Upcoming Event: Women's Golf versus NCAA Championship on May 22, 2026
Women's Golf
vs NCAA Championship
Friday, May 22
Carlsbad, Calif.
Duke University
vs
NCAA Championship
Photo by: Duke Athletics
Women's Golf to Open NCAA Championship Friday in Carlsbad
5/20/2026 7:00:00 PM | Women's Golf
2026 NCAA Championship
May 22-27, 2026 • Carlsbad, Calif.
Omni La Costa Resort & Spa North Course
72-Holes of Stroke Play Followed by Match Play
Watch l Live Scoring l Notes
DUKE SET FOR 2026 NCAA WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
In search of its eighth NCAA Championship, the Duke women's golf team hits the road to Carlsbad, California, for the 2026 NCAA Championship, which runs May 22-27 at the 6,330-yard, par-72 Omni La Costa Resort & Spa North Course.
Duke is appearing in the NCAA Championship for the 35th time under head coach Dan Brooks and will be competing in the NCAAs for the 25th time out of the last 29 years (the 2020 championship was canceled).
Participating in the championship will be (listed in seed order) -- Stanford, Southern California, Florida, Texas A&M, Texas, Auburn, Arkansas, Wake Forest, Duke, Pepperdine, North Carolina, SMU, Iowa State, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, Florida State, Arizona State, Ohio State, Baylor, Eastern Michigan, Houston, Northwestern, Missouri, Kentucky, LSU, Virginia, Michigan State, Oregon State and Texas Tech.
Duke, which is seeded No. 9, will tee off Friday, May 22 at 12:45 p.m., local and 3:45 p.m. (ET) in the first round off No. 10, followed by a 7:25 a.m., local and 10:25 a.m. (ET) tee time Saturday, May 23 off the No. 1 tee box. The Blue Devils are paired with Arkansas and Wake Forest in the first two rounds.
For the 11th straight year, the championship will feature a different look as there will be 54 holes of stroke play qualifying and then the top 15 teams and nine individuals (not on advancing teams) will play a final 18 holes to determine the individual champion and the top eight teams will advance to match play. On May 26, there will be 36 holes of match play and then the match play championship will take place May 27.
It will mark the third year in a row the championship has been contested at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, after being hosted at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, for three years.
TICKETS & PARKING
Entry to the golf course will be ticketed for competition days, while practice days will be free to spectators. All tickets will be mobile tickets and are recommended to be purchased in advance of arriving on site. Tickets may be purchased online at: https://texaslonghorns.evenue.net/events/WG. All Session: $36, All Stroke Play: $24, All Match Play: $12, Daily Rate: $8.
Spectator Parking will be off-site May 22-25 at the following location -- Viasat P1 Parking Garage 2446 Town Garden Rd, Carlsbad, California 92009 (2.6 miles from La Costa).
Complimentary Spectator Shuttle Service will be provided to and from the off-site location from 6 a.m.-8 p.m., May 22-24 and 9 a.m., to 7 p.m. on May 25. The shuttles will drop off at the Spa Curb and No. 10 tee drop off location. Parking for Tuesday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 27 will be available for purchase on-site at Omni La Costa.
COVERAGE
The Golf Channel will feature extensive coverage of the championship beginning Monday, May 25. Below is a full listing of the coverage with all times ET--
Monday, May 25 - 5:30-9:30 PM: Live coverage
Tuesday, May 26 - 1-3:30 PM & 6-10 PM: Live coverage match play
Wednesday, May 27 - 6:00-10:00 PM: Live coverage match play championship
Fans will be able to follow the action with live scoring at Scoreboard Powered by clippd, while also following along on Twitter (@DukeWGOLF), Instagram (DukeWGolf) and Facebook (DukeWGolf) for coverage of the championship.
Babygrande Golf will provide live video coverage of Friday, Saturday and Sunday's action, but it will be behind a pay wall.
THE DUKE LINEUP
Duke will feature a lineup of graduate student Andie Smith, junior Katie Li, sophomore Anna Cañado Espinal, freshman Rianne Malixi and freshman Avery McCrery. Malixi and McCrery will make their NCAA Championship debuts this week. Sophomore Carla De Troia will be the alternate.
