O’BRIEN NIT: Bruins 5th as a Team, Morrison Leads by a Stroke after O’Brien’s 1st Day

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – A one-over-par 73 put George Fox University’s Kelsey Morrison atop the leader board by one stroke, while her Bruin team stands fifth out of 10 teams, after the first round of the O’Brien National Invitational Women’s Golf Tournament Sunday afternoon here at the Warren Golf Course on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.

Morrison carded a 38-35=73 on the par 72, 5,874-yard course, edging Hannah Buck of Washington University-St. Louis, who shot a 37-37=74.  Two players - Jennifer Sullivan of Methodist University (41-36=77) and Olivia Lugar of Washington-St. Louis (40-37=77) are each four strokes back.

Joining Morrison with counting scores for the Bruins were Whitney Jammerman with a 41-43=84 (tied for 29th), Abby Mann with a 43-42=85 (32nd), and Kiana Lumanlan with a 45-44=89 (tied for 44th) in her first collegiate match.  Melissa Nugent, another George Fox freshman, shot a 52-42=94 (tied for 59th).  The Bruins played without their usual No. 2 player, Megan McGrew, who had to sit out with tendonitis in her elbow.

Methodist, which has won the last 15 NCAA Division III national championships, shot a four-player team score of 318 to hold a three-stroke lead over Washington-St. Louis’ 321.  Centre College sits third with a 325, followed by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire at 329, George Fox at 331, DePauw University and host St. Mary’s College (Ind.) tied at 332, Whitman College at 336, Allegheny College at 339, and Gustavus Adolphus College at 340.  All 10 teams are ranked in the Golf World / National Golf Coaches Association pre-season top 15. 

“I'm really pleased with our team's first tournament round of the fall season,” commented Bruins head coach MaryJo McClosey.  “We had a last-minute lineup change with Megan having to pull out of the event.  That left us with three players playing in this national event for the first time, but they all handled the pressure well, and we will be a stronger team because of this great experience.  Kelsey's focus was unbelievable, especially on a course that is very difficult, with extremely thick rough and large sloping greens with lots of tricky pin placements.  I believe she hit 16 greens in regulation.  We are looking forward to tomorrow and seeing if we can gain some quick momentum early on.” 

Complete results of the first round of the O’Brien National Invitational Tournament, courtesy of the St. Mary’s sports information office, may be found on the George Fox athletics web site at http://athletics.georgefox.edu/sports/wgolf/2012-13/files/O_Brien_Day_1.pdf

The final round of the tournament is scheduled to tee off at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (5:30 a.m. Pacific) on Monday.  The official tournament website, hosted by St. Mary’s, may be found at http://www3.saintmarys.edu/golf/archives/obrien-national-invitational.