KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. ā In the 2021 season opener and the first collegiate tournament for the Blue Devils since March of 2020, Duke University women's golf sophomore
Erica Shepherd turned in a career-best third place ledger at the Palmetto Intercollegiate as she carded rounds of 71, 75 and 73 for a three-over-par, 219, at the 6,021-yard, Par 72 Turtle Point Golf Course in Kiawah Island, S.C.
A product of Greenwood, Ind., Shepherd carded nine birdies over 54 holes and led the field late in the second round, before finishing third overall and only three strokes behind the leader.Ā Her previous best finish came at the East Lake Cup as she tied for sixth.Ā The round of 71 Sunday morning also matched her career-low 18-hole ledger. Ā
"I feel really lucky to be able to play college golf again during COVID and our team is super grateful to everyone who is making it possible for us to play," said Shepherd.Ā "It felt really good to get back in competitive mode after taking some time off and I'm proud of how I played. The wind was pretty brutal, especially on the holes that are right on the ocean, so that a great learning experience."
Shepherd opened the third round with four pars, before posting three birdies over the next four holes to get to two-under-par.Ā She drained back-to-back six-foot birdies on No. 5 and No. 6, before rolling in a 16-footer for birdie on No. 8 to move to two-under-par for the day.Ā After four pars and four bogeys to open the back nine, Shepherd closed the tournament with an eight-foot birdie on the 376-yard, par four 18th.Ā She hit nine fairways, 12 greens and rolled 31 putts in the final round.
Wake Forest's Rachel Kuehn earned medalist honors with an even-par, 216. Ā
As a team, Duke opened the season with a third place finish as the Blue Devils signed for rounds of 302, 306 and 295 for a 903.Ā Wake Forest (874), Virginia (902), Duke (903), Clemson (904) and Furman (909) rounded out the top five.Ā The Blue Devils featured a great start to the round Monday as Duke was one-under through nine holes with eight birdies.Ā Duke closed the day seven-over-par on the back nine. Ā
"Obviously not a great performance for us," said Duke head coach
Dan Brooks.Ā "I'd say it wasn't anything In particular, just not sharp. We'll work hard for our next event.Ā We will be better."
Blue Devil junior
Gina Kim carded a team-best even-par, 72, in Monday's final round as she collected 14 pars and two birdies. Kim, who hails from Chapel Hill, N.C., posted her first birdie of the day on the 489-yard, par five second hole as she hit her three hybrid to about 20 yards away from the green. Kim then chipped to five feet and drained the birdie. She also birdied No. 5 as she hit her four hybrid from 186 yards to 30 feet from the cup and two-putted for birdie.Ā She hit 13 greens, 13 fairways and had 32 putts on the day. Ā
Kim collected her eighth career top 20 finish as she placed tied for 18th with a 227. Ā
Freshman
Anne Chen had one of the best starts Monday of anyone in the field as she was two-under-par through five holes.Ā She rolled in an eight-foot birdie on No. 4 and tapped in for birdie on No. 5.Ā Chen, a product of Sugar Land, Texas, bogied No. 9 to make the turn at one-under, 35, but came back to drain a 12-footer for birdie on No. 10 to get back to two-under-par.Ā She finished the final seven holes at three-over-par, which included a long-distance birdie from 34 feet on the 143-yard, par three 16th to finish with a career-best 73.Ā Chen tied for 13th in her Duke debut with a 226, while hitting a team-best 15 greens in the final round. Ā
Megan Furtney, who is from St. Charles, Ill., turned in a 77 Monday on her way to finishing tied for 28th with a 231.Ā In the final round, Furtney hit 12 greens and hit her 60-degree wedge to two feet on the 501-yard, par five 10th hole for her lone birdie of the day.Ā On the front nine, the sophomore registered seven pars and a bogey-free stretch of six holes. Ā
Freshman
Phoebe Brinker closed her first tournament with the Blue Devils with a 78 as she placed tied for 35th with a 235.Ā A native of Wilmington, Del., Brinker collected one birdie on the day on the 454-yard, par five fifth as she hit the green in two and two-putted for birdie.Ā She had a stretch on the back nine where she parred a career-best five straight holes and finished with seven pars on the final nine.
Duke will next travel to Columbia, S.C., to compete in the Gamecock Intercollegiate, which will take place March 1-3 at the Columbia Country Club. Ā
For more information on Duke women's golf, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeWGolf".