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 $16,802.50 so far this season and over the nine years of the program, it has raised $148,773.87.
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. 10 in the latest Scoreboard golf rankings and No. 11 in the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) ledger.
Individually, four Blue Devils are ranked in the top 100 in the Scoreboard rankings -- Rianne Malixi (8), Katie Li (45), Andie Smith (77) and Avery McCrery (110).
MALIXI FEATURING IMPRESSIVE SPRING
Duke freshman Rianne Malixi continues to have a very impressive spring campaign for the Blue Devils as she currently ranks No. 8 nationally in the latest Scoreboard Powered by clippd rankings.
A native of Manila, Philippines, Malixi has carded a 69.13 stroke average in five tournaments this spring. She has posted six rounds in the 60s and shot a combined 31-under-par in those five events. Malixi turned in a first-place finish at the Sea Best Intercollegiate, runner-up finish at the ACC Championship, a third-place ledger at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate and a tied for third 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 history.
Malixi 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
• Andie Smith and Katie Li will see action in their second NCAA Championship at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa. Li finished in a tie for 70th as a freshman and Smith tied for 72nd as a sophomore. Smith also competed in the 2023 NCAA Championship and turned in a tied for 54th finish in Scottsdale, Arizona.
• Rianne Malixi was tabbed one of 15 golfers on The ANNIKA Award Postseason Watch List heading into the NCAA Regionals, but did not make the final 10 list. Malixi was also named to the WGCA National Player of the Year and WGCA Rookie of the Year watch lists.
• Dan Brooks was named one of 20 watch list selections for the 2025-26 Division I Jackie Steinmann Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) National Coach of the Year. Brooks is a seven-time national coach of the year honoree.
• Over the last three events, junior Katie Li has collected a 71.11 stroke average with an eighth-place finish at the Charles Schwab Invitational, an 11th-place ledger at the ACC Championship and tied for 15th at the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional. She turned in seven straight rounds of even or under par in the three events prior to the regional.
• Freshman Avery McCrery returned to the lineup for the ACC Championship after missing two tournaments due to an injury. She posted rounds of 69, 74 and 75 for a 2-over, 218, in her return. McCrery placed tied for 35th, which was the second-lowest finish of her freshman season.
• Rianne Malixi leads Duke with 102 birdies on the season, while Katie Li is second with 94.
• Rianne Malixi is moving up the overall Duke single-season rankings. She is tied for ninth in rounds in the 60s (7) and third in stroke average (70.75).
• In the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings, Rianne Malixi (14), Andie Smith (94), Katie Li (117), Avery McCrery (166) and Anna Cañado Espinal (261) are in the top 270.
BROOKS HEADS BACK WEST
Duke head coach Dan Brooks will head back west with the Blue Devils when they travel to California for the NCAA Championship. Brooks is a native of Baker City, Oregon, and played collegiate golf at Oregon State. He graduated from OSU in 1981.
Brooks and the Blue Devils have only played in two NCAA Championships in the state of California. The first one took place in 1996 in La Quinta as Duke placed seventh of 18 teams and the second was in 2024 with the Blue Devils placing 14th.
DUKE FINISHES THIRD AT NCAA REGIONAL
Duke punched its ticket to the NCAA Championship for the 35th time and will make its 33rd appearance under the direction of head coach Dan Brooks as the 10th-ranked Blue Devils placed third at the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional.
Duke carded rounds of 286, 290 and 292 for a 16-over, 868, to finish in third place at the 6,260-yard, par-71 University of Michigan Golf Course in Ann Arbor. The Blue Devils have finished in the top three of the NCAA regional 24 times out of 33 appearances.
Freshman Rianne Malixi became the 12th Duke rookie to card a top-10 finish at an NCAA Regional as she totaled scores of 71, 70 and 72 for an even-par, 213, which was seventh overall. Junior Katie Li (T15th) and graduate student Andie Smith (T21) both finished in the top 21 of the individual leaderboard.
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.
Smith, Malixi and Li lead Duke with 13 rounds of even or under par. Malixi leads the Blue Devils with seven rounds in the 60s this year, while Li has five and Smith has four.
