2025 Norman Regional
May 5-7, 2025 • Norman, Okla.
Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club
54 Holes Stroke Play; Top 5 to NCAA Championship
DUKE WOMEN'S GOLF SET FOR NCAA NORMAN REGIONAL
The Duke women's golf team is set for the 2025 NCAA Norman Regional, which will take place May 5-7 at the 6,445-yard, par-72 Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla.
Duke is set to compete in its 32nd-consecutive NCAA Regional and features 10 regional titles over school history under head coach
Dan Brooks.
The 12 teams competing in the regional will be Stanford, Northwestern, North Carolina, Michigan State, Duke, Oklahoma, Baylor, Oregon State, Tulsa, Denver, Furman and Southern Miss.
The regional will be a 54-hole tournament, but due to inclement weather expected to arrive Tuesday all teams will play 36 holes on Monday. Duke opens action on Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. (ET). The final round will be contested either Tuesday or Wednesday depending on the weather.
The NCAA regionals feature six different regional sites with 12 teams (72 total) and six individuals (36 total). The top five teams and top individual (not on an advancing team) will advance from each regional site to the championships, which will be held for the second time at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif., May 16-21.
COVERAGE
Fans will be able to follow the action with live scoring at Scoreboard Powered by clippd. Golf Channel will deliver expanded coverage of the final day of the NCAA regional championship, Wednesday, May 7. Coverage will feature updates throughout the day that will be published to Golf Channel Digital and through Golf Channel social media handles, concluding with live news segments announcing the teams and individuals who qualified for the national championship.
Everyone can also follow along on Twitter (@DukeWGOLF), Instagram (DukeWGolf) and Facebook as well.
THE DUKE LINEUP
Duke will feature a lineup of freshman
Carla De Troia, junior
Andie Smith, sophomore
Katie Li, freshman
Anna Cañado Espinal and senior
Rylie Heflin. Espinal, De Troia and Heflin will make their debut in NCAA Regional action this week.
BIRDIES FOR BABIES
Spearheaded by 2019 Blue Devil graduate Virginia Elena Carta, the Duke men's and women's golf programs have continued their fundraising program benefitting the Duke Children's Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units called Birdies for Babies. Duke has raised $10,914.10 so far this season and over the eight years of the program, it has raised $135,247.90.
In November of 2023, the Duke Children's Hospital dedicated a room for the program since the Blue Devils reached the $100,000 mark in earnings.
Those looking to support the partnership with the Duke Children's can make pledges per birdie. Pledges will start at $0.50 and high pledge increments are welcome. If the Blue Devils register an eagle (counts as two birdies), albatross (three birdies) and hole-in-one (four birdies) they will count as stated.
For more information, head to https://giving.dukechildrens.org/ways-to-give/duke-athletics-partnerships
IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Duke is currently ranked No. 25 in the latest Scoreboard golf rankings, while also being No. 23 in the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) ledger.
Individually, in the Scoreboard rankings two Blue Devils are ranked in the top 100 --
Andie Smith (42) and
Katie Li (96).
ANDIE SMITH QUALIFIES FOR U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN
Duke junior
Andie Smith qualified for the 2025 U.S. Women's Open April 28 as she fired a 3-under-par, 141, to finish second at the Duke University Golf Club in Durham.
It will mark the first time in her career that Smith has qualified for the U.S. Women's Open.
"It was such a special moment when I found out I had earned a spot to play at this year's U.S. Women's Open, especially at our home course," said Smith. "I couldn't have done it without my amazing support system today and every day. I'm very excited to have the opportunity to play with the best in the world at Erin Hills."
Smith, a product of Hobe Sound, Fla., opened the morning by firing a bogey-free 5-under, 67, with birdies on No. 6, No. 7, No. 10, No. 14 and No. 17. In the afternoon, Smith had a slow start opening with a 3-over score during her first 11 holes, but closed strong with a 1-under ledger over her final seven holes with birdies on No. 7 and No. 9.
