Sports
Irish women’s golf look to end season on high note at ACCs
Aidan Thomas | Thursday, April 14, 2022
Notre Dame women’s golf heads to the ACC Championship this weekend. The Irish face an uphill battle to make noise in the four-day event, entering the day ranked 12 of 12 teams in the conference. The format of the event is three rounds: 54 holes, with stroke play first, then match play on Sunday. The top four teams advance to the stroke-play format in order to crown a champion.
The Irish are led by sophomore Chloe Schiavone. Schiavone averaged 73.76 in 21 rounds this spring, ranking 25 in the ACC. No other Irish golfer enters the event ranked in the top 50 in the conference. Juniors Caroline Wrigley and Madelyn Jones rank 51st and 56th, while freshman Montgomery Ferreira tied for 57 and ranks fourth on the team. Of the four, only Jones played at the ACC Championships a year ago, but her best score at that event was a 79. She’ll be looking to step up her score, as will her teammates. Wrigley, Jones and Ferreira all averaged about four strokes over par throughout the season, and the Irish need even better to make a run this weekend.
A year ago, the Irish finished in a tie for tenth, 52 strokes back of the +12 score needed for a top-four finish. This year, Notre Dame’s scoring averages slate them for a +41 score, meaning they need each golfer to make up strokes in order to contend. The Irish will lean on Schiavone to post some low rounds. However, beyond their star sophomore, the Irish need their supporting cast to play a little closer to par in order to have a chance.
Miami enters the tournament in that pivotal fourth spot to advance to match play on Sunday. They average a team score of 5.46 shots, just a hair shy of six shots per round better than the Irish. Wake Forest enters as the clear favorite, and the only ACC team averaging under par per round this year. Florida State and Virginia also enter among the favorites.
It’s been a roller coaster year with a young roster for the Irish. However, the ACC Championships represent a chance to end on a high note. The Irish start play Thursday morning, looking to turn some heads with an underdog run.
