Upcoming Event: Women's Golf versus Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational on October 17, 2025
Women's Golf
vs Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational
Photo by: Lindy Brown, Duke Sports Information
George Shutt Memories - No. 5
7/29/2020 8:32:00 AM | Women's Golf
DURHAM, N.C.— Over the last 16 years, George Shutt has traveled thousands of miles to follow the Duke women's golf program. He has become a staple in women's college golf not only with the Blue Devils, but as a supporter of NCAA golf.
Since he became hooked on the Blue Devils in 2004, he has traveled to as many tournaments as possible, given numerous hugs, walked many miles and supported collegiate golfers and head coaches throughout the years.
We checked in with Shutt and asked him to look back at some of his great memories, while following the Blue Devils and GoDuke.com will debut them each week during the 2020 summer.
#GoDuke
George Shutt Top Moments No. 5
2009-10 Season
My first recollection was that three freshmen joined the team in the fall of 2009. The season began in Daytona Beach for the NGCA match play championship. Little did anyone realize that this would be the last match play championship played in the fall. And it was the only time that Duke did not qualify for match play in the winner's bracket.
My next trip was to the Tar Heel Invitational where Duke did not score that well. I saw some good ball-striking but the inexperience with all the new players came to the front. I left there thinking it was just a matter of time before the team clicked and all played well.
As it turned out, I did not have long to wait. The next tournament was held in Wilmington, N.C. One lasting memory happened at the end of the fall schedule at the Tradition at Landfall in Wilmington, N.C.
As I recall, Duke was 10 shots out of the lead with five holes to play. Duke won by one shot. Wilmington is always a great place to play as the local people support the tournament in larger numbers than most. Not quite as loud as Augusta, but one of the loudest for a non-championship tournament. I enjoyed
celebrating the win with Lindy Duncan's Mom, Debbie and Courtney Ellenbogen's parents Bill and Janet.
The next event for me was the ACC Championship in Greensboro. I do not recall any specific shots, but that Duke played well with all five golfers in the top 20 but did not win as Wake Forest won once again.
My other big memory about the season is what did not happen. Landfall was the venue for the 2010 NCAA National Championship. On the day that I was scheduled to leave for Wilmington to attend Nationals, I woke up to find wet floors that lead to the discovery of a water heater gushing out water.
(Only NCAA Nationals I missed from 2007 to the present.)
I missed seeing Alison Whitaker play in her last tournament. One thing that I will never forget about Alison was a story about her being interviewed by a Golfweek reporter. Duke had a bad round in a tournament shooting about 10- over-par. The next they shot like 10-under-par. The writer asked Alison what Coach Brooks said to them at dinner. And Alison with a straight face, said, "Pass the salt, please."
Since he became hooked on the Blue Devils in 2004, he has traveled to as many tournaments as possible, given numerous hugs, walked many miles and supported collegiate golfers and head coaches throughout the years.
We checked in with Shutt and asked him to look back at some of his great memories, while following the Blue Devils and GoDuke.com will debut them each week during the 2020 summer.
#GoDuke
George Shutt Top Moments No. 5
2009-10 Season
My first recollection was that three freshmen joined the team in the fall of 2009. The season began in Daytona Beach for the NGCA match play championship. Little did anyone realize that this would be the last match play championship played in the fall. And it was the only time that Duke did not qualify for match play in the winner's bracket.
My next trip was to the Tar Heel Invitational where Duke did not score that well. I saw some good ball-striking but the inexperience with all the new players came to the front. I left there thinking it was just a matter of time before the team clicked and all played well.
As it turned out, I did not have long to wait. The next tournament was held in Wilmington, N.C. One lasting memory happened at the end of the fall schedule at the Tradition at Landfall in Wilmington, N.C.
As I recall, Duke was 10 shots out of the lead with five holes to play. Duke won by one shot. Wilmington is always a great place to play as the local people support the tournament in larger numbers than most. Not quite as loud as Augusta, but one of the loudest for a non-championship tournament. I enjoyed
celebrating the win with Lindy Duncan's Mom, Debbie and Courtney Ellenbogen's parents Bill and Janet.
The next event for me was the ACC Championship in Greensboro. I do not recall any specific shots, but that Duke played well with all five golfers in the top 20 but did not win as Wake Forest won once again.
My other big memory about the season is what did not happen. Landfall was the venue for the 2010 NCAA National Championship. On the day that I was scheduled to leave for Wilmington to attend Nationals, I woke up to find wet floors that lead to the discovery of a water heater gushing out water.
(Only NCAA Nationals I missed from 2007 to the present.)
I missed seeing Alison Whitaker play in her last tournament. One thing that I will never forget about Alison was a story about her being interviewed by a Golfweek reporter. Duke had a bad round in a tournament shooting about 10- over-par. The next they shot like 10-under-par. The writer asked Alison what Coach Brooks said to them at dinner. And Alison with a straight face, said, "Pass the salt, please."
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