Way to Go Coach Jeanne Cho

Way to Go Coach Jeanne Cho

Proud of our Association with Womaen’s Assitant Coach Jeanne  Cho

The Blue Devils came from behind to hold off top-ranked Southern California and win by two strokes at the 6,174-yard, par 70 Tulsa Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., for the program’s sixth national championship Friday evening. Duke also won the program’s first national title in Tulsa in 1999.

Duke shot a six-under, 274 to beat the Trojans, who finished the day with a round of 10-under par, 270. The Blue Devils completed the competition with a NCAA-record low 72-hole team score of 1,130, which was good for 10-over-par.

Southern California had an impressive start Friday and was able to grab the team lead by as many as four early on the back nine.  The Blue Devils though turned in a six-under-par final nine holes to grab a three stroke lead with two holes remaining.  Duke featured three birdies on the 466-yard, par five 16th and totaled seven pars on the final two holes to close the victory.  The Blue Devils also had only two bogeys as a team on the back nine to help secure the win.

Duke featured rounds of 293, 285, 278 and 274 for a four-day ledger of 1130.  Southern California (1132) was second, while UCLA (1145), Oklahoma (1147), Arizona State (1150), Mississippi State (1157), Arizona (1158), Ohio State (1158), Alabama (1161), Vanderbilt (1163), Texas A&M (1163) and NC State (1163) rounded out the top 10 teams.

Doris Chen of Southern California carded a final round, 67, to win the individual title by two strokes with a 72-hole total of 274.  Boutier totaled rounds of 70, 70, 67 and 69 to finish two strokes behind Chen with a 276.  It marked Boutier’s second straight top five finish in the NCAA Championship as she placed tied fourth as a freshman.

Seniors Alejandra Cangrejo and Laetitia Beck led Duke Friday with matching 2-under pars, 68, efforts in their final competitive rounds as college golfers.  Sophomore Celine Boutier, the runner-up individually, finished her final round at one-under, 69, as did freshman Sandy Choi.  Yu Liu, the ACC Rookie of the Year, registered a two-over-par 72 to end her impressive inaugural campaign.

Boutier, who is out of Montrouge, France, tied a season high with 17 greens in regulation during the final round as she carded four birdies on the day – two on the front and two on the back nine.  Down by one stroke on the individual leaderboard on hole 18, Boutier needed a birdie to tie.  She gave her birdie putt a go, but it slipped by a few feet and finished with a three-putt bogey.  Boutier had 34 putts and seven fairways hit on the day.  She closed the season with six top five finishes, including three victories.

Cangrejo and Beck each came through big for the Blue Devils Friday as the duo carded three birdies over the final nine holes to post their best individual score in NCAA Championship action over their career, 68.

Choi, who is from San Diego, Calif., turned in final round of 69 on her way to placing tied 23rd with a four-day total of 286.  She hit 16 greens, 11 fairways and had 32 putts in the final round.  Choi closed her freshman season with five even or under par rounds in her final three tournaments.

A product of Beijing, China, Liu carded two birdies over her final six holes on her way to finishing with a two-over, 72.  She tied 43rd overall with a 291.

Duke found itself tied for third after the first day of competition, five shots back of the Oklahoma Sooners, two back of UCLA and even with Southern California and Arizona State. After the second round, the Blue Devils were in sole possession of second place, three shots back of Oklahoma.

On day three, Duke made its move, carding a two-under, 278, that gave the Blue Devils a six-shot lead heading into the championship’s final round.

Duke also won the team national championship in 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, and 2007.  Head coach Dan Brooks now owns 119 career victories and six NCAA Championships under his belt.

Notes:

·         The last four times Duke has led the NCAA Championship entering the final round, the Blue Devils have won the NCAA title (2005, 2006, 2007 & 2014).

·         Celine Boutier totaled her team-best 20th round of even or under par this season.  She finished the season tied third on Duke’s single-season charts.

·         Celine Boutier owns even or under par ledgers in six of eight career rounds in NCAA Championship action.

#GoDuke

 

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