Upcoming Event: Women's Golf versus ACC Championship on April 16, 2026
Women's Golf
vs ACC Championship
Thursday, April 16
Wilmington, N.C.
Duke University
vs
ACC Championship
Photo by: Todd Drexler
Women's Golf Heads to Wilmington for ACC Championship
4/15/2026 11:45:00 AM | Women's Golf
2026 ACC Championship
April 16-19, 2026 • Porters Neck, N.C.
Porters Neck Country Club
54 Holes Stroke Play; Top 6 to Match Play
Live Scoring
DUKE HEADS TO ACC CHAMPIONSHIP IN WILMINGTON
The Duke women's golf team will head to the ACC Championship this week in search of its 23rd title in school history. The championship will take place from April 16-19 and will be contested at the 6,227-yard, par 72 Porters Neck Country Club in Wilmington, N.C.
The format of the championship will feature 36 holes of stroke play on April 16 followed by 18 holes of stroke play on April 17 with the conclusion of play on Friday deciding the individual champion. The top six teams in stroke play following 54 holes will advance to match play on April 18. The top two teams will receive a bye into the semifinals. A total of 36 holes of match play will be played Saturday followed by the championship on Sunday.
The 2026 event will mark the 37th ACC Championship in league history and the second appearance at Porters Neck Country Club.
The Blue Devils have had a history of success at the ACC Championship, claiming 22 titles in program history, including six out of the last 13 years (2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021). Duke has also collected ACC Individual Champions in 16 of the past 26 events. The Blue Devils have featured two out of the last five ACC Individual champions with Gina Kim and Phoebe Brinker winning in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Head coach Dan Brooks has led the squad to 21 of the 22 championships over his 41 seasons at Duke.
COVERAGE
Fans will be able to follow the action with live scoring at www.GoDuke.com, while ACC Network Extra will provide coverage for the semifinals and finals of match play on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Ryan Burr (PXP) and Julia Johnson (Analyst) will provide the call for ACC Network Extra. Everyone can also follow along on Twitter (@DukeWGOLF), Instagram (DukeWGolf) and Facebook.
THE SEEDINGS & TEE TIMES
The seedings for the 2026 ACC Championship were done by the latest Scoreboard rankings -- Stanford (1), Wake Forest (2), Duke (3), North Carolina (4), Florida State (5), SMU (6), Virginia (7), Virginia Tech (8), California (9), Clemson (10), NC State (11), Boston College (12), Miami (13), Louisville (14) and Notre Dame (15).
Duke will tee off on Thursday, April 16 in the first round beginning at 7:30 a.m., through 8:10 a.m., off hole No. 1. On Friday, tee times will be from 8-10:30 a.m., off split tees. Saturday's first round of match play will open at 7:30 a.m., followed by the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. The championship is slated to start at 9:02 a.m.
THE DUKE LINEUP
Duke will feature a lineup of sophomore Anna Cañado Espinal, graduate student Andie Smith, freshman Rianne Malixi, junior Katie Li and freshman Avery McCrery. Malixi and McCrery will make their debut at the ACC Championship 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 $13,163.65 so far this season and over the nine years of the program, it has raised $145,035.02.
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. 11 in the latest Scoreboard golf rankings as well as the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) ledger.
Individually, in the Scoreboard rankings five Blue Devils are ranked in the top 102 -- Rianne Malixi (8), Katie Li (43), Andie Smith (68), Avery McCrery (85) and Anna Cañado Espinal (102).
MALIXI FEATURING IMPRESSIVE SPRING
Duke freshman Rianne Malixi continues to have a very impressive spring campaign for the Blue Devils as she has moved up to a season-best No. 8 nationally in the latest Scoreboard Powered by clippd rankings.
A native of Manilla, Philippines, Malixi has carded a 68.78 stroke average in three tournaments this spring. She has posted four rounds in the 60s and shot a combined 20-under-par in those three events. Malixi turned in a first-place finish at the Sea Best Intercollegiate, a third-place ledger at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate and a tied for third-place finish at the Charles Schwab Women's Collegiate Invitational.
Malixi also competed in the Old Barnwell Derby Match Play along the way and went a perfect, 3-0, helping lead the Blue Devils into the championship match. She shot a combined 15-under-par in the three matches during the week.
At the Sea Best Intercollegiate, Malixi claimed her first collegiate victory in record fashion as she carded a 9-under-par, 63, in the final round and a 54-hole score of 16-under-par, 200. The round of 63 tied for the lowest 18-hole score on a par-72 course in Duke history and the 3-day total of 200 was the lowest score in Blue Devil lore. Malixi's 16-under score was tied for the 20th lowest 54-hole score in relation to par in NCAA history and her 63 was tied for the 21st lowest 18-hole score as well. She also became just the 15th freshman to shoot a 63 or better in NCAA action.
