Duke Jumps Out To 13-Stroke Lead At ACC/SEC Challenge on Friday

Oct. 24, 2003

SANDESTIN, FLA. - After breaking numerous school records over the last two tournaments, the nations top-ranked Duke women's golf team added another one to the list on Friday during the first round of the 2003 Chrysler ACC/SEC Women's Golf Challenge. The Blue Devils carded a school and tournament record round of 276 at the 71, 5,937-yard The Raven Course, while senior Virada Nirapathpongporn fired a 67 to lead the individual competition.

The Blue Devils own a commanding 13-stroke lead over Auburn (289), Florida (295), North Carolina (298), Wake Forest (301), Alabama (305), Florida State (306), Maryland (311), N.C. State (311), Kentucky (311) and Mississippi State (318).

"We are just playing some great golf right now," said Duke Head Coach Dan Brooks. "We were able to get lost of pars and birdies today, which is just good, basic golf. Everyone I saw out there today looked very nice and was able to throw out some low scores."

Nirapathpongporn, of Bangkok, Thailand, turned in a four-under-par back nine to finish with a season-best 67. She leads the individual competition by one stroke over Maria Martinez of Auburn (68). The 2003 U.S. Amateur Champion, Nirapathpongporn has fired rounds of even or under par in seven of her last eight rounds of golf. Her round of 67 on Friday tied the tournament record, which was also tied last year by teammate Liz Janangelo.

"Today I was able to hit some close approach shots on the back nine and made some birdies when I had the opportunities," said Nirapathpongporn. "I drove the ball down the fairway most of the day, which allowed me to get some good approach shots."

Freshman Anna Grzebien carded her second straight round in the 60s as she finished with a 69, while Janangelo also turned in a 69. Both are tied third, individually. Leigh Anne Hardin and Brittany Lang each posted even-par rounds of 71 and are tied seventh.

In the past two tournaments, Duke has broken five team records, including best 54-hole total (845), best 36-hole total (559) and largest margin of victory (49 strokes). As a team, the Blue Devils have collected eight straight under-par rounds dating back to the final round of the NCAA Fall Preview, which is also a school record.

On Saturday, the next set of 18 holes will take place with tee times beginning at 7:30 a.m. off hole number one. A shotgun start is scheduled to begin the third and final round on Sunday at 8:00 a.m.

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Chrysler ACC/SEC Challenge * Individual The Raven Destin FLL Dates: 10/24 - 10/26 (Today:10-24-2003) Par: 71 Yardage: 5937

Fin. Top 20 Teams Scores 1 Duke University 276 2 Auburn University 289 3 Florida, U. of 295 4 North Carolina, U of 298 5 Wake Forest Univ. 301 6 Alabama, U. of 305 7 Florida State Univ. 306 8 Maryland, U. of 311 North Carolina State 311 Kentucky, U. of 311 11 Mississippi St. U. 318

Fin. Top 20 Players School Scores 1 V. Nirapathpongporn Duke 35- 32 67 2 Maria Martinez Auburn 36- 32 68 3 Elizabeth Janangelo Duke 33- 36 69 Anna Grzebien Duke 34- 35 69 5 Darby Sligh Alabama 36- 34 70 Jennifer Head Auburn 35- 35 70 7 Meaghan Francella N Carolina 37- 34 71 Leigh Anne Hardin Duke 38- 33 71 Brittany Lang Duke 35- 36 71 10 Katie Quinney Florida St 37- 35 72 Naree Song Florida 36- 36 72 Tarah McNaughton Florida 39- 33 72 13 Deborah Means Wk. Forest 36- 37 73 Lorraine Ballerano NC State 37- 36 73 Katie Dixon Kentucky 34- 39 73 16 Carrie Sordel Florida St 35- 39 74 Katie Miller N Carolina 37- 37 74 18 Amy Middleton Alabama 38- 37 75 Christine Hallstrom Wk. Forest 36- 39 75 Kingsley Barrett Auburn 36- 39 75 Amanda Goins Wk. Forest 39- 36 75 Camila Gonzalez Florida 35- 40 75 Jessica Reno Maryland 37- 38 75 *Tyler Johnson Florida St 37- 38 75 *Ashleigh Korzack Miss. St. 34- 41 75

Fin. School Scores

1 Duke University 276 1 V. Nirapathpongporn 35- 32 67 T 3 Elizabeth Janangelo 33- 36 69 T 3 Anna Grzebien 34- 35 69 T 7 Leigh Anne Hardin 38- 33 71 T 7 Brittany Lang 35- 36 71

2 Auburn University 289 2 Maria Martinez 36- 32 68 T 5 Jennifer Head 35- 35 70 T 18 Kingsley Barrett 36- 39 75 T 26 Nicole Hage 37- 39 76 T 34 Leah Hart 38- 40 78

3 Florida, U. of 295 T 10 Naree Song 36- 36 72 T 10 Tarah McNaughton 39- 33 72 T 18 Camila Gonzalez 35- 40 75 T 26 Andrea Vander Lende 37- 39 76 T 40 Aimee Cho 36- 43 79

4 North Carolina, U of 298 T 7 Meaghan Francella 37- 34 71 T 16 Katie Miller 37- 37 74 T 26 Romi Irons 39- 37 76 T 31 Ashley Prange 37- 40 77 T 40 Shannon Boyle 37- 42 79

5 Wake Forest Univ. 301 T 13 Deborah Means 36- 37 73 T 18 Christine Hallstrom 36- 39 75 T 18 Amanda Goins 39- 36 75 T 34 Margaret Simons 37- 41 78 T 46 Julie McKenna 42- 38 80

6 Alabama, U. of 305 T 5 Darby Sligh 36- 34 70 T 18 Amy Middleton 38- 37 75 T 31 Megan George 40- 37 77 55 Anna Strandberg 42- 41 83 59 Mandy Tedder 38- 48 86

7 Florida State Univ. 306 T 10 Katie Quinney 37- 35 72 T 16 Carrie Sordel 35- 39 74 T 40 Caroline Larsson 38- 41 79 T 50 Alison Curdt 37- 44 81 T 53 Jaclyn Burch 43- 39 82

T 8 Maryland, U. of 311 T 18 Jessica Reno 37- 38 75 T 34 Katie Stepanek 38- 40 78 T 40 Kristen Shew 37- 42 79 T 40 Katie Redeker 40- 39 79 T 46 Marie Harper 39- 41 80

T 8 North Carolina State 311 T 13 Lorraine Ballerano 37- 36 73 T 31 Briana Vega 37- 40 77 T 46 Ashlee Dean 40- 40 80 T 50 Molly Birmingham 40- 41 81 T 50 Colby Cobb 40- 41 81

T 8 Kentucky, U. of 311 T 13 Katie Dixon 34- 39 73 T 34 Marissa Muir 41- 37 78 T 34 Eva Gessner 36- 42 78 T 53 Erin Faulkner 42- 40 82 T 57 Emily Culbertson 43- 42 85

11 Mississippi St. U. 318 T 26 Beth Irwin 36- 40 76 T 34 Amanda Mathis 36- 42 78 T 46 Janet Dyer 36- 44 80 56 Natalie Booth 44- 40 84 T 57 Catalina Olarte 42- 43 85

Fin. Individuals School Scores T 18 Tyler Johnson Florida St 37- 38 75 T 18 Ashleigh Korzack Miss. St. 34- 41 75 T 26 Courtney Pomeranz NC State 37- 39 76 T 40 Jessica Lovell Auburn 41- 38 79 60 Kristina Prestipino Florida St 45- 43 88