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 with 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 70.75 stroke average would be the lowest in program history, which would be just ahead of Leona Maguire (70.78) from the 2014-15 season. Her 15 rounds of even or under par are seventh and her four top-5 finishes are tied for ninth.
Malixi is the first freshman golfer in NCAA history to shoot multiple rounds of 63 or better in one rookie season.
With her seven rounds in the 60s, Malixi ranks fourth on Duke's freshman record charts. Leona Maguire (10), Jaravee Boonchant (8), Brittany Lang (8), Malixi (7), Liz Janangelo (6), 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 2.6 12.3 9.6 31.0
Katie Li 3.3 13.3 8.6 31.6
Anna Cañado Espinal 2.5 13.0 10.3 32.2
Carla De Troia 1.9 11.1 9.5 32.0
Rianne Malixi 3.9 13.0 10.4 30.6
Avery McCrery 2.6 13.0 9.7 32.9
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.
Malixi's 30.6 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 have been kept since 2018-19.
IN THE RECORD BOOK
In the Duke career record book, graduate student Andie Smith is moving up the charts. She ranks fourth with 21 rounds in the 60s over her four seasons. She needs two more to move into a tie for third along with Lindy Duncan (23). Smith is also ninth with 50 rounds of even or under par and needs two to move into a tie for eighth along with Celine Boutier (52). She owns 333 birdies to rank tied for seventh and needs five more to move into a tie for sixth with Boutier (338).
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
9. Andie Smith, 2023-present 50
10. Ana Belac, 2017-20 49
Most Birdies
NAME TOTAL
1. Amanda Blumenherst, 2006-09 441
2. Elizabeth Janangelo, 2003-06 391
3. Lindy Duncan, 2010-13 370
4. Anna Grzebien, 2004-07 351
Phoebe Brinker, 2021-24 351
6. Celine Boutier, 2013-16 338
7. Ana Belac, 2017-20 333
Andie Smith, 2023-present 333
9. Virada Nirapathpongporn, 2001-04 331
10. Laetitia Beck, 2011-14 322
IMPRESSIVE COACHES
Duke head coach Dan Brooks was the first head coach in NCAA Division I to win both a stroke play and match play NCAA Championship. Brooks won stroke play titles in 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2014. He led the Blue Devils to the match play title in 2019.
Blue Devil associate head coach Jon Whithaus is the only coach in NCAA Division I to lead both a women's (2016 & 2019) and men's (2011) program into the match play semifinals of the NCAA Championship. He has also coached both a women's and men's individual to an NCAA Individual Championship.
LOWEST STROKE AVERAGE
The Blue Devils currently feature a 72.82 stroke average heading into NCAA Championship action. It currently ranks as the sixth-lowest in school history.
Lowest Scoring Average in a Season
1. 72.23 2013-14
2. 72.51 2023-24
3. 72.72 2017-18
4. 72.73 2018-19
5. 72.74 2003-04
6. 72.82 2025-26
7. 73.02 2020-21
8. 73.63 2019-20
9. 73.68 2005-06
10. 73.81 2016-17
MALIXI TO COMPETE IN ARNOLD PALMER CUP
The 2026 Arnold Palmer Cup teams were announced with Duke standout freshman Rianne Malixi selected to compete for the International squad at Tralee Golf Links in West Barrow, Ireland July 3-5.
The Arnold Palmer Cup was co-founded by Arnold Palmer and the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and began at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida, in 1997. The event is a Ryder Cup-style tournament featuring the top men's and women's university/college golfers matching the United States against a team of international players.
Malixi becomes the seventh Blue Devil to be selected to compete at the Arnold Palmer Cup – Erica Shepherd (2022 and 2021), Jon Whithaus (2021), Gina Kim (2021 and 2020), Dan Brooks (2020), Ana Belac (2019) and Jaravee Boonchant (2018).
LI, MALIXI EARN ALL-ACC RECOGNITION
The tandem of Katie Li and Rianne Malixi received All-ACC recognition and Malixi was tabbed ACC Freshman of the Year following a vote of the league's head coaches.
Li earned All-ACC honors for the second time in her collegiate career, while Malixi earned honors for the first time. Malixi is the 17th Blue Devil to receive ACC Freshman of the Year accolades and the first since 2015.
