Malixi Claims First Collegiate Title; Duke Places Second in Florida

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Duke women’s golf’s highly-touted freshman Rianne Malixi collected her first collegiate individual title this week as the Blue Devils opened the 2026 spring portion of their schedule at the Sea Best Intercollegiate, which was contested at the 5,954-yard, par-72 San Jose Country Club in Jacksonville.
 
Malixi, a native of Manila, Philippines, registered the victory in record fashion as she carded a 9-under-par, 63, in the final round and a 54-hole score of 16-under-par, 200, to win by two strokes.  The round of 63 tied for the lowest 18-hole score on a par-72 course in Duke history and the 3-day total of 200 was the lowest score in Blue Devil lore.  Malixi’s 16-under score was tied for the 20th lowest 54-hole score in relation to par in NCAA history and her 63 was tied for the 21st lowest 18-hole score as well.  She also became just the 15th freshman to shoot a 63 or better in NCAA action. 
 
As a team, Duke finished with a 27-under-par, 837, to finish second overall and only one stroke behind Florida (836).  The 27-under-par score of 837 was tied for the second-lowest 54-hole score in Duke history.  The Blue Devils featured five golfers in the top eight of the individual leaderboard – Malixi (1st, -16), Katie Li (4th, -6), Anna Cañado Espinal (5th, -5), Andie Smith (T6th, -4) and Avery McCrery (8th, -1). The last time Duke notched at least four golfers in the top 10 was in 2017.   
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – ROUND THREE

• Rianne Malixi had it dialed in early sinking a 5-foot birdie on No. 1 and then posted her second collegiate eagle on No. 3 to get to 3-under.  She suffered her only two bogeys on No. 4 and No. 5, but came back with a 4-footer for birdie on No. 6 to get back to 2-under.  After three pars, Malixi made the turn at 2-under, 34.  On the back nine, she birdied the first five holes to move to 7-under for the day.  She stuck four of the next five within eight feet and also drained a 40-footer for birdie on No. 13.  With four holes remaining, Malixi parred No. 15, sank a 9-foot birdie on No. 16 and a 6-footer for birdie on No. 17 to get to 9-under.  She parred No. 18 to finish with the 9-under, 63.  Malixi hit 11 fairways, 16 greens and had a career-best 25 putts.  Her back nine of 7-under, 29, was a Duke record. 
• Junior Katie Li finished the event with a 6-under, 210, which slotted her fourth overall on the individual leaderboard.  A product of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Li birdied the first hole…