Blue Devil Golfers in the Pros Update

DURHAM, N.C.— The start of 2019 has been stellar for Duke women's golf alumnae on the professional ranks. The Blue Devils are the only school to feature a winner on both the LPGA (Celine Boutier) and Symetra Tour (Leona Maguire) and overall Duke alumnae have strong starts.

As the days begin to heat up, the Duke women's golf squad nears the end of the 2018-19 collegiate season. For the Duke alumni, however, the professional season is just starting, and veterans and rookies alike will hit the greens this spring and summer to further their careers. The 2019 season so far has brought a lot of success for the former Blue Devils, with a win on both the LPGA and Symetra Tour from Celine Boutier and Leona Maguire. With Boutier and Yu Liu currently in the top 15, a Blue Devil on the LPGA may win the Race to CME Globe. On the Symetra Tour, Maguire sits first on the official money list. After only a few tournaments, the former Blue Devils are showing off their golf prowess, giving women's golf fans a lot to look forward to in the coming months. The Blue Devils are the only school to feature a winner on both the LPGA (Boutier) and Symetra Tour (Maguire).

LPGA

Celine Boutier
Duke (2012-16)
2012-13 ACC Rookie of the Year
2013-14 National Player of the Year
2014-15 All-America

After a solid start to her LPGA career in 2018, including a third-place finish, Celine Boutier has hit the greens in seven events so far to begin the 2019 season. She has made the cut in all seven events, with total earnings of $218,154 placing her 13th on the official money list. Boutier has recorded 14 rounds under par with 93 sub-par holes, six rounds in the 60's, 91 birdies, and two eagles. She features a driving accuracy of 76.37% and a scoring average of 71.12, placing her 42nd and 39th overall, respectively. Boutier's most impressive finish of her career came in her first appearance of this season at the ISPS Handa Vic Open. She placed first overall, winning the tournament after ending seven under par. In another recent tournament in March, the Bank of Hope Founders Cup, Boutier posted her lowest day of the season, finishing eight under par for a score of 64.

@celineboutier working at the range 💯🎯#TeamTrackMan #UnleashYourPotential pic.twitter.com/aRdLVsElUK
— TrackMan Golf (@TrackManGolf) April 3, 2019

“Oh we are best friends!”

Yu Liu on her friendship with fellow @DukeWGOLF teammate and fellow @LPGAfounders contender @celineboutier. pic.twitter.com/wF5lodDVXa
— LPGA (@LPGA) March 22, 2019

😄

That winning feeling#VicOpen @GolfAust @celineboutier pic.twitter.com/GMFvSZEBUP
— LPGA (@LPGA) February 10, 2019

Lindy Duncan
Duke (2010-13)
2011-12 National Player of the Year

As the 2019 season starts, Lindy Duncan begins her seventh season, looking to add onto her current career earnings of $869,011. Duncan has made the cut in all seven events she has played in so far this season. She has played seven rounds under par, with 64 sub-par holes, three rounds in the 60's, 63 birdies, and one eagle. Duncan has a driving accuracy of 73.70%, and her greens-in-regulation percentage of 73.99% places her 29th overall. Her highest finish this season was in the Kia Classic on March 28, where she placed T36th. Duncan ended five under par in this tournament, with her season low of 68 occurring in the first round of this event.

New Volvik Player Lindy Duncan having some fun with long time team member Mi Hyang Lee @isps_handa ⛳️🏌🏻‍♀️
Visit our website or click the link below to find out what ball our LPGA players are using! #S3
👉🏻https://t.co/3zZVo1qmSc #teamvilvik #ispshanda #volvik #golfball pic.twitter.com/TfJbfSKN3Q
— VolvikUSA (@volvikUSA) February 17, 2019

Welcome Lindy Duncan to Team Volvik! Lindy was a stand out player at Duke University. 2018 was her best year on the LPGA with the runner up finish at the Volunteers of America Texas Open. We are excited to see her continue in success on tour!👊#lpga #golf #volvik #S3white pic.twitter.com/JzFXVcaZRC
— VolvikUSA (@volvikUSA) February 2, 2019

Brittany Lang
2003-04 & 2004-05 All-America
2003-04 National Freshman of the Year

As a true veteran of the LPGA Tour, Brittany Lang looks to add onto her current career earnings of $6,803,928 in her 15th season. Lang has played five rounds under par, recording 42 sub-par holes, two rounds in the 60's, and 42 birdies. She has played in five events so far this season, making the cut in all of these appearances. Her sand saves percentage of 60.00% and putting average of 29.57 places her 20th and 44th overall, respectively. Lang's highest finish this season was at her season-opener, the ISPS Handa Vic Open early in February. She placed T22nd after finishing even par with a score of 288. Lang has recorded her season low of 69 in both the Bank of Hope Founders Cup and the Kia Classic.

Well, that's one way to save par....😳

Brittany Lang holed out on 18 earlier today....from the bushes to save par 👏👏 #KiaClassic pic.twitter.com/KrOztvmjWf
— LPGA Kia Classic (@LPGAKiaClassic) March 31, 2019

What an honor for me to play with an all military group in my ⁦@LPGAKiaClassic⁩ pro am! Also a fellow @PXG troop! Thanks for a great day! #pxgtroops #usmarines pic.twitter.com/y2EBG5BvRg
— Brittany Lang (@blanggolf) March 28, 2019

Yu Liu
Duke (2013-14)
2013-14 ACC Rookie of the Year
2013-14 Second Team All-America

After finishing third in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year race on the LPGA Tour last year, Yu Liu has begun her second year on the tour by making the cut in all seven of her appearances this year and finishing in the top 10 in two events. She has finished 18 rounds under par, featuring eight rounds in the 60's, 109 sub-par holes, one eagle, and a scoring average of 70.57. Liu's 108 birdies place her third overall, and her greens-in-regulation percentage of 77.18% and sand saves percentage of 72.41% land her sixth and fourth, respectively. With a current season earnings of $193,397, Liu is 17th on the official money list. Liu's performance at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup ended with her at T2nd, her best finish to date on the LPGA Tour. After ending eight under par in the second round, her best round score this season, Liu finished 21 under par with a score of 267 and $92,317 in earnings.

