Notre Dame opened its season with a 9-over-par team score of 297, good for an eighth place tie after one round at the Cougar Classic in Hanahan, S.C., at the Yeamans Hall Golf Club.
Senior Lisa Maunu and freshman Becca Huffer led the Irish by each carding a one-over 73, placing them in a tie for 16th-place as individuals.
Georgia's Mallory Hetzel and Virginia's Whitney Neuhauser each shot four-under 68s to take the first-round lead. Georgia and Virginia top the team leaderboards as well after even-par 189's.
Junior Annie Brophy, along with Maunu and Huffer, scored three birdies on the day, placing her in 39th-place with a three-over 75.
Junior Kristin Wetzel shot a four-over 76, good for 53rd, and sophomore So-Hyun Park's eight-over 80 placed her in 87th to round out Notre Dame's round-one competitors.
The event's 22-team field includes five top-25 teams. Four other teams, including the Irish, received votes in the Golf World/NGCA preseason Coaches' Poll.
The second round begins today at 7:40 a.m., and the third and final round will begin Tuesday at 8:45 a.m.