Malixi also closed the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate with a course record of 8-under, 63, as she went on to finish third overall with a 4-under, 209.
TRENDS/NOTES
• Over the last three tournaments, Rianne Malixi has carded a 68.78 stroke average. It is the second-lowest in Duke history in regards to a three tournament stretch. Leona Maguire owns the Blue Devil record with a 68.77 stroke average in 2017-18. Her four rounds in the 60s during that stretch ranks tied for third in program history and her 20-under-par score is tied for fourth as well.
• After turning in a 71.50 stroke average in the first six tournaments, Andie Smith has struggled over the last two events with a 76.00 stroke average. She will look to regain her form at the ACC Championship.
• Freshman Avery McCrery returns to the lineup for the ACC Championship after missing the last two tournaments due to an injury. Over her last five events, she has not finished lower than tied for 25th and owns a 72.61 stroke average on the year.
• Rianne Malixi leads Duke with 80 birdies on the season, while Katie Li is second with 77.
• In the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings, Rianne Malixi (15), Andie Smith (84), Katie Li (124), Avery McCrery (144) and Anna Cañado Espinal (211) are in the top 211.
HISTORY AT PORTERS NECK COUNTRY CLUB
Porters Neck Country Club last hosted the ACC Championship was in 2024 with the Blue Devils totaling rounds of 294, 291 and 281 for a 2-over, 866. Duke missed match play by one stroke as the Blue Devils turned in the second-lowest third round with a 7-under, 281.
Andie Smith posted rounds of 74, 71 and 69 for a 2-under, 214, and finished tied for 13th. Katie Li closed strong with a 5-under, 67, in the final round as she placed tied for 35th with rounds of 76, 78 and 67 for a 5-over, 221.
Wake Forest won the title in 2024 as the Demon Deacons defeated Clemson in match play.
LOOKING BACK AT LAST YEAR
Duke carded the tied for fourth-best final round at the ACC Championship, while sophomore Katie Li and freshman Carla De Troia shot under par as the Blue Devils closed action in Greensboro at the 6,092-yard, par-72 Sedgefield Country Club.
Li, a native of Basking Ridge, N.J., fired a 7-under, 65, which was tied for the lowest score of the 2025 ACC Championship and tied for the second-lowest 18-hole score for the Blue Devils in ACC Championship action. De Troia registered her second-straight under-par round as she fired a 1-under, 71, in the third round. She placed tied for 11th overall with a 1-over, 217.
As a team, Duke placed 10th with rounds of 305, 301 and 288 for a 30-over, 894, while missing out on match play.
BLUE DEVILS IN THE 60S
Duke currently features six golfers who have shot 69 or better in a round this season -- Katie Li, Andie Smith, Rianne Malixi, Anna Cañado Espinal, Avery McCrery and Carla De Troia. It marks the first time in program history the Blue Devils have featured six different golfers to shoot 69 or better in a round.
Both Smith and Li lead Duke with 11 rounds of even or under par, while Malixi has turned in 10. Malixi leads the Blue Devils with five rounds in the 60s this year, while Smith and Li own four each.
Duke had five golfers shoot 69 or better in 2024-25, 2023-24, 2020-21, 2018-19, 2017-18, 2013-14, 2009-10, 2005-06 and 2003-04.
ONE OF ONLY THREE TEAMS NATIONALLY
Duke is one of only three teams nationally that have four players on the roster that have won at least one tournament over their career. Joining the Blue Devils is Texas and Stanford.
Graduate student Andie Smith (2024 Tar Heel Invitational), sophomore Anna Cañado Espinal (2025 Chattanooga Classic), junior Katie Li (2024 Florida State Match-Up) and Rianne Malixi (Sea Best Intercollegiate) have won tournaments in their short careers.
FRESHMAN RECORD BOOKS
Duke rookie Rianne Malixi is set to etch her name throughout the Duke freshman record charts. She has already set records for lowest 18-hole score, lowest 36-hole ledger and 54-hole score.
If the season ended today, her 71.11 stroke average would be the second-lowest in program history behind Leona Maguire (70.78) from the 2014-15 season. Her 10 rounds of even or under par are two away from the top-10 charts.
Malixi is the first freshman golfer in NCAA history to shoot multiple rounds of 63 or better in a rookie season.
With her five rounds in the 60s, Malixi ranks tied for fifth on Duke's freshman record charts. Leona Maguire (10), Jaravee Boonchant (8), Brittany Lang (8), Liz Janangelo (6), Malixi (5), Yu Liu (5), Virginia Elena Carta (5) and Amanda Blumenherst (5) are in the top five.
AVERAGES
Go in depth with the Blue Devils to see how many birdies, greens, fairways and putts they average during rounds in 2025-26.
