Smith’s Hole-In-One Highlights Day One of NCAA Regionals

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Highlighted by Andie Smith’s first collegiate hole-in-one, the Duke women’s golf team opened NCAA Regional action on Monday in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and sit in a tie for fourth place with 36 holes remaining at the 6,315-yard, par-72 PGA National Champion Course.  

Smith, a native of nearby Hobe Sound, Fla., connected on the eighth hole-in-one by a Blue Devil and second in NCAA action as she hit her 5-iron from 180 yards into the cup.  She finished with a 1-over-par, 73, on day one and is tied for 11th overall.  Senior Megan Furtney led all Blue Devils with an even-par, 72, and is tied for eighth.  

How It Happened

•    The Blue Devils opened their action at 8 a.m., off hole No. 10.

•    Duke featured an excellent start with six birdies over its first three holes and led the field with a 5-under-par score early.  

•    Holes 15-18, known as the “Bear Trap” at PGA National, dug its claws into the Blue Devils as Duke was 9-over-par during that stretch of holes.  

•    As a team, the Blue Devils shot a 10-over, 298 and is tied for fourth.  Michigan State carded a team-best 3-under, 285, to lead the way.  South Florida (296), Arkansas (297), Duke (298), LSU (298), Texas (298), Alabama (299), UCF (300), Northwestern (300) and California (302) round out the top 10 teams.  

•    Following 54-holes, the top-5 teams will advance to the NCAA Championship.

•    With four birdies, Megan Furtney paced Duke on Monday with an even-par, 72.  She had a solid start with a 3-foot birdie on No. 10.  Furtney, who is from St. Charles, Ill., registered key up-and-down pars on No. 12 and No. 14 to stay in the red numbers.  She moved to 2-under by sinking a 12-foot birdie on the challenging 146-yard, par-3 15th hole, a hole where only five birdies were made during Monday’s opening round.  An errant tee shot on No. 17 cost her two shots, but came back with a 6-foot birdie on No. 18 to make the turn at 1-under, 35.  On the back, she dropped two shots with bogeys on No. 2 and No. 4, but responded well again with a 2-putt birdie on No. 6.  Furtney closed with an impressive up-and-down par on No. 9 to stay at even for the day.  

•    Freshman Andie Smith posted a 1-over, 73, with two birdies and a hole-in-one.  She parred the first five holes and…