The Notre Dame Women's golf team posted its best mark of the season at the Pinetree Women's Collegiate this past week, finishing with a score of 877 (+25) on the weekend en route to a third-place result. Sophomore Alexsandra Lapple led the way for the Irish with a third-place individual finish, posting a score of 215 (+2).
Lapple's best performance came in round two where she shot 68 (-3). Her five birdies were the second-best total on the team for round two. One of those birdies came on hole 13, a 151-yard par-three that had tripped up Notre Dame's lineup all week long. In round two, Lapple was the only Irish golfer to escape the hole with a positive result. The other four either bogeyed or double-bogeyed. In the field of 70 total golfers participating in the tournament, only five were able to birdie on the hole on the second day.
Lapple's efforts were paired alongside the exemplary play of Bridget Wilkie. The freshman finished ninth overall behind a total score of 218 (+5). Wilkie sank 11 birdies throughout the three rounds. Headed into the final day, Wilkie was seated in third place after a 72 (+1) and 69 (-2) to open the tournament. She shot 77 (+6) in round three, punished by a double-bogey on hole 11. Regardless of the finish, the ninth-place finish would be Wilkie's career-best performance. Her best golf of the season is coming at a perfect time for the Irish.
Not far behind Lapple and Wilkie was senior leader Montgomery Ferreira, who finished the tournament with a 220 (+7) and 12th place finish individually. Ferreira's tournament was highlighted by an eagle on the par-five seventh hole. Her 4.75 average on par-fives was third out of all golfers competing. Being one of only two seniors on the team, Ferreira's leadership ability has also been on full display. The senior's experience on the links has become a valuable asset to the otherwise young Irish five.
Senior Maya Hunter and freshman Maddy Bante finished in 30th and 42nd place, respectively. Hunter found much of her success on par-fours, where five of her nine birdies came. Her 75 (+4) was the second-lowest score of the final round for the Irish, and it moved her 14 spots up the leaderboard. Meanwhile, Bante completed the tournament with eight birdies.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Notre Dame ranked tied for first in scoring average on par-fours with their 4.19 mark. The team also combined for a cumulative 44 birdies, placing them one short of first-place Texas Tech.
The Irish's next stop will be in College Park, Maryland for the Maryland Terps Invite on April 6-7. The invite will be Notre Dame's final regular season test of the year before the ACC Championships, which are scheduled for April 16-19 in Greensboro, North Carolina. NCAA Regionals and Nationals will follow in May. Led by head coach Caroline Powers Ellis, the team is starting to find their groove as they enter postseason play.