Birdies Greens Fairways Putts
Andie Smith 2.7 12.3 10.0 31.0
Katie Li 2.7 13.2 10.5 31.3
Anna Cañado Espinal 2.9 13.2 10.3 31.0
Carla De Troia 1.9 11.1 9.5 32.0
Rianne Malixi 3.9 12.7 10.0 30.5
Avery McCrery 2.8 13.4 9.9 32.6
Malixi's 3.9 birdies per round this season is the highest average for a Duke golfer in program history. Ana Belac (3.8 in 2019-20), Gina Kim (3.7 in 2021-22), Miranda Wang (3.6 in 2019-20) and Phoebe Brinker (3.4 in 2023-24) are in the top five.
McCrery's 13.4 greens per round ranks tied for fifth all-time on Duke's record charts. Jaravee Boonchant (14.1 in 2020-21), Virginia Elena Carta (14.0 in 2018-19), Gina Kim (13.7 in 2019-20), Erica Shepherd (13.6 in 2019-20) and Emma McMyler (13.4 in 2023-24) rank in the top five.
Malixi's 30.5 putts per round ranks third in Duke history -- Gina Kim (30.0 in 2020-21), Gina Kim (30.3 in 2021-22), Andie Smith (30.6 in 2024-25), Anne Chen (30.6 in 2021-22), Erica Shepherd (30.6 in 2021-22) and Megan Furtney (30.6 in 2019-20).
**These stats started being kept in 2018-19.
ACC CHAMPIONS
A total of 15 different Blue Devils have won ACC individual titles -- Mary Anne Widman, 1984; Evelyn Orley, 1985; Kathi Poppmeier, 1994; Jenny Chuasiriporn, 1996 and 1997; Beth Bauer, 1999; Maria Garcia-Estrada, 2000; Virada Nirapathpongporn, 2001; Candy Hannemann, 2002; Brittany Lang, 2004 and 2005; Amanda Blumenherst, 2006, 2007 & 2008; Lindy Duncan, 2012; Celine Boutier, 2014; Leona Maguire, 2015, 2017 and 2018; Gina Kim, 2021; Phoebe Brinker, 2022.
As a team, Duke has won 22 ACC titles -- 1984, 1985, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2021. The Blue Devils won 13 in a row from 1996-2008.
ACC CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE
Duke will travel a team that features three members that have competed in the ACC Championship.
Andie Smith will see action in her fourth ACC Championship, while Katie Li will compete in her third and Anna Cañado Espinal will play in her second.
In her first appearance in 2023, Smith turned in scores of 68, 73 and 78 for a 219, which was tied for 15th. In 2024, she placed tied for 13th with scores of 74, 71 and 69 for a 2-under, 214, and in 2025 she carded a tied for 25th finish with rounds of 70, 77 and 74 for a 221.
Li posted rounds of 76, 78 and 67 for a 5-over, 221, to place tied for 35th in 2025 and tied for 34th last year with scores of 78, 80 and 65 for a 223. In two final rounds, Li has posted a 67 and 65.
Cañado Espinal signed for rounds of 78, 79 and 81 for a 238, which was tied for 65th as a rookie in Greensboro.
DUKE WINS WINDY CITY COLLEGIATE CLASSIC
Duke fired a team-best 7-under-par, 281, in the final round to come-from-behind to finish as co-champions of the Windy City Collegiate Classic, which was contested at the 6,368-yard, par-72 Glen View Club in Golf.
The Blue Devils along with host Northwestern finished the 54-hole event with a 13-under-par, 851, to finish as co-champions. Duke fired three rounds in the red (283, 287, 281) to post its first win of the season and 145th of Blue Devil head coach Dan Brooks impressive career. The victory came on Brooks' birthday as well.
It marked the first team title at the Windy City Collegiate Classic in nine appearances for the Blue Devils. Brooks has guided Duke to at least one victory in 40 of his 42 seasons in Durham.
As a team, Duke featured three golfers in the top six individually -- Anna Cañado Espinal (T4, -5), Andie Smith (T6, -4) and Katie Li (T6, -4), while freshman Avery McCrery carded her first collegiate top-20 finish (T18, E).
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
Andie Smith, 2023-present 21
6. Celine Boutier, 2013-16 19
Ana Belac, 2017-20 19
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
Even Or Under Par Rounds
NAME TOTAL
1. Leona Maguire, 2015-18 87
2. Amanda Blumenherst, 2006-09 78
3. Lindy Duncan, 2010-13 72
4. Liz Janangelo, 2003-06 55
5. Virada Nirapathpongporn, 2001-04 54
Jaravee Boonchant, 2018-21 54
7. Phoebe Brinker, 2021-24 53
8. Celine Boutier, 2013-16 52
Ana Belac, 2017-20 49
Andie Smith, 2023-present 47
ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH
Blue Devil head coach Dan Brooks became the all-time winningest women's golf coach in NCAA Division I history in the fall of 2005 as he won his 92nd career tournament title at the Stanford Pepsi Intercollegiate Oct. 23, 2005. Brooks passed Mark Gale of San Jose State who won 91 career tournaments from 1978-96.