Other Duke ACC Freshman of the Year selections include Jenny Chuasiriporn (1995-96), Kalen Anderson (1997-98), Beth Bauer (1998-99), Maria Garcia-Estrada (1999-2000), Virada Nirapathpongporn (2000-01), Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh (2001-02), Liz Janangelo (2002-03), Brittany Lang (2003-04), Jennifer Pandolfi (2004-05), Amanda Blumenherst (2005-06), Alison Whitaker (2006-07), Lindy Duncan (2009-10), Laetitia Beck (2010-11), Celine Boutier (2012-13), Yu Liu (2013-14) and Leona Maguire (2014-15).
TOP 10 FINISHES AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Duke owns the second-most top-10 finishes in the NCAA Championship since 2004 as the Blue Devils have totaled 14.
Top 10 Finishes Since 2004
1. Southern California 18
2. Duke 14
UCLA 14
4. Arizona State 13
5. Stanford 11
MOST NCAA TITLES BY A COACH
Duke head coach Dan Brooks owns seven NCAA Championships over his career with the Blue Devils. The seven titles ranks as the most by a women's golf coach in NCAA history.
Most NCAA Titles in NCAA History
1. 7 Dan Brooks, Duke
2. 5 Linda Vollstedt, Arizona State
3. 3 Mark Gale, San Jose State
3 Andrea Gaston, Southern California
3 Anne Walker, Stanford
DUKE'S 35TH NCAA APPEARANCE
The Blue Devils will be making their 35th appearance in the NCAA Championship, which ranks tied for fourth.
NCAA All-Time Appearances
1. 40 Arizona State
40 Stanford
3. 38 Southern California
4. 35 Duke
35 UCLA
6. 34 Texas
May 22-27, 2026 • Carlsbad, Calif.
Omni La Costa Resort & Spa North Course
72-Holes of Stroke Play Followed by Match Play
Watch l Live Scoring l Notes
DUKE SET FOR 2026 NCAA WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
In search of its eighth NCAA Championship, the Duke women's golf team hits the road to Carlsbad, California, for the 2026 NCAA Championship, which runs May 22-27 at the 6,330-yard, par-72 Omni La Costa Resort & Spa North Course.
Duke is appearing in the NCAA Championship for the 35th time under head coach Dan Brooks and will be competing in the NCAAs for the 25th time out of the last 29 years (the 2020 championship was canceled).
Participating in the championship will be (listed in seed order) -- Stanford, Southern California, Florida, Texas A&M, Texas, Auburn, Arkansas, Wake Forest, Duke, Pepperdine, North Carolina, SMU, Iowa State, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, Florida State, Arizona State, Ohio State, Baylor, Eastern Michigan, Houston, Northwestern, Missouri, Kentucky, LSU, Virginia, Michigan State, Oregon State and Texas Tech.
Duke, which is seeded No. 9, will tee off Friday, May 22 at 12:45 p.m., local and 3:45 p.m. (ET) in the first round off No. 10, followed by a 7:25 a.m., local and 10:25 a.m. (ET) tee time Saturday, May 23 off the No. 1 tee box. The Blue Devils are paired with Arkansas and Wake Forest in the first two rounds.
For the 11th straight year, the championship will feature a different look as there will be 54 holes of stroke play qualifying and then the top 15 teams and nine individuals (not on advancing teams) will play a final 18 holes to determine the individual champion and the top eight teams will advance to match play. On May 26, there will be 36 holes of match play and then the match play championship will take place May 27.
It will mark the third year in a row the championship has been contested at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, after being hosted at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, for three years.
TICKETS & PARKING
Entry to the golf course will be ticketed for competition days, while practice days will be free to spectators. All tickets will be mobile tickets and are recommended to be purchased in advance of arriving on site. Tickets may be purchased online at: https://texaslonghorns.evenue.net/events/WG. All Session: $36, All Stroke Play: $24, All Match Play: $12, Daily Rate: $8.
Spectator Parking will be off-site May 22-25 at the following location -- Viasat P1 Parking Garage 2446 Town Garden Rd, Carlsbad, California 92009 (2.6 miles from La Costa).
