Blue Devils in Third at Jackson T. Stephens Cup

JUNO BEACH, Fla. – The Duke women’s golf team opened action at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup on Monday at the 6,200-yard, par-72 Seminole Golf Club and is currently 6-under-par heading into Tuesday’s action in Juno Beach, Fla.

Due to darkness, the Blue Devils were unable to finish the second round and will conclude action on Tuesday.  Only freshman Andie Smith was able to finish a full 36 holes with the rest of the Duke golfers having 1-4 holes remaining.  

Duke sits tied for third overall, as the Blue Devils are currently 6-under in round two.  Wake Forest and Stanford finished the second round at 18-under (558) and seven-under (569), respectively, to hold the top two slots.  Duke (-6), Southern California (-6), South Carolina (Even), Arkansas (+7, 583) and LSU (+11, 587) round out the field. Following 54 holes, the top four teams will advance to match play.

How It Happened

•    Duke carded an even-par, 288, in round one good for fifth overall as the Blue Devils fired 14 birdies in the morning round.  After opening the day on hole No. 10, Duke jumped to 5-under-par when the Blue Devils made the turn and led the field early.  

•    Junior Phoebe Brinker paced the Blue Devils in the first round with a 2-under, 70, as she rolled in four birdies.  After shooting 1-under on the front nine with a birdie on No. 14, she carded birdies on No. 1 and No. 3 to get to 3-under-par.  She closed the final six holes at 1-over with a birdie on No. 7.   

•    Both Rylie Heflin and Andie Smith carded even-par rounds of 72 in round one.  Smith rolled in four birdies, while Heflin added two, along with 15 pars.  

•    Erica Shepherd and Anne Chen signed for first round totals of 74 and 75, respectively.  

•    Smith opened her second round with back-to-back birdies on No. 1 and No. 2.  She then had five pars and one bogey, before draining birdies on No. 9 and No. 10 to get to 3-under.  Smith carded her fifth birdie of the day on No. 15 and closed with two pars and a bogey on No. 18 to finish with a 3-under, 69.  

•    Shepherd caught fire on the back nine of the second round.  She opened with nine straight pars, before sinking a birdie on No. 10 and then notching an eagle on No. 14 to move to 3-under.  She has three holes remaining and stands at 3-under.  

•    After…