Brooks now has 145 career tournament wins over his 42 seasons. He has guided Duke to at least one victory in 40 of his 42 years.
THE HEAD COACH
Dan Brooks is in his 42nd season as the head coach of the Blue Devils. The 1981 graduate of Oregon State has led Duke to 21 ACC Championships over the years. Brooks owns the school's seven National Championships in 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014 and 2019.
Brooks' teams have finished with a top-20 ranking 35 times, while 23 of his squads have earned a top-10 finish in a NCAA Tournament-- 1987 (T7th), 1988 (5th), 1994 (4th), 1996 (7th), 1998 (4th), 1999 (1st), 2001 (2nd), 2002 (1st), 2003 (10th), 2004 (3rd), 2005 (1st), 2006 (1st), 2007 (1st), 2008 (3rd), 2009 (6th), 2010 (T8th), 2013 (2nd), 2014 (1st), 2015 (semis), 2016 (semis), 2018 (6th), 2019 (1st), 2021 (semis).
In 42 years, his teams have won 145 tournaments, which is a NCAA record for women's golf. He was named the 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2021 ACC Coach of the Year for his efforts and 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2014 and 2019 National Coach of the Year.
Brooks' seven NCAA titles is the most in women's golf -- 5, Linda Vollstedt (Arizona State), 3, Mark Gale (San Jose State) and Andrea Gaston (Southern California).
BLUE DEVILS ON THE PRO TOURS
The Duke women's golf program once again has a heavy influence on the LPGA, Epson Tour and Ladies European Tour.
The Blue Devils have 12 former golfers on the LPGA with Celine Boutier, Lindy Duncan, Ana Belac, Miranda Wang, Brittany Lang, Yu Liu, Leona Maguire, Erica Shepherd, Laetitia Beck, Gina Kim, Emma McMyler and Anne Chen competing.
Duke also features Jaravee Boonchant on the KLPGA and Virginia Elena Carta has competed on the Ladies European Tour.
BROOKS ADDS NO. 1 CLASS FOR 2025-26
Duke head coach Dan Brooks announced in November the signing of two of the top-rated recruits nationally with the addition of Mia Hammond and Martina Navarro Navarro. The duo will join the Blue Devils in the fall of 2026.
Hammond, a native of New Albany, Ohio, was the only amateur golfer to win on the Epson Tour in 2025 as she carded rounds of 66, 66 and 69 for a 12-under, 201, at the Greater Toledo Classic hosted by Stacy Lewis in Sylvania, Ohio. She is one of only seven amateurs in the history of the Epson Tour to win a professional event.
Over her career on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), Hammond owns 11 wins, 20 top-five, 26 top-10 and 30 top-20 finishes. She had a span in 2022 where she won six tournaments in a row, while also winning three straight events in 2020. Hammond collected a solid 2025 season where she had four finishes in the top three or better. She owns 12 career rounds in the 60s on the AJGA.
A member of the United States National Development Program, Hammond placed tied for 26th in her LPGA debut at the Dana Classic in 2023 with scores of 68, 68, 70 and 72 for a 6-under, 278. She advanced to the round of 16 at the 2022 U.S. Women's Amateur. Hammond was a member of the 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup, 2024 Wyndham Cup and was a 2024 AJGA All-America selection.
Navarro Navarro, who hails from Alicante, Spain, competed in the 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup and the Junior Vagliano Trophy. She claimed the titles at the 2023 Puntauble Nacional Juvenil, 2024 Madrid Championship and the 2025 Spanish Championship of Federations. Navarro Navarro was also the runner-up at the 2023 R&A Girls Amateur Championship, runner-up at the 2024 European Young Masters Championship and tied for third at the 2024 Spanish International Ladies Amateur.
She has tremendous international experience seeing action in the 2024 European Girls' Amateur Team Championship with her home country of Spain and competing in the International Match Spain versus England, Spain versus England and Spain versus France, among other competitions.
Earlier this season, Navarro Navarro carded a 7-under-par round of 63 en route to winning the Golf Fenomenos, won the Swedish Invitational GolfTech Tour I, was fourth at the Campeonato Andalucia Sub 18 and was 17th at the Spanish International Ladies' Amateur Championship.
SEVEN-TIME NCAA CHAMPIONS
The Duke women's golf team are seven-time NCAA Champions. The Blue Devils won their first title in 1999, a second in 2002, third in 2005, fourth in 2006, fifth in 2007, sixth in 2014 and seventh in 2019. Duke became only the second team along with Arizona State to win three straight national titles (1995-97).
Virada Nirapathpongporn (2002), Candy Hannemann (2003), Anna Grzebien (2005) and Virginia Elena Carta (2016) each have won individual titles. The Blue Devils became only the third squad in NCAA history to post the individual champion in two straight years in 2001 and 2002.
