Blue Devils Open NCAA Regional in Fourth Place

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The second-seeded Duke women's golf team opened the Ann Arbor Regional Monday with a 2-over-par, 286, and sits in fourth place with 36 holes remaining at the 6,260-yard, par-71 University of Michigan Golf Course in Ann Arbor.

The Blue Devils were led in round one by graduate student Andie Smith with a 1-under, 70, while freshman Rianne Malixi totaled an even-par, 71.

Following 54 holes of action, the top five teams will advance to the NCAA Championship May 22-27 at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Blue Devils featured an impressive start with an eagle by Andie Smith and birdie by Anna Cañado Espinal on the 486-yard, par-5 first hole. Duke had three birdies and an eagle over the first three holes, but dropped four shots on the par-5 third.
Smith, a native of Hobe Sound, Florida, turned in her second eagle of the season and sixth of her career as she used her 60-degree wedge from 20 feet and chipped in on No. 1. After a bogey on No. 3, Smith hit her 60-degree from 80 yards and stuck it to two feet for birdie to return to 2-under. After bogeys on No. 12 and No. 15, Smith rolled in a 10-footer for birdie on No. 17 to close with a 1-under, 70. She is tied for 10th following 18 holes of play. Smith hit 11 greens, had a season-best 27 putts and notched five up-and-downs.
With her even-par, 71, Rianne Malixi is tied for 15th after day one. She started her morning with a par and then rolled in her first birdie on the 406-yard, par-4 second hole. After bogeys on No. 5 and No. 8, Malixi made the turn with a 1-over, 37. She started to get hot on the back nine as she hit the greenside bunker in two on the par-5 No. 11. Malixi, who is from Manila, Philippines, got up-and-down from the bunker and drained a 10-foot birdie to move to even. She added another birdie on No. 13 to get back in the red at 1-under. On No. 18, Malixi came up short on her approach and suffered a bogey to finish with an even-par, 71.
Junior Katie Li turned in a 1-over, 72, in round one and is tied for 22nd on the individual leaderboard. She opened with a par and then suffered a bogey on No. 2. Li, who hails from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, hit her pitching wedge from 115 yards on the 523-yard, par-5 third hole to four feet for birdie to return to even. She parred the next hole and then drained a 25-foot birdie on No. 5 to move to 1-under. Li had 11 pars and two bogeys over her final 13 holes to finish with a 72. This included a key up-and-down from 62 yards on No. 16 where she rolled in a 10-foot par putt. She hit 12 greens and had 30 putts on the day.
Seeing action in her first NCAA Regional, freshman Avery McCrery signed for a 2-over, 73. She had seven pars and bogeys on No. 3 and No. 8 early. McCrery, a product of Wilmington, Delaware, then played her final 10 holes at even par. She totaled her first birdie of the day on the 370-yard, par-4 10th hole as she rolled in a 10-footer. McCrery also hit a beautiful shot on No. 18 as she struck her 5-iron from 178 yards to a foot for birdie. She hit 15 greens, 10 fairways and had 34 putts.
Anna Cañado Espinal opened her morning by reaching the greenside bunker in two and then converting for birdie as she sank a 12-footer to move to the red early. She got into trouble on No. 3 and suffered a double-bogey, but came back to roll in an 8-foot birdie on No. 6 to return to even. Cañado Espinal played her final 12 holes at 4-over to finish with a 75. She finished with three birdies on the day as she also sank a 12-footer on No. 10. Cañado Espinal hit 12 fairways and 11 greens.

NOTES

Andie Smith moved into a tie for ninth on Duke's career eagles list with six. She totaled her 50th career round of even or under par.
Smith's 1-under, 70, is the lowest by a Duke golfer in program history in round one of a NCAA Regional on a par-71 course. The previous low was 71 by Liz Janangelo and Leigh Ann Hardin in 2003.
Rianne Malixi totaled her 14th round this season of even or under par.
Duke collected 12 birdies on the day, which ranked seventh among all teams. The Blue Devils were one of three teams to collect an eagle.
Katie Li has shot 72 or better in her last eight rounds.
The 2-over, 286, in round one is the lowest for Duke in round one of a NCAA Regional on a par-71 course. The previous low was 288 in 2003.
The Blue Devils are playing only the second par-71 course in NCAA Regional history for Duke. The only other time was in 2003 at the Salem Glen Country Club in Clemmons, North Carolina. Duke won the regional with a 5-over, 857.
Northwestern and Ohio State share the team lead after day one with a 5-under, 279, with Southern California (282), Duke (286) and UCF (287) rounding out the top five teams.

QUOTES

"It was a solid day for Duke. A fun day on a great golf course. This is one of the best courses we've played, a beautiful Alister Mackenzie design. You have to play smart golf… perfect venue for a regional." -- Duke head coach Dan Brooks

WHAT IS NEXT

Duke will tee off beginning at 8 a.m., Tuesday, May 12 in the second round along with Central Florida and Texas Tech. The Blue Devils will start on hole No. 10.

To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's golf, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWGOLF".

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Duke Results
Andie Smith                                    70 (-1, T10)
Rianne Malixi                                 71 (E, T15)
Katie Li                                            72 (+1, T22)
Avery McCrery                               73 (+2, T27)
Anna Cañado Espinal                   75 (+4, T42)
Team                                               286 (+2, 4^th)