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Duke Results
Erica ShepherdĀ 71-75-73=219 (3, +3)
Anne ChenĀ 76-77-73=226 (T14, +10)
Gina KimĀ 77-78-72=227 (T18, +11)
Megan FurtneyĀ 78-76-77=231 (T28, +15)
Phoebe BrinkerĀ 79-78-78=235 (T35, +19)
1 2 3 Team Scores
1Ā 1Ā 1 Wake Forest 299Ā 288Ā 287Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 874Ā +10
T5Ā T3Ā 2 Virginia 304Ā 304Ā 294Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 902Ā +38
3Ā T3Ā 3 Duke 302Ā 306Ā 295Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 903Ā +39
9Ā 5Ā 4 Clemson 315Ā 294Ā 295Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 904Ā +40
T5Ā 7Ā 5 FurmanĀ 304Ā 308Ā 297Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 909Ā +45
7Ā 6Ā 6 Virginia TechĀ 307Ā 304Ā 299Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 910Ā +46
2Ā 2Ā 7 East CarolinaĀ 300Ā 303Ā 315Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 918Ā +54
4Ā 9Ā 8 College of Charleston 303Ā 316Ā 305Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 924Ā +60
8Ā 10Ā 9 North Carolina 313Ā 315Ā 311Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 939Ā +75
10Ā 8Ā 10 North Carolina State 321Ā 297Ā 324Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 942Ā +78
11Ā 11Ā 11 IndianaĀ 322Ā 319Ā 326Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 967Ā +103
Start Finish Player Team Scores
T4 1 Rachel KuehnĀ Wake ForestĀ 73Ā Ā 74Ā 69Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 216Ā E
2 2 Lauren WalshĀ Wake ForestĀ 77Ā Ā 68Ā 72Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 217Ā +1
3 3
Erica ShepherdĀ DukeĀ 71Ā Ā 75Ā 73Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 219Ā +3
T9 4 Beth LillieĀ VirginiaĀ 77Ā Ā 72Ā 71Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 220Ā +4
T4 5 Emilia MigliaccioĀ Wake ForestĀ 76Ā Ā 71Ā 74Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 221Ā +5
T14 T6 Ivy ShepherdĀ ClemsonĀ 78Ā Ā 73Ā 72Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 223Ā +7
1 T6 Dorthea ForbrigdĀ East CarolinaĀ 71Ā Ā 73Ā 79Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 223Ā +7
T11 8 Anna MorganĀ FurmanĀ 79Ā Ā 71Ā 74Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 224Ā +8
T14 T9 Riley SmythĀ VirginiaĀ 72Ā Ā 79Ā 74Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 225Ā +9
T14 T9 Alexandra SwayneĀ ClemsonĀ 80Ā Ā 71Ā 74Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 225Ā +9
T6 T9 Emily MaharĀ Virginia TechĀ 73Ā Ā 75Ā 77Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 225Ā +9
T17 T9 Virginia BossiĀ VirginiaĀ 78Ā Ā 74Ā 73Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 225Ā +9
T20 T13 Sarah-Eve RheaumeĀ FurmanĀ 76Ā Ā 77Ā 73Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 226Ā +10
T20 T13
Anne ChenĀ DukeĀ 76Ā Ā 77Ā 73Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 226Ā +10
T6 T13 Siyun LiuĀ Wake ForestĀ 73Ā Ā 75Ā 78Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 226Ā +10
T6 T13 Monika HartlĀ North Carolina StateĀ 77Ā Ā 71Ā 78Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 226Ā +10
T11 T13 Jennifer Zhou *Ā North CarolinaĀ 75Ā Ā 75Ā 76Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 226Ā +10
T9 T18 Savannah GrewalĀ ClemsonĀ 74Ā Ā 75Ā 78Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 227Ā +11
T28 T18
Gina KimĀ DukeĀ 77Ā Ā 78Ā 72Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 227Ā +11
T28 T20 Madison MoosaĀ FurmanĀ 75Ā Ā 80Ā 73Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 228Ā +12
T20 T20 Becca DiNunzioĀ Virginia TechĀ 81Ā Ā 72Ā 75Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 228Ā +12
T11 T20 Michelle ForslandĀ East CarolinaĀ 74Ā Ā 76Ā 78Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 228Ā +12
T38 T20 Jodee TindalĀ College of CharlestonĀ 76Ā Ā 82Ā 70Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 228Ā +12
T25 24 Mary ParsonsĀ IndianaĀ 78Ā Ā 76Ā 75Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 229Ā +13
T38 T25 Mimi RhodesĀ Wake ForestĀ 79Ā Ā 79Ā 72Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 230Ā +14
T17 T25 Julie Boysen HillestadĀ East CarolinaĀ 79Ā Ā 73Ā 78Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 230Ā +14