April 16-19, 2026 • Porters Neck, N.C.
Porters Neck Country Club
54 Holes Stroke Play; Top 6 to Match Play
Live Scoring
DUKE HEADS TO ACC CHAMPIONSHIP IN WILMINGTON
The Duke women's golf team will head to the ACC Championship this week in search of its 23rd title in school history. The championship will take place from April 16-19 and will be contested at the 6,227-yard, par 72 Porters Neck Country Club in Wilmington, N.C.
The format of the championship will feature 36 holes of stroke play on April 16 followed by 18 holes of stroke play on April 17 with the conclusion of play on Friday deciding the individual champion. The top six teams in stroke play following 54 holes will advance to match play on April 18. The top two teams will receive a bye into the semifinals. A total of 36 holes of match play will be played Saturday followed by the championship on Sunday.
The 2026 event will mark the 37th ACC Championship in league history and the second appearance at Porters Neck Country Club.
The Blue Devils have had a history of success at the ACC Championship, claiming 22 titles in program history, including six out of the last 13 years (2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021). Duke has also collected ACC Individual Champions in 16 of the past 26 events. The Blue Devils have featured two out of the last five ACC Individual champions with Gina Kim and Phoebe Brinker winning in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Head coach Dan Brooks has led the squad to 21 of the 22 championships over his 41 seasons at Duke.
COVERAGE
Fans will be able to follow the action with live scoring at www.GoDuke.com, while ACC Network Extra will provide coverage for the semifinals and finals of match play on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Ryan Burr (PXP) and Julia Johnson (Analyst) will provide the call for ACC Network Extra. Everyone can also follow along on Twitter (@DukeWGOLF), Instagram (DukeWGolf) and Facebook.
THE SEEDINGS & TEE TIMES
The seedings for the 2026 ACC Championship were done by the latest Scoreboard rankings -- Stanford (1), Wake Forest (2), Duke (3), North Carolina (4), Florida State (5), SMU (6), Virginia (7), Virginia Tech (8), California (9), Clemson (10), NC State (11), Boston College (12), Miami (13), Louisville (14) and Notre Dame (15).
Duke will tee off on Thursday, April 16 in the first round beginning at 7:30 a.m., through 8:10 a.m., off hole No. 1. On Friday, tee times will be from 8-10:30 a.m., off split tees. Saturday's first round of match play will open at 7:30 a.m., followed by the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. The championship is slated to start at 9:02 a.m.
THE DUKE LINEUP
Duke will feature a lineup of sophomore Anna Cañado Espinal, graduate student Andie Smith, freshman Rianne Malixi, junior Katie Li and freshman Avery McCrery. Malixi and McCrery will make their debut at the ACC Championship 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 $13,163.65 so far this season and over the nine years of the program, it has raised $145,035.02.
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. 11 in the latest Scoreboard golf rankings as well as the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) ledger.
Individually, in the Scoreboard rankings five Blue Devils are ranked in the top 102 -- Rianne Malixi (8), Katie Li (43), Andie Smith (68), Avery McCrery (85) and Anna Cañado Espinal (102).
MALIXI FEATURING IMPRESSIVE SPRING
Duke freshman Rianne Malixi continues to have a very impressive spring campaign for the Blue Devils as she has moved up to a season-best No. 8 nationally in the latest Scoreboard Powered by clippd rankings.
A native of Manilla, Philippines, Malixi has carded a 68.78 stroke average in three tournaments this spring. She has posted four rounds in the 60s and shot a combined 20-under-par in those three events. Malixi turned in a first-place finish at the Sea Best Intercollegiate, a third-place ledger at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate and a tied for third-place finish at the Charles Schwab Women's Collegiate Invitational.
Malixi also competed in the Old Barnwell Derby Match Play along the way and went a perfect, 3-0, helping lead the Blue Devils into the championship match. She shot a combined 15-under-par in the three matches during the week.
At the Sea Best Intercollegiate, Malixi claimed her first collegiate victory in record fashion as she carded a 9-under-par, 63, in the final round and a 54-hole score of 16-under-par, 200. The round of 63 tied for the lowest 18-hole score on a par-72 course in Duke history and the 3-day total of 200 was the lowest score in Blue Devil lore. Malixi's 16-under score was tied for the 20th lowest 54-hole score in relation to par in NCAA history and her 63 was tied for the 21st lowest 18-hole score as well. She also became just the 15th freshman to shoot a 63 or better in NCAA action.
Malixi also closed the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate with a course record of 8-under, 63, as she went on to finish third overall with a 4-under, 209.
TRENDS/NOTES
• Over the last three tournaments, Rianne Malixi has carded a 68.78 stroke average. It is the second-lowest in Duke history in regards to a three tournament stretch. Leona Maguire owns the Blue Devil record with a 68.77 stroke average in 2017-18. Her four rounds in the 60s during that stretch ranks tied for third in program history and her 20-under-par score is tied for fourth as well.
