Notre Dame coach Cynthia Rorer expects a really close state tournament at Bowling Green Country Club next week.

 

The Pandas are familiar with the course. Rorer said the squad placed sixth at an invitational tournament in early September. But the difference was the Pandas drove for three hours and played the round before driving back the same day.

 

Next week, Notre Dame, which finished fifth at state in 2006, will be able to have a practice round and have more time to study the course conditions. The state tournament is Oct. 4-6 at Bowling Green Country Club.

 

On Tuesday, Notre Dame and Villa Madonna qualified for the state tournament with a first and second place finish respectively in the Sixth Region tournament at Summit Hills. Notre Dame shot 330 while Villa Madonna had 346.

 

Notre Dame junior Alex Carl shot a 6-over par 78 to win medalist honors for the Pandas. It was her first regional title as an individual. She was regional runner-up last season.

 

“Alex winning the region – that was a great thing,” Rorer said.

 

It is the fourth consecutive regional title for the Pandas.

 

Carl had about a 30-footer putt for birdie on No. 18 and Rorer said she was glad to see Carl get the individual title.

 

“She’s played really well and has been medalist in a lot of tournaments,” Rorer said. “She has had a good, solid year; it’s been nice to see.”

 

That experience should pay off next week. The Pandas were also led Tuesday in the regional by seniors Kristin Lottman (83), Jennifer Rechtin (84) and Kristin O’Brien (85) and freshman Angela Pugliano (90).

 

 “The first (title) wasn’t quite expected,” Rorer said. “The last three have been pretty much the favorite to (win). They’ve had a really good season.”