Leader Yu Liu is off!

Will she be able to get her first @LPGA win?

Tune in to @GolfChannel at 6 pm ET for live coverage! pic.twitter.com/cKBrDvU2Op
— LPGA (@LPGA) March 24, 2019

Yu Liu's T2 finish is her highest as an @LPGA player.

Liu only missed 10 fairways all week on her way to a 21-under finish.

Watch her final round highlights now!

HIGHLIGHTS ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ezkXtl2o3B
— LPGA (@LPGA) March 25, 2019

Symetra Tour

Leona Maguire
Duke (2014-18)
2014-15 National Freshman of the Year
2014-15 & 2016-17 National Player of the Year
2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, & 2017-18 All-America

Following a solid start to her professional career last season after graduation, Leona Maguire has begun an already impressive season on the Symetra Tour and currently leads the official money list with current earnings of $36,510. She has played 10 rounds under par, standing first overall in rounds in the 60's (8) and second in both sub-par holes (54) and birdies (53). Maguire features a scoring average of 70.00, a greens-in-regulation percentage of 76.92%, and a driving accuracy of 85.48%. She has made the cut in all four of her appearances this season, placing in the top ten in three. In her most recent tournament on April 5, the Windsor Golf Classic, Maguire placed first overall, winning the tournament and recording her first professional tournament win. Maguire ended 12 strokes under par with a score of 204 after finishing 70 (-2), 69 (-3), and 65 (-7) in each round.

What a feeling!! Absolutely delighted to get my first professional win @ROAD2LPGA 🏆🇮🇪
Thank you everyone for all the lovely messages. Couldn't have done it without all the help from my family, friends, @modestgolf team, @SOGGolf, sponsors and caddie John #patience pic.twitter.com/yeV15Ac6sO
— Leona Maguire (@leona_maguire) April 8, 2019

Yessssss!!! @leona_maguire has won on the @ROAD2LPGA . This girl is an absolute superstar and cannot wait to see what her future holds. @modestgolf . 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/6A2O0zi9di
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) April 8, 2019

Sandy Choi
Duke (2013-17)
2015-16 Honorable Mention All-America

Sandy Choi has begun her second season on the Symetra Tour after a solid rookie season in 2018, including two top-10 finishes. With two rounds under par, Choi has notched 27 sub-par holes, one round in the 60's, 26 birdies and one eagle. Choi's sand save average of 100.00% and her driving accuracy of 88.08% place her first and eighth overall, respectively. She has played in four tournaments so far, making the cut in each and recording a season high finish of T32nd at the Florida's Natural Charity Classic. Choi also posted her season low in this event, recording a score of 69 in round one and ending two under par overall.

So proud of Sandy Choi. Worked so hard over the winter to get her game even better. Increased her clubhead speed by 11mph through workouts, speed sticks and better technique. Ready to make… https://t.co/dwY6EvAepW
— Chris Mayson Golf (@chrismaysongolf) March 1, 2019

Laetitia Beck
Duke (2011-14)
2012-13 & 2013-14 All-America

Laetitia Beck begins her fifth season of professional golf, making appearances in three tournaments so far on the Symetra Tour. Beck has made the cut in each of these tournaments, finishing T6 in both the IOA Championship and the Windsor Golf Classic. Her seven rounds under par places her seventh overall, and Beck has also notched 40 sub-par holes, three rounds in the 60's, 38 birdies, and two eagles. Beck's scoring average of 70.90 lands her 12th overall and she sits 18th overall on the official money list with current earnings of $10,420. In her most recent appearance at the Windsor Golf Classic on April 5, Beck posted the best finish in a Symetra Tour event, ending nine under par with a score of 207.

Birdie for Laetitia Beck 🇮🇱 on No. 13 and she joins https://twitter.com/KyungKimUSC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw ">@KyungKimUSC in setting the pace at 4-under par https://twitter.com/hashtag/WindsorClassic?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw ">#WindsorClassic https://twitter.com/hashtag/Road2LPGA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw ">#Road2LPGA

Scores ➡️ https://t.co/ZSrtX3Nuj9 ">https://t.co/ZSrtX3Nuj9 https://t.co/x4Ghd6fgdb ">pic.twitter.com/x4Ghd6fgdb
— Symetra Tour (@ROAD2LPGA) https://twitter.com/ROAD2LPGA/status/1114312564152786944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw ">April 5, 2019

I could watch Laetitia Beck's swing all day. Wonderful tempo! #DriveOn pic.twitter.com/HdGJcATJe7
— Women's Golf (@WomensGolf) April 9, 2019

Lisa Maguire
Duke (2014-18)

After signing with Niall Horan's Modest! Golf last year, Lisa Maguire hopes to join her sister Leona on the Symetra Tour or the Ladies European Tour this year.

Think I won that, @KPMGGolf! https://t.co/eeNKVkrPix
— Lisa Maguire (@Lisa_Maguire_) April 9, 2019

Second round was a lot of fun, able to find five 🐥's and it has been awesome to have @Lisa_Maguire_ help me get the putts rolling. We'll see what kind of luck comes with #StPatricksDay tomorrow! #FLNatCC #Road2LPGA pic.twitter.com/pHvToSOxbi
— Leona Maguire (@leona_maguire) March 16, 2019