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Women's Golf
vs Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational
Blue Devil Golfers Open With Strong Showing Monday At Arizona
2/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Feb. 25, 2002
TUCSON, ARIZ. - The third-ranked Duke women's golf team opened the 2002 spring slate on Monday by firing rounds of 296 and 293 at the Wildcat Invitational in Tucson, Ariz. The invitational is being played at the Par 72, 6,119-yard The Raven at Sabino Springs.
Duke was one of four teams able to complete the full 36 holes on Monday and of the four teams the Blue Devils lead with a two-round total of 589 over Auburn (593), Arizona (595) and Tulsa (605).
"We are off to a very good start," said Duke head coach Dan Brooks. "To shoot in the low 290's on this very tough golf course in 36 holes is exciting because we still have a lot of things to improve on."
In the first round, Duke was led by freshman Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh (Lausanne, Switzerland) with a 73, while Virada Nirapathpongporn (Bangkok, Thailand) and Kristina Engstrom (Djursholm, Sweden) each fired a 74. Sophomore Leigh Anne Hardin (Martinsville, Ind.) turned in a 75 to round out the four counting scores. Senior Candy Hannemann (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) made her first collegiate appearance since winning the NCAA Individual Championship last May and struggled with an 82.
Duke came out strong in the second round by firing a 293, led by Nirapathpongporn's 71. Engstrom responded with a 73 to equal her best 36-hole total of the season, while Hannemann rebounded strong to fire a 74. Aazam-Zanganeh and Hardin finished day one with a 75 and 77, respectively.
Blue Devil junior Maria Garcia-Estrada (Tenerife, Spain) struggled on the day with rounds of 94 and 84 as an individual.
"We don't normally play 36 holes in one day," said Brooks. "To jump out from just practicing to playing 36 holes on a tough course is very challenging. We have a lot to be happy about here after the first day"
The second round will be completed on Tuesday morning followed by the final 18 holes of competition.
Virada Nirapathpongporn (74-71=145)
Kristina Engstrom (74-73=147)
Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh (73-75=148)
Leigh Anne Hardin (75-77=152)
Candy Hannemann (82-74=156)
Maria Garcia-Estrada (94-84=178)**Individual
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