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Duke Ranked No. 6; Malixi Earns Preseason All-America Nod
8/31/2026 9:08:00 AM | Women's Golf
DURHAM, N.C. – The Golf Channel released its preseason top 30 rankings Monday and its preseason All-American teams with Duke women's golf being tabbed No. 6 overall as a team along with sophomore Rianne Malixi earning recognition.
Malixi, who hails from Manila, Philippines, was one of 10 members of the Golf Channel Preseason First Team All-America team. She returns to Durham for a second season after collecting one of the best rookie seasons in Duke history.
She carded a 70.61 stroke average, one victory, five top-five finishes, 18 rounds of even or under par, 10 rounds in the 60s and seven top-20 finishes in eight tournaments. Malixi earned Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) National Freshman of the Year, a Golfweek and WGCA First Team All-America honors, ACC Rookie of the Year and All-ACC accolades.
During the spring, Malixi shot 40-under-par in six stroke-play events. She also posted a 4-0 record in match play, including victories at the Old Barnwell Derby Match Play and the NCAA Championship. Malixi closed the season by carding a 9-under-par, 279, at the NCAA Championship to finish third overall. She totaled rounds of 73, 69, 68 and 69 over the four days. She is just the second Blue Devil to notch three straight rounds in the 60s at the NCAA Championship.
As a team, Duke was ranked No. 6 behind Stanford (1), Southern California (2), Texas (3), Texas A&M (4) and Arkansas (5). Rounding out the top 10 teams were Wake Forest (7), Florida State (8), Auburn (9) and South Carolina (10).
Golf Channel's rankings and All-America teams were compiled by longtime writer and reporter Brentley Romine.
The Blue Devils return five golfers from a season ago – senior Katie Li, junior Carla De Troia, junior Anna Cañado Espinal, Malixi and sophomore Avery McCrery – and welcome two of the top amateur golfers in the nation with freshman Mia Hammond and freshman Martina Navarro Navarro.
Duke will open the 2026-27 regular season Sept. 7-9 at the Folds of Honor Collegiate, which will be contested at the American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan. The event will be televised by Golf Channel.
#GoDuke
Malixi, who hails from Manila, Philippines, was one of 10 members of the Golf Channel Preseason First Team All-America team. She returns to Durham for a second season after collecting one of the best rookie seasons in Duke history.
She carded a 70.61 stroke average, one victory, five top-five finishes, 18 rounds of even or under par, 10 rounds in the 60s and seven top-20 finishes in eight tournaments. Malixi earned Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) National Freshman of the Year, a Golfweek and WGCA First Team All-America honors, ACC Rookie of the Year and All-ACC accolades.
During the spring, Malixi shot 40-under-par in six stroke-play events. She also posted a 4-0 record in match play, including victories at the Old Barnwell Derby Match Play and the NCAA Championship. Malixi closed the season by carding a 9-under-par, 279, at the NCAA Championship to finish third overall. She totaled rounds of 73, 69, 68 and 69 over the four days. She is just the second Blue Devil to notch three straight rounds in the 60s at the NCAA Championship.
As a team, Duke was ranked No. 6 behind Stanford (1), Southern California (2), Texas (3), Texas A&M (4) and Arkansas (5). Rounding out the top 10 teams were Wake Forest (7), Florida State (8), Auburn (9) and South Carolina (10).
Golf Channel's rankings and All-America teams were compiled by longtime writer and reporter Brentley Romine.
The Blue Devils return five golfers from a season ago – senior Katie Li, junior Carla De Troia, junior Anna Cañado Espinal, Malixi and sophomore Avery McCrery – and welcome two of the top amateur golfers in the nation with freshman Mia Hammond and freshman Martina Navarro Navarro.
Duke will open the 2026-27 regular season Sept. 7-9 at the Folds of Honor Collegiate, which will be contested at the American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Michigan. The event will be televised by Golf Channel.
#GoDuke
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