April 25, 1999

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Notre Dame women's golf team stands in 12th place out of 15 teams following first-day action Saturday at the Ohio State Invitational.

The three-round tournament concludes with 18 holes on Sunday at the par-72, 6,037-yard OSU Scarlet Golf Course.

The Irish posted matching rounds of 332 on Saturday for a 664 total, just two strokes behind Winthrop. The host Buckeyes (304-297) hold a commanding 20-stroke lead over second-place Northwestern heading into the final round.

Sophomore Mary Klein led the Irish on Saturday with rounds of 79-81, good for a share of 22nd in the 90-player field. Sophomores Shane Smith (89-84) and Danielle Villarosa (86-83) also rank among the top 60 individuals, with junior captain Andrea Klee (87-84), freshman Kristin McMurtrie (89-85) and junior Beth Cooper (91-86) rounding out the Irish six-player contingent.

OSU's Amber Amstutz (74-72) holds a one-shot lead over teammate Natalie Mosher (74-73) and Purdue's Angele Blythe (75-72) atop the individual leader board.

TEAM STANDINGS

 1. Ohio State          304-297/601
 2. Northwestern        312-309/621
 3. Pepperdine          309-313/622
    Purdue              315-307/622
 5. Michigan State      322-310/632
 6. Wisconsin           320-316/636
 7. Minnesota           322-318/640
 8. Toledo              326-327/653
 9. Kent                328-327/655
    Ohio                328-327/655
11. Winthrop            327-335/662
12. Notre Dame          332-332/664
13. Cincinnati          346-351/697
14. Bowling Green       354-344/698
    Xavier              353-345/698
       

 1. Amber Amstutz (OSU)  74-72/146
 2. Angela Blythe (PUR)  75-72/147
    Natalie Mosher (OSU) 74-73/147
 4. Tamie Durdin (PEP)   74-75/149
 5. Lisa Strom (OSU)     77-75/152  

22. Mary Klein           79-81/160
41. Shane Smith          89-84/164
57. Danielle Villarosa   86-83/169
62. Andrea Klee          87-84/171
67. Kristin McMurtrie    89-85/174
73. Beth Cooper          91-86/177