Notre Dame's fall campaign couldn't have gotten off to a better start.
The Irish received the distinction of Golfweek magazine's women's team of the week to add onto their impressive back-to-back season-opening victories at the Cougar Classic and Napa River Grill Cardinal Cup.
The Irish will try to stay perfect at Michigan's Wolverine Invitational in Ann Arbor this weekend.
If Notre Dame can come out with their third straight victory, it will be the first time in program history the team has started a season three-for-three.
The unit's early success has only made them more confident, but they are still focused on the prize.
"They're good about getting their focus back," coach Susan Holt said. "They know where they need to be. I told them in our team meeting that the key to another win is to stay in the present and have a good week's practice and I think we were able to do that. Now we just have to play the golf course because when you do that, you give yourself a shot to win."
Teeing off from the No. 1 spot will be junior Lisa Maunu, who has had a memorable start to her season. A week ago, Golfweek named Maunu women's player of the week thanks to her record-breaking six-under par 66 at Cougar Classic and her three-way tie for sixth at the Cardinal Cup.
Shooting from the second spot will be freshman So-Hyun Park, who won her second collegiate tournament at Napa River with a three-under-par 213 (70-71-72). In her first event, Park finished second in the field, behind only Maunu.
Sophomore Annie Brophy will play from the No. 3 hole after her 226 (77-73-76) helped her place No. 21 at the Cardinal Cup. Fellow sophomore Kristin Wetzel will shoot fourth and will try to continue her consistent play, after she tied for 13th at the Cardinal Cup.
Rounding out the group will be freshman Katie Conway, who finished strong at the Cardinal Cup, shooting a one-over-par 73. After a final round score of one-over 73, she ended the tournament in a tie for 21st alongside Brophy.
For the Irish to continue their success, they must work on one of their weaknesses, Holt said.
"Our course management needs some work," Holt said. "We came into the final round of the Cardinal Cup with an eight-stroke lead, but we sometimes tend to be overly aggressive and let the competition catch up. We need to keep it simple, and hit fairways."
The Irish are looking to back up their previous performances with a solid campaign as they head to the Wolverine Invitational.
"Success breeds confidence," Holt said. "We're all playing well, and we're being consistent. The team is really feeding off it. They're just excited to go over there and play some golf."
