Women's Golf: Irish get off to slow start in season opener, finish last
Special to The Observer
The Notre Dame women's golf team closed out the final round of action at the Carolina's Collegiate Golf Classic on Tuesday by shooting a 342 for a 36-hole total of 692 (350-342) to finish 22nd among the 22 teams participating at the 6,046-yard, par 72 Pinehurst No. 8 golf course.
The Irish finished the 36-hole tournament 64 shots off the pace set by tournament champion Campell University who fired a 628 (318-310) for an eight-stroke win over the College of Charleston (318-318/636) and North Carolina-Greensboro (316-320/636). Rounding out the top five were Charleston Southern (323-317/640) in fourth and the University of Memphis (323-319/642) in fifth.
Notre Dame's top finisher was freshman Shannon Byrne (Arlington Heights, Ill.) who bounced back from a first round 91 to shoot a nine-over par 81 for a 36-hole total of 172 which tied her for 77th overall. Senior Shane Smith (St. Petersburg, Fla.) finished in a tie for 82nd with a 173 (87-86).
Rounding out the Notre Dame finishes was junior Kristin McMurtrie (Calgary, Alb.) with a 174 (87-87) for a tie for 85th, Terri Taibl (Elm Grove, Wisc.) was 95th with a 176 (88-88) and freshman Rebecca Rogers (Alpharetta, Ga.) was 105th with a 179 (88-91).
Meaghan Francella (Memphis) was the tournament medalist as she followed her opening round 75 with and even par 72 for a two-day total of three-over par 147. She was followed by Radford's Stephanie George who finished three strokes behind Francella with a 150 (78-72). First round co-leader Patricia Martinson (Georgia Southern) finished third with a 153 (75-78).
The Notre Dame women's golf team returns to action on March 15-16 when they compete at the Snowbird Invitational at the Pebblecreek Golf Course in Tampa, Fla.
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, February 28, 2001
