GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – It took Duke 54 holes to secure its 21st Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Golf Championship trophy in Monday’s final round at Grandover Resort & Conference Center’s East Course. Determining the individual champion, however, took three more holes.
Leona Maguire earned her second-straight ACC Championship medalist honor, and third in the last four years, after a three-hole playoff with teammate Jaravee Boonchant. Both golfers carded 6-under par 210 scores for the tournament.
“They are both very competitive,” said Duke head coach Dan Brooks There wasn’t a whole lot of chatting going on between them during the playoff, I can tell you that, and that is just because they are competitors. Off the course, when they are not competing like that, they are good friends. We have a real tight team. Everybody pulls for one another, and that’s great.”
Duke opened the day with a 17-stroke lead, which grew to 27 before the round was over for a 15-under performance of 849. Florida State placed second at 12-over (876), followed by Clemson (877), Virginia (885) and Wake Forest (890). The ACC Championship is the second straight for the Blue Devils, and the 20th under Brooks.
“We had a great tournament,” said Brooks. “I am real proud of the team. They adapted to the conditions well on a course they have never seen. There are some intimidating holes out there, and they did a great job.”
Maguire, who also medaled as a freshman in 2015, posted a 1-over round of 73 on Monday. The Cavan, Ireland, native became just the second golfer to win three ACC women’s titles and the first since Duke’s Amanda Blumenherst placed first three consecutive years from 2006 through 2008.
“It really came down to the very end, the last putt,” said Maguire. “For me to birdie the last hole to get into the playoff, I knew Jaravee was going to push me the entire way. She has had a great year as a freshman. I won my first ACC title in a playoff, so to finish off my senior year and win another one in a playoff is special.”
Boonchant recorded an even 72 for the final round, finishing four strokes ahead of teammate Ana Belac and Florida State’s Morgane Metraux (tied at 214). Duke’s Virginia Elena Carta, Florida State’s Amanda Doherty, Virginia’s Beth Lillie and Wake Forest’s Jennifer Kupcho tied for fifth place at an even par 216. Clemson’s Alice Hewson posted a 1-over 217 to finish in ninth place, and fellow Tiger Kennedy Swann tied with Virginia Tech’s Elizabeth Bose for 10th with a final tally of 218.
Following Wake Forest in the team scoring was Miami (893), Louisville (894) and North Carolina and NC State (tied at 895). Tenth-place Notre Dame (898), Virginia Tech (899) and Boston College (922) closed out the scoring.
The NCAA Women’s Golf Championship selection show is set for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25 on the Golf Channel. NCAA Regionals are scheduled for May 7-9.
