Duke Finishes 13th at NCAA Championship; Evans Ties for 10th Individually

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Senior Ethan Evans registered a final-round 2-under-par 70 on Monday to lead Duke in the fourth and final round of stroke play at the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship, helping the Blue Devils secure a 13th-place finish at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa.

Duke closed the tournament with a 5-over-par 293 in the final round and posted a 72-hole total of 4-over-par 1156 (286-286-291-293). The Blue Devils finished 13th in the 30-team national championship field, marking the program’s best NCAA Championship finish since placing second in 2018.

Evans capped a remarkable championship performance with his fourth consecutive under-par round, finishing tied for 10th place individually at 7-under-par 281 (71-69-71-70). Senior William Love also concluded his collegiate career with a strong showing, tying for 28th place at 1-under-par 287 (72-71-71-73).

Under the direction of first-year Duke head coach Bob Heintz, the Blue Devils were one of just eight teams to stand under par through the first three rounds of competition and advanced to the fourth round of stroke play for the first time since 2018.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Duke registered a 2-under-par 286 to sit tied for fourth place after the opening round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship on Friday.
• On Saturday, the Blue Devils stood at 2-over-par through the opening nine holes before rallying on the back side with six birdies and only two bogeys among their four counting scores to finish 2-under-par as a team for the second consecutive round.
• After two rounds, Duke was tied for sixth place at 4-under-par as a team.
• During Sunday’s third round, Evans collected four birdies over his first 10 holes before closing in dramatic fashion on the 426-yard par-4 ninth hole, holing out his approach shot for eagle to finish with a 1-under-par 71.
• Love battled through a difficult opening nine that left him 5-over for the round before producing one of Sunday’s strongest closing stretches. He carded six birdies on his final nine holes, including birdies on five of his last six holes, to shoot 6-under-par 30 on the front side and finish with a 1-under-par 71.
• One of only eight teams under par through three rounds, Duke qualified for the final round of stroke play and entered Monday at 1-under-par 863.
• After opening the fourth and final round of stroke play with a pair of birdies on the 10th hole, the Blue Devils finished their first 10 holes at 8-over-par as a team.
• Duke closed the…