TRENDS/NOTES
• Junior
Andie Smith heads to the NCAA Regionals for the third time as a Blue Devil. She has collected a fourth-place ledger as a rookie and then a seventh-place finish as a sophomore. Smith is just one of five Blue Devils to finish in the top-10 of each of their first two NCAA Regionals joining pretty impressive company -- Leona Maguire, Amanda Blumenherst, Virada Nirapathpongporn and Beth Bauer.
• Duke's streak of 32-straight NCAA Regional appearances currently ranks first nationally along with Stanford, Arizona State, UCLA, Arizona, Southern California and Wake Forest.
• Prior to the ACC Championship, freshman
Anna Cañado Espinal totaled a 72.75 stroke average. Of the 12 rounds, seven of those were for even or under par scores. This included winning the Chattanooga Classic with rounds of 68, 76 and 73 for a 1-over, 217.
• On the season,
Andie Smith leads Duke with 11 rounds of even or under par and six rounds in the 60s.
Katie Li is second with 10 even or under par rounds and five scores in the 60s.
• Duke has collected two second-place finishes and one tournament victory on the season.
• In the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings,
Andie Smith (65),
Katie Li (114) and
Anna Cañado Espinal (204) are in the top 210. Duke's recruiting class of
Rianne Malixi (4) and
Avery McCrery (210) will join the squad in August.
HISTORY IN NORMAN REGIONAL
Duke is being sent to Norman, Okla., for a NCAA Regional for the second time in program history. In 2013, the Blue Devils claimed the regional title with rounds of 284, 291 and 276 for a 54-hole total of 851. Duke shot an impressive 12-under-par score on the final day to win by six strokes over host Oklahoma.
The Sooners held a six-stroke lead heading into the final round, but Oklahoma shot even-par (288) to Duke's 276 on the final day. The Blue Devils finished the 54 holes with three golfers in the top 10 – Alejandra Cangrejo (T-2nd), Lindy Duncan (5th) and Courtney Ellenbogen (9th). Duke received key final round outputs from Ellenbogen with a career-best five-under-par, 67, and Laetitia Beck with a four-under-par, 68.
BLUE DEVILS IN THE 60S
Duke currently features five golfers who have shot 68 or better in a round this season --
Katie Li,
Andie Smith,
Rylie Heflin,
Anna Cañado Espinal and
Carla De Troia. The Blue Devils have featured this only five other times in Duke history: 2023-24 (
Emma McMyler,
Phoebe Brinker,
Anne Chen,
Katie Li,
Andie Smith), 2018-19 (Jaravee Boonchant, Ana Belac, Gina Kim, Virginia Elena Carta, Miranda Wang), 2013-14 (Celine Boutier, Yu Liu, Laetitia Beck, Sandy Choi, Alejandra Cangrejo), 2005-06 (Amanda Blumenherst, Liz Janangelo, Anna Grzebien, Jennie Lee, Jennifer Pandolfi), 2003-04 (Liz Janangelo, Brittany Lang, Virada Nirapathpongporn, Leigh Anne Hardin, Anna Grzebien).
Of the five previous seasons this has taken place, the Blue Devils won the NCAA Championship in three of those -- 2018-19, 2013-14 and 2005-06.
ONE OF ONLY THREE TEAMS NATIONALLY
Duke is one of only three teams nationally (P4 Conferences) that have three players on the roster that have won at least one tournament over their career. Joining the Blue Devils is South Carolina and Stanford.
Junior
Andie Smith (2024 Tar Heel Invitational), freshman
Anna Cañado Espinal (2025 Chattanooga Classic) and sophomore
Katie Li (2024 Florida State Match-Up) have won tournaments on their short careers.
LAST YEAR AT NCAA REGIONALS
For the 34th time in program history and the 32nd under head coach
Dan Brooks, Duke women's golf advanced to the NCAA Championship as the Blue Devils placed second at the NCAA Cle Elum Regional, which was contested at the 6,306-yard, par-72 Tumble Creek Club in Cle Elum, Wash.