• After turning in a 71.50 stroke average in the first six tournaments, Andie Smith has struggled over the last two events with a 76.00 stroke average. She will look to regain her form at the ACC Championship.
• Freshman Avery McCrery returns to the lineup for the ACC Championship after missing the last two tournaments due to an injury. Over her last five events, she has not finished lower than tied for 25th and owns a 72.61 stroke average on the year.
• Rianne Malixi leads Duke with 80 birdies on the season, while Katie Li is second with 77.
• In the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings, Rianne Malixi (15), Andie Smith (84), Katie Li (124), Avery McCrery (144) and Anna Cañado Espinal (211) are in the top 211.
HISTORY AT PORTERS NECK COUNTRY CLUB
Porters Neck Country Club last hosted the ACC Championship was in 2024 with the Blue Devils totaling rounds of 294, 291 and 281 for a 2-over, 866. Duke missed match play by one stroke as the Blue Devils turned in the second-lowest third round with a 7-under, 281.
Andie Smith posted rounds of 74, 71 and 69 for a 2-under, 214, and finished tied for 13th. Katie Li closed strong with a 5-under, 67, in the final round as she placed tied for 35th with rounds of 76, 78 and 67 for a 5-over, 221.
Wake Forest won the title in 2024 as the Demon Deacons defeated Clemson in match play.
LOOKING BACK AT LAST YEAR
Duke carded the tied for fourth-best final round at the ACC Championship, while sophomore Katie Li and freshman Carla De Troia shot under par as the Blue Devils closed action in Greensboro at the 6,092-yard, par-72 Sedgefield Country Club.
Li, a native of Basking Ridge, N.J., fired a 7-under, 65, which was tied for the lowest score of the 2025 ACC Championship and tied for the second-lowest 18-hole score for the Blue Devils in ACC Championship action. De Troia registered her second-straight under-par round as she fired a 1-under, 71, in the third round. She placed tied for 11th overall with a 1-over, 217.
As a team, Duke placed 10th with rounds of 305, 301 and 288 for a 30-over, 894, while missing out on match play.
BLUE DEVILS IN THE 60S
Duke currently features six golfers who have shot 69 or better in a round this season -- Katie Li, Andie Smith, Rianne Malixi, Anna Cañado Espinal, Avery McCrery and Carla De Troia. It marks the first time in program history the Blue Devils have featured six different golfers to shoot 69 or better in a round.
Both Smith and Li lead Duke with 11 rounds of even or under par, while Malixi has turned in 10. Malixi leads the Blue Devils with five rounds in the 60s this year, while Smith and Li own four each.
Duke had five golfers shoot 69 or better in 2024-25, 2023-24, 2020-21, 2018-19, 2017-18, 2013-14, 2009-10, 2005-06 and 2003-04.
ONE OF ONLY THREE TEAMS NATIONALLY
Duke is one of only three teams nationally that have four players on the roster that have won at least one tournament over their career. Joining the Blue Devils is Texas and Stanford.
Graduate student Andie Smith (2024 Tar Heel Invitational), sophomore Anna Cañado Espinal (2025 Chattanooga Classic), junior Katie Li (2024 Florida State Match-Up) and Rianne Malixi (Sea Best Intercollegiate) have won tournaments in their short careers.
FRESHMAN RECORD BOOKS
Duke rookie Rianne Malixi is set to etch her name throughout the Duke freshman record charts. She has already set records for lowest 18-hole score, lowest 36-hole ledger and 54-hole score.
If the season ended today, her 71.11 stroke average would be the second-lowest in program history behind Leona Maguire (70.78) from the 2014-15 season. Her 10 rounds of even or under par are two away from the top-10 charts.
Malixi is the first freshman golfer in NCAA history to shoot multiple rounds of 63 or better in a rookie season.
With her five rounds in the 60s, Malixi ranks tied for fifth on Duke's freshman record charts. Leona Maguire (10), Jaravee Boonchant (8), Brittany Lang (8), Liz Janangelo (6), Malixi (5), Yu Liu (5), Virginia Elena Carta (5) and Amanda Blumenherst (5) are in the top five.
AVERAGES
Go in depth with the Blue Devils to see how many birdies, greens, fairways and putts they average during rounds in 2025-26.
Birdies Greens Fairways Putts
Andie Smith 2.7 12.3 10.0 31.0
Katie Li 2.7 13.2 10.5 31.3
Anna Cañado Espinal 2.9 13.2 10.3 31.0
Carla De Troia 1.9 11.1 9.5 32.0
Rianne Malixi 3.9 12.7 10.0 30.5
Avery McCrery 2.8 13.4 9.9 32.6
Malixi's 3.9 birdies per round this season is the highest average for a Duke golfer in program history. Ana Belac (3.8 in 2019-20), Gina Kim (3.7 in 2021-22), Miranda Wang (3.6 in 2019-20) and Phoebe Brinker (3.4 in 2023-24) are in the top five.
