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: Duke Athletics
Smith Captures First Collegiate Title; Blue Devils Win Team Crown
10/13/2024 9:26:00 PM | Women's Golf
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Junior Andie Smith along with the Duke women's golf team claimed the individual and team titles on Sunday at the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational, which was contested at the 6,081-yard, par-70 Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill.
Smith, a native of Hobe Sound, Fla., carded rounds of 68, 66 and 69 for a career-best 7-under-par, 203, to win her first collegiate tournament by five strokes. As a team, Duke fired a team-best even-par, 280, in the final round and took home the trophy with a 54-hole ledger of 856. The Blue Devils won by three strokes over Michigan State and Wake Forest.
Duke won the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational for the 17th time in program history and the first since 2018 (2024, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 and 1988). Smith became the 13th Blue Devil to win the Tar Heel Invitational joining Leona Maguire (2017, 2015), Amanda Blumenherst (2007), Leigh Anne Hardin (2003, 2000), Liz Janangelo (2003, 2002), Kristina Engstrom (2001), Candy Hannemann (2000, 1998), Jenny Chuasiriporn (1997) and Christine Casingal (1988).
Duke head coach Dan Brooks has now led the Blue Devils to at least one victory in 39 of his 41 seasons and owns 144 team wins over his legendary career.
How It Happened
Notes
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's golf, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWGOLF".
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu
#GoDuke
Smith, a native of Hobe Sound, Fla., carded rounds of 68, 66 and 69 for a career-best 7-under-par, 203, to win her first collegiate tournament by five strokes. As a team, Duke fired a team-best even-par, 280, in the final round and took home the trophy with a 54-hole ledger of 856. The Blue Devils won by three strokes over Michigan State and Wake Forest.
Duke won the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational for the 17th time in program history and the first since 2018 (2024, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 and 1988). Smith became the 13th Blue Devil to win the Tar Heel Invitational joining Leona Maguire (2017, 2015), Amanda Blumenherst (2007), Leigh Anne Hardin (2003, 2000), Liz Janangelo (2003, 2002), Kristina Engstrom (2001), Candy Hannemann (2000, 1998), Jenny Chuasiriporn (1997) and Christine Casingal (1988).
Duke head coach Dan Brooks has now led the Blue Devils to at least one victory in 39 of his 41 seasons and owns 144 team wins over his legendary career.
How It Happened
- Andie Smith started the day on hole No. 5 and parred the first eight holes, before suffering a bogey on No. 13. After she 2-putted for birdie on No. 15, Smith dropped back-to-back shots on No. 16 and No. 17 to fall behind in the individual lead by two shots. Smith parred No. 18 and then struck fire by birding holes No. 1-3. She rolled in a 20-foot birdie on the first hole and then hit her 60-degree wedge from 68 yards to 15 feet on No. 2. Smith then dialed in her 54-degree wedge on No. 3 from 48 yards as she placed it within a foot for birdie to move back into the individual lead for good. For the day, she hit 15 greens, nine fairways and rolled 31 putts.
- Freshman Carla De Troia picked the perfect time to shoot a career low as she went bogey-free on Sunday carding a 1-under, 69.A native of Paris, France, De Troia got up-and-down from the left bunker on the 483-yard, par-5 eighth hole for her lone birdie of the day.She rolled in a 10-foot sand save for birdie.She hit a career-best 15 greens, along with seven fairways and had 32 putts on the day.
- With an even-par, 70, in the final round, sophomore Katie Li moved up the leaderboard as she finished tied for 11th with a 215.Li, who is from Basking Ridge, N.J., opened her day with pars on No. 6 and No. 7, before dropping two shots on the next two holes.She regrouped and finished strong by shooting 2-under over her final 13 holes.Li registered her first birdie on No. 10 as she chipped in and then rolled in a 24-foot birdie from off the green on No. 14.She moved to 1-under as she hit her 50-degree wedge from 112 yards to a foot on No. 3.Li dropped a shot on No. 5 to close the day with a 70. She hit 13 greens, seven fairways and had 31 putts.
- Senior Rylie Heflin closed the day with a 2-over, 72.She started her morning on No. 8 and parred the first four holes.She then suffered a double-bogey on No. 12, but responded with her lone birdie of the day on the 396-yard, par-4 No. 13.Heflin, who is from Avondale, Pa., hit her 9-iron from 128 yards to 10 feet and made the birdie.She parred the next eight holes, which included a clutch par save from 105 yards on No. 2 with a gap wedge to 15 feet and made the putt.She added a bogey on No. 4 and finished with a 72.She hit a season-best 15 greens on the day.
- Freshmen Anna Cañado Espinal closed the weekend with a 74. She totaled 14 pars and four bogeys on the day.
Notes
- Duke claimed the team title with rounds of 292, 284 and 280 for an 856.It was three shots ahead of Michigan State (859) and Wake Forest (859).
- Andie Smith totaled her third straight round in the 60s and now owns 14 career rounds in the 60s. She also has registered 28 career rounds of even or under par.
- Smith shot 1-under on par-4 holes to rank tied for second among the field.She was also 4-under on par-5 holes to rank tied for third.
- Smith's 14 birdies led the field for the 54 holes.
- Duke led the field with a 4.17 par-4 scoring average.
- Katie Li posted her 17th career round of even or under par.
- For the tournament, the Blue Devils turned in 38 birdies, which ranked fourth.The 169 pars were second.
- Carla De Troia's 1-under, 69, marked her first collegiate round in the 60s and her first bogey-free score as a Blue Devil.
- Duke's final round score of 280 along with the 54-hole total of 856 were both season-best outputs.
- "I'm very proud of this team. We didn't have a good first day.We had a lot of climbing out to get this done. We had to be really patient.We had to learn a lot about a golf course that's been made much more difficult in a recent renovation. So, I was very impressed by their patience. I was very impressed by how they learned the golf course as we went along and how they stayed solid. You know, it wasn't a roller coaster for them the last two days. It was very calm golf, calm golf wins."– Duke head coach Dan Brooks
- "It hasn't hit me yet, but I'm very excited. It was great to get the team win as well as the individual today. It's not often that that happens, so it's just overall, a great experience celebrating with the team." – Duke junior Andie Smith
- "I really think staying patient out here was the key. It's a very challenging golf course, especially around the greens, and really just taking one hole at a time and approaching each hole individually, separate from the rest is the key to success out here in scoring well and not getting ahead of yourself, which I find, I tend to do that a lot. So, I'm always trying to stay in the present and work on that." – Duke junior Andie Smith
- "So I kind of came off a rough stretch after the turn, and I kind of knew - I didn't know, but I kind of had an idea of where it was close enough that it mattered, both individually and for the team, and if there was a time to get it together and play the way that I know how to play, and that my potential. It was then, and I was lucky enough to have a putt just drop in on the last hole on No. 1, No. 2, I set up a great birdie opportunity. And then No. 3, I had a tap in birdie. So, going into the last hole, it was good to have another birdie putt opportunity, but I ended up 2-putting for a par, which was a great last four holes to close out the round." – Duke junior Andie Smith
- Duke will close the fall season at the Landfall Tradition Oct. 25-27 in Wilmington, N.C.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's golf, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWGOLF".
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu
#GoDuke
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