun Park fired a 75 on top of her first round 74 to finish five-over par. Kristin Wetzel shot 75-76, seven-over par, to end up tied for seventh as the fourth Notre Dame golfer in the top 10. Completing the Irish squad, freshman Katie Conway contributed a 79 and a 77 to head into the final round tied for 16th at 12-over par.
The Big East championship tournament concludes today, with the third and final round beginning with a staggered start at 8:00 a.m.