McCrery's 13.4 greens per round ranks tied for fifth all-time on Duke's record charts. Jaravee Boonchant (14.1 in 2020-21), Virginia Elena Carta (14.0 in 2018-19), Gina Kim (13.7 in 2019-20), Erica Shepherd (13.6 in 2019-20) and Emma McMyler (13.4 in 2023-24) rank in the top five.
Malixi's 30.5 putts per round ranks third in Duke history -- Gina Kim (30.0 in 2020-21), Gina Kim (30.3 in 2021-22), Andie Smith (30.6 in 2024-25), Anne Chen (30.6 in 2021-22), Erica Shepherd (30.6 in 2021-22) and Megan Furtney (30.6 in 2019-20).
**These stats started being kept in 2018-19.
ACC CHAMPIONS
A total of 15 different Blue Devils have won ACC individual titles -- Mary Anne Widman, 1984; Evelyn Orley, 1985; Kathi Poppmeier, 1994; Jenny Chuasiriporn, 1996 and 1997; Beth Bauer, 1999; Maria Garcia-Estrada, 2000; Virada Nirapathpongporn, 2001; Candy Hannemann, 2002; Brittany Lang, 2004 and 2005; Amanda Blumenherst, 2006, 2007 & 2008; Lindy Duncan, 2012; Celine Boutier, 2014; Leona Maguire, 2015, 2017 and 2018; Gina Kim, 2021; Phoebe Brinker, 2022.
As a team, Duke has won 22 ACC titles -- 1984, 1985, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2021. The Blue Devils won 13 in a row from 1996-2008.
ACC CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE
Duke will travel a team that features three members that have competed in the ACC Championship.
Andie Smith will see action in her fourth ACC Championship, while Katie Li will compete in her third and Anna Cañado Espinal will play in her second.
In her first appearance in 2023, Smith turned in scores of 68, 73 and 78 for a 219, which was tied for 15th. In 2024, she placed tied for 13th with scores of 74, 71 and 69 for a 2-under, 214, and in 2025 she carded a tied for 25th finish with rounds of 70, 77 and 74 for a 221.
Li posted rounds of 76, 78 and 67 for a 5-over, 221, to place tied for 35th in 2025 and tied for 34th last year with scores of 78, 80 and 65 for a 223. In two final rounds, Li has posted a 67 and 65.
Cañado Espinal signed for rounds of 78, 79 and 81 for a 238, which was tied for 65th as a rookie in Greensboro.
DUKE WINS WINDY CITY COLLEGIATE CLASSIC
Duke fired a team-best 7-under-par, 281, in the final round to come-from-behind to finish as co-champions of the Windy City Collegiate Classic, which was contested at the 6,368-yard, par-72 Glen View Club in Golf.
The Blue Devils along with host Northwestern finished the 54-hole event with a 13-under-par, 851, to finish as co-champions. Duke fired three rounds in the red (283, 287, 281) to post its first win of the season and 145th of Blue Devil head coach Dan Brooks impressive career. The victory came on Brooks' birthday as well.
It marked the first team title at the Windy City Collegiate Classic in nine appearances for the Blue Devils. Brooks has guided Duke to at least one victory in 40 of his 42 seasons in Durham.
As a team, Duke featured three golfers in the top six individually -- Anna Cañado Espinal (T4, -5), Andie Smith (T6, -4) and Katie Li (T6, -4), while freshman Avery McCrery carded her first collegiate top-20 finish (T18, E).
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
Andie Smith, 2023-present 21
6. Celine Boutier, 2013-16 19
Ana Belac, 2017-20 19
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
Even Or Under Par Rounds
NAME TOTAL
1. Leona Maguire, 2015-18 87
2. Amanda Blumenherst, 2006-09 78
3. Lindy Duncan, 2010-13 72
4. Liz Janangelo, 2003-06 55
5. Virada Nirapathpongporn, 2001-04 54
Jaravee Boonchant, 2018-21 54
7. Phoebe Brinker, 2021-24 53
8. Celine Boutier, 2013-16 52
Ana Belac, 2017-20 49
Andie Smith, 2023-present 47
ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH
Blue Devil head coach Dan Brooks became the all-time winningest women's golf coach in NCAA Division I history in the fall of 2005 as he won his 92nd career tournament title at the Stanford Pepsi Intercollegiate Oct. 23, 2005. Brooks passed Mark Gale of San Jose State who won 91 career tournaments from 1978-96.
Brooks now has 145 career tournament wins over his 42 seasons. He has guided Duke to at least one victory in 40 of his 42 years.