T17 T25 Viktoria HundĀ College of CharlestonĀ 74Ā Ā 78Ā 78Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 230Ā +14
T38 T28 Keera FoocharoenĀ Virginia TechĀ 83Ā Ā 75Ā 73Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 231Ā +15
T25 T28
Megan FurtneyĀ DukeĀ 78Ā Ā 76Ā 77Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 231Ā +15
T20 T28 Natalia Aseguinolaza MartinĀ North CarolinaĀ 75Ā Ā 78Ā 78Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 231Ā +15
33 T31 Jennifer ClearyĀ VirginiaĀ 77Ā Ā 79Ā 76Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 232Ā +16
T25 T31 Isabel AmezcuaĀ North Carolina StateĀ 81Ā Ā 73Ā 78Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 232Ā +16
T34 T33 Jessica SpicerĀ Virginia TechĀ 75Ā Ā 82Ā 76Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 233Ā +17
T28 T33 Victoria HuskeyĀ College of CharlestonĀ 74Ā Ā 81Ā 78Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 233Ā +17
T28 T35 Caroline WrigleyĀ FurmanĀ 75Ā Ā 80Ā 80Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 235Ā +19
T45 T35 Celeste ValinhoĀ VirginiaĀ 78Ā Ā 81Ā 76Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 235Ā +19
T28 T35 Caitlin Cotterill *Ā FurmanĀ 78Ā Ā 77Ā 80Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 235Ā +19
T34 T35
Phoebe BrinkerĀ DukeĀ 79Ā Ā 78Ā 78Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 235Ā +19
T47 39 Alyssa MontgomeryĀ Virginia TechĀ 78Ā Ā 83Ā 75Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 236Ā +20
T38 T40 Emily DunlapĀ College of CharlestonĀ 79Ā Ā 79Ā 79Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 237Ā +21
T34 T40 Othilie LiedĀ College of CharlestonĀ 79Ā Ā 78Ā 80Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 237Ā +21
T20 T40 Angela AungĀ IndianaĀ 76Ā Ā 77Ā 84Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 237Ā +21
T38 T43 Gracyn BurgessĀ ClemsonĀ 83Ā Ā 75Ā 80Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 238Ā +22
T47 T43 Nicole AdamĀ North CarolinaĀ 77Ā Ā 84Ā 77Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 238Ā +22
T34 45 Crista IzuzquizaĀ North CarolinaĀ 79Ā Ā 78Ā 82Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 239Ā +23
T38 T46 Inja FricĀ North Carolina StateĀ 83Ā Ā 75Ā 82Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 240Ā +24
49 T46 Kayla SmithĀ North CarolinaĀ 82Ā Ā 80Ā 78Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 240Ā +24
T51 T48 Carly BurkhardtĀ FurmanĀ 78Ā Ā 86Ā 77Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 241Ā +25
T45 T48 Olivia Hamilton *Ā College of CharlestonĀ 85Ā Ā 74Ā 82Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 241Ā +25
50 T50 Oda Sofie KilstiĀ East CarolinaĀ 82Ā Ā 81Ā 80Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 243Ā +27
T53 T50 Krista JunkkariĀ North CarolinaĀ 86Ā Ā 79Ā 78Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 243Ā +27
T38 T52 Natalie AmbruesterĀ North Carolina StateĀ 80Ā Ā 78Ā 86Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 244Ā +28
57 T52 Kirsty Brodie *Ā College of CharlestonĀ 84Ā Ā 83Ā 77Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 244Ā +28
T53 54 Kathryn CarsonĀ East CarolinaĀ 76Ā Ā 89Ā 80Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 245Ā +29
61 T55 Annabelle PancakeĀ ClemsonĀ 86Ā Ā 89Ā 71Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 246Ā +30
T51 T55 Nicole Kramer *Ā North Carolina StateĀ 81Ā Ā 83Ā 82Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 246Ā +30
56 57 Hanna TanakaĀ IndianaĀ 81Ā Ā 85Ā 82Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 248Ā +32
T53 58 Lea KlimentovaĀ North Carolina StateĀ 84Ā Ā 81Ā 88Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 253Ā +37
58 59 Caroline Hermes *Ā East CarolinaĀ 79Ā Ā 89Ā 87Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 255Ā +39
59 60 Valerie ClancyĀ IndianaĀ 87Ā Ā 84Ā 85Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 256Ā +40
60 61 Maddie DittoeĀ IndianaĀ 90Ā Ā 82Ā 90Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 262Ā +46
62 -Ā Clarissa von Stosch *Ā College of CharlestonĀ 87Ā DĀ DĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā -Ā Ā Ā Ā -Ā Ā