Duke featured two golfers in the top seven –
Emma McMyler (6th) and
Andie Smith (7th) – along with all five Blue Devils in the top-20 following 54 holes –
Katie Li (13th),
Anne Chen (T13) and
Phoebe Brinker (T19). McMyler turned in her fourth straight top-10 finish at an NCAA Regional to become one of only two Blue Devils in program history to accomplish that mark (Leona Maguire).
As a team, Duke posted rounds of 282, 288 and 295 for a 54-hole score of 865. Stanford (847) won the regional with Virginia (876), Arizona State (885) and San Jose State (887) rounding out the top five teams advancing.
NCAA REGIONAL EXPERIENCE
Duke will travel a team that features only two golfers --
Andie Smith and
Katie Li - that have experience playing in the NCAA Regionals.
In her first appearance in 2023, Smith posted scores of 73, 73 and 69 for a 1-under, 215, to place fourth. She also netted her first collegiate hole-in-one as well in her home state of Florida. Last year, Smith posted scores of 72, 72 and 73 for a 1-over, 217, to finish seventh.
In 2024, Li posted rounds of 73, 75 and 73 to finish tied for 13th with a 5-over, 221.
The last time Duke featured three newcomers at a NCAA Regional was in 2021 when the Blue Devils featured a tied for second finish with a 54-hole ledger of 880 in Columbus, Ohio. It is only the fourth time in program history Duke heads to a regional with three newcomers -- 2010, 2015 and 2021.
BLUE DEVILS IN THE NCAAS
This marks the 32nd consecutive year there has been a regional system for women's golf. Duke has advanced to nationals 27 of the last 30 times, finishing in the top four of the regional in 25 of the 27 years the squad has advanced.
Duke has posted five individual medalists at the regionals as Beth Bauer won the East Regional in 1999 after shooting 74-70-71=215, Virada Nirapathpongporn won in 2001 with a 65-73-71=209, Leigh Anne Hardin won in 2002 with rounds of 71-67-72=210, Anna Grzebien won in 2005 with rounds of 73-69-67=209 and Leona Maguire won in 2015 with rounds of 72-78-72=212.
NCAA REGIONAL TITLES
Duke owns 10 NCAA Regional titles over school history, which ranks second all-time in NCAA action. Southern California owns 14 titles, while Duke (10), UCLA (8), Stanford (7), Arizona (6), Georgia (6), Arizona State (5) and South Carolina (5) have won five or more regional championships.
The Blue Devils have won regional titles in 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 and 2018.
ESPINAL CLAIMS INDIVIDUAL TITLE AT CHATTANOOGA CLASSIC
Duke freshman
Anna Cañado Espinal claimed her first collegiate title in March as she carded a 1-over-par, 217, at the Chattanooga Classic, which was being held at the 6,180-yard, par-72 The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn.
A native of Barcelona, Spain, Espinal turned in rounds of 68, 76 and 73 as she battled high winds the last two days. Espinal is the 20th freshman to win an event in Duke history.
IN THE RECORD BOOK
In the Duke career record book, junior
Andie Smith is moving up the charts. She ranks seventh with 17 rounds in the 60s over her three seasons. She needs two more to move into a tie for fifth along with Celine Boutier and Ana Belac (19).
Rounds in the 60s
NAME TOTAL
1. Leona Maguire, 2015-18 32
2. Amanda Blumenherst, 2006-09 30
3. Lindy Duncan, 2010-13 23
4. Liz Janangelo, 2003-06 21
5. Celine Boutier, 2013-16 19
Ana Belac, 2017-20 19
7. Andie Smith, 2023-present 17
8.
Phoebe Brinker, 2021-24 16
9. Virginia Elena Carta, 2016-19 15
Anna Grzebien, 2004-07 15
Brittany Lang, 2004-05 15
Jaravee Boonchant, 2018-21 15
DUKE WINS TAR HEEL INVITATIONAL; SMITH TAKES INDIVIDUAL CROWN
Junior
Andie Smith along with the Duke women's golf team claimed the individual and team titles in October 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.
COVERING THE BLUE DEVILS
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