THE HEAD COACH
Dan Brooks is in his 42nd season as the head coach of the Blue Devils. The 1981 graduate of Oregon State has led Duke to 21 ACC Championships over the years. Brooks owns the school's seven National Championships in 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014 and 2019.
Brooks' teams have finished with a top-20 ranking 35 times, while 23 of his squads have earned a top-10 finish in a NCAA Tournament-- 1987 (T7th), 1988 (5th), 1994 (4th), 1996 (7th), 1998 (4th), 1999 (1st), 2001 (2nd), 2002 (1st), 2003 (10th), 2004 (3rd), 2005 (1st), 2006 (1st), 2007 (1st), 2008 (3rd), 2009 (6th), 2010 (T8th), 2013 (2nd), 2014 (1st), 2015 (semis), 2016 (semis), 2018 (6th), 2019 (1st), 2021 (semis).
In 42 years, his teams have won 145 tournaments, which is a NCAA record for women's golf. He was named the 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2021 ACC Coach of the Year for his efforts and 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2014 and 2019 National Coach of the Year.
Brooks' seven NCAA titles is the most in women's golf -- 5, Linda Vollstedt (Arizona State), 3, Mark Gale (San Jose State) and Andrea Gaston (Southern California).
BLUE DEVILS ON THE PRO TOURS
The Duke women's golf program once again has a heavy influence on the LPGA, Epson Tour and Ladies European Tour.
The Blue Devils have 12 former golfers on the LPGA with Celine Boutier, Lindy Duncan, Ana Belac, Miranda Wang, Brittany Lang, Yu Liu, Leona Maguire, Erica Shepherd, Laetitia Beck, Gina Kim, Emma McMyler and Anne Chen competing.
Duke also features Jaravee Boonchant on the KLPGA and Virginia Elena Carta has competed on the Ladies European Tour.
BROOKS ADDS NO. 1 CLASS FOR 2025-26
Duke head coach Dan Brooks announced in November the signing of two of the top-rated recruits nationally with the addition of Mia Hammond and Martina Navarro Navarro. The duo will join the Blue Devils in the fall of 2026.
Hammond, a native of New Albany, Ohio, was the only amateur golfer to win on the Epson Tour in 2025 as she carded rounds of 66, 66 and 69 for a 12-under, 201, at the Greater Toledo Classic hosted by Stacy Lewis in Sylvania, Ohio. She is one of only seven amateurs in the history of the Epson Tour to win a professional event.
Over her career on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), Hammond owns 11 wins, 20 top-five, 26 top-10 and 30 top-20 finishes. She had a span in 2022 where she won six tournaments in a row, while also winning three straight events in 2020. Hammond collected a solid 2025 season where she had four finishes in the top three or better. She owns 12 career rounds in the 60s on the AJGA.
A member of the United States National Development Program, Hammond placed tied for 26th in her LPGA debut at the Dana Classic in 2023 with scores of 68, 68, 70 and 72 for a 6-under, 278. She advanced to the round of 16 at the 2022 U.S. Women's Amateur. Hammond was a member of the 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup, 2024 Wyndham Cup and was a 2024 AJGA All-America selection.
Navarro Navarro, who hails from Alicante, Spain, competed in the 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup and the Junior Vagliano Trophy. She claimed the titles at the 2023 Puntauble Nacional Juvenil, 2024 Madrid Championship and the 2025 Spanish Championship of Federations. Navarro Navarro was also the runner-up at the 2023 R&A Girls Amateur Championship, runner-up at the 2024 European Young Masters Championship and tied for third at the 2024 Spanish International Ladies Amateur.
She has tremendous international experience seeing action in the 2024 European Girls' Amateur Team Championship with her home country of Spain and competing in the International Match Spain versus England, Spain versus England and Spain versus France, among other competitions.
Earlier this season, Navarro Navarro carded a 7-under-par round of 63 en route to winning the Golf Fenomenos, won the Swedish Invitational GolfTech Tour I, was fourth at the Campeonato Andalucia Sub 18 and was 17th at the Spanish International Ladies' Amateur Championship.
SEVEN-TIME NCAA CHAMPIONS
The Duke women's golf team are seven-time NCAA Champions. The Blue Devils won their first title in 1999, a second in 2002, third in 2005, fourth in 2006, fifth in 2007, sixth in 2014 and seventh in 2019. Duke became only the second team along with Arizona State to win three straight national titles (1995-97).
Virada Nirapathpongporn (2002), Candy Hannemann (2003), Anna Grzebien (2005) and Virginia Elena Carta (2016) each have won individual titles. The Blue Devils became only the third squad in NCAA history to post the individual champion in two straight years in 2001 and 2002.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
Andie Smith, Duke | Interview | CGN
Thursday, November 13
Karcher-Ingram Golf Center Facility Tour
Friday, October 03
Anna Grzebien: Duke Hall of Famer
Saturday, November 02
Duke Athletics: A Tour of Campus
Saturday, October 19
