Women’s Golf Preseason Ranked No. 16 Nationally

DURHAM, N.C. – As the Duke women’s golf program prepares to open the 2024-25 campaign next week, the Blue Devils received a preseason ranking of No. 16 nationally by Golfweek. 
 
Entering his 41st season at Duke, head coach Dan Brooks returns a trio of letterwinners – senior Rylie Heflin, junior Andie Smith and sophomore Katie Li – along with welcoming three freshmen to the mix this season with the addition of Anna Cañado Espinal, Carla De Troia and Martina Yu. 
 
Brooks has led Duke to seven NCAA Championships, 21 ACC Championships and a NCAA-record 143 team victories over his career. 
 
Li, who hails from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, is coming off a rookie campaign that saw her win the individual title at the Florida State Match Up with an impressive 12-under-par, 204, which included back-to-back rounds of 66 to open the event.  She totaled three top-20 finishes on the season and four rounds in the 60s. 
 
Smith enters her third year with the Blue Devils and owns 10 rounds in the 60s in 19 career events.  A product of Hobe Sound, Florida, Smith is coming off a season where she posted a career-best 72.79 stroke average, five top-20 finishes and one top-10 placement.  She carded a 7-under, 65, ledger at the Florida State Match-Up to help lead Duke to the team victory in Tallahassee, Fla.
 
Duke’s lone senior, Heflin, brings 22 career events into her final year in Durham and is coming off a career-best 73.56 stroke average a season ago. 
 
Brooks brought in a trio of international newcomers with Espinal, De Troia and Yu being from Spain, France and Canada, respectively. 
 
Duke is set to open the 2024 fall campaign at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate Sept. 9-11 at the Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo, Minn. 
 
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women’s golf, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching “https://goduke.com/news/2024/9/3/DukeWGOLF”. 
 
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu
 
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