Blue Devils Close Action in the Bahamas

BAHAMAS – The Duke women’s golf program closed action in the Bahamas on Wednesday with senior Erica Shepherd leading the Blue Devils with a tied for 18th finish at the Par-72, 6,544-yard Albany Golf Resort.  

Shepherd, who hails from Greenwood, Ind., posted rounds of 77, 72 and 76 for a 54-hole ledger of 225.  It marked the 14th career top-20 finish for the three-time All-American.  

How It Happened

•    All teams opened action with a shotgun start at 7:45 a.m.  The Blue Devils were spread out over holes 11-16 when the day started.  

•    Erica Shepherd had four pars to kick off her day, which started on hole No. 11.  After dropping four shots, she collected her first birdie of the morning as she rolled in 14-foot putt on No. 5.  Shepherd added another birdie on the par-five ninth hole as she had a beautiful chip onto the green and sank the 6-foot birdie to move to 4-over, where she finished the day with a 76 after a par on No. 10.  

•    On her birthday, freshman Andie Smith signed for an 80 Wednesday and went on to finish in a tie for 35th with a 232.  She featured two birdies on the day on No. 17 and No. 9.  She rolled in a 25-footer on the 17th and a 4-footer on the ninth.

•    Junior Anne Chen carded Duke’s second-best round on Wednesday with a 4-over, 76.  She opened her day with a par, birdie and bogey over her first three holes (13-15).  Chen dropped three shots on holes 16-18, before playing her next nine holes at 1-under.  During that stretch, she had eight straight pars and then made a 4-foot birdie on No. 9.  She was 2-over heading into the final hole, but suffered a double-bogey to finish with a 76. Chen finished in 43rd overall with a 234.

•    After opening on hole No. 15, Rylie Heflin parred three out of her first four holes and would finish with a 78 for the day.  Overall, she was only 2-over-par on holes 10-18 and featured one birdie on No. 2 as she drained a 35-foot putt.  

•    Junior Phoebe Brinker closed the week with an 82, while senior Megan Furtney signed for an 85 as she was playing as an individual.

•    Latanna Stone of LSU claimed the individual title with a 6-under, 210.

•    As a team, Duke finished with rounds of 319, 302 and 310 for a 931.  Wake Forest won the team title with an 875.  

Notes

•    Duke…