Complimentary Spectator Shuttle Service will be provided to and from the off-site location from 6 a.m.-8 p.m., May 22-24 and 9 a.m., to 7 p.m. on May 25. The shuttles will drop off at the Spa Curb and No. 10 tee drop off location. Parking for Tuesday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 27 will be available for purchase on-site at Omni La Costa.
COVERAGE
The Golf Channel will feature extensive coverage of the championship beginning Monday, May 25. Below is a full listing of the coverage with all times ET--
Monday, May 25 - 5:30-9:30 PM: Live coverage
Tuesday, May 26 - 1-3:30 PM & 6-10 PM: Live coverage match play
Wednesday, May 27 - 6:00-10:00 PM: Live coverage match play championship
Fans will be able to follow the action with live scoring at Scoreboard Powered by clippd, while also following along on Twitter (@DukeWGOLF), Instagram (DukeWGolf) and Facebook (DukeWGolf) for coverage of the championship.
Babygrande Golf will provide live video coverage of Friday, Saturday and Sunday's action, but it will be behind a pay wall.
THE DUKE LINEUP
Duke will feature a lineup of graduate student Andie Smith, junior Katie Li, sophomore Anna Cañado Espinal, freshman Rianne Malixi and freshman Avery McCrery. Malixi and McCrery will make their NCAA Championship debuts this week. Sophomore Carla De Troia will be the alternate.
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 $16,802.50 so far this season and over the nine years of the program, it has raised $148,773.87.
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. 10 in the latest Scoreboard golf rankings and No. 11 in the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) ledger.
Individually, four Blue Devils are ranked in the top 100 in the Scoreboard rankings -- Rianne Malixi (8), Katie Li (45), Andie Smith (77) and Avery McCrery (110).
MALIXI FEATURING IMPRESSIVE SPRING
Duke freshman Rianne Malixi continues to have a very impressive spring campaign for the Blue Devils as she currently ranks No. 8 nationally in the latest Scoreboard Powered by clippd rankings.
A native of Manila, Philippines, Malixi has carded a 69.13 stroke average in five tournaments this spring. She has posted six rounds in the 60s and shot a combined 31-under-par in those five events. Malixi turned in a first-place finish at the Sea Best Intercollegiate, runner-up finish at the ACC Championship, a third-place ledger at the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate and a tied for third 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 history.
Malixi 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
• Andie Smith and Katie Li will see action in their second NCAA Championship at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa. Li finished in a tie for 70th as a freshman and Smith tied for 72nd as a sophomore. Smith also competed in the 2023 NCAA Championship and turned in a tied for 54th finish in Scottsdale, Arizona.
• Rianne Malixi was tabbed one of 15 golfers on The ANNIKA Award Postseason Watch List heading into the NCAA Regionals, but did not make the final 10 list. Malixi was also named to the WGCA National Player of the Year and WGCA Rookie of the Year watch lists.
• Dan Brooks was named one of 20 watch list selections for the 2025-26 Division I Jackie Steinmann Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) National Coach of the Year. Brooks is a seven-time national coach of the year honoree.
• Over the last three events, junior Katie Li has collected a 71.11 stroke average with an eighth-place finish at the Charles Schwab Invitational, an 11th-place ledger at the ACC Championship and tied for 15th at the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional. She turned in seven straight rounds of even or under par in the three events prior to the regional.
• Freshman Avery McCrery returned to the lineup for the ACC Championship after missing two tournaments due to an injury. She posted rounds of 69, 74 and 75 for a 2-over, 218, in her return. McCrery placed tied for 35th, which was the second-lowest finish of her freshman season.
• Rianne Malixi leads Duke with 102 birdies on the season, while Katie Li is second with 94.
• Rianne Malixi is moving up the overall Duke single-season rankings. She is tied for ninth in rounds in the 60s (7) and third in stroke average (70.75).
• In the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings, Rianne Malixi (14), Andie Smith (94), Katie Li (117), Avery McCrery (166) and Anna Cañado Espinal (261) are in the top 270.
BROOKS HEADS BACK WEST
Duke head coach Dan Brooks will head back west with the Blue Devils when they travel to California for the NCAA Championship. Brooks is a native of Baker City, Oregon, and played collegiate golf at Oregon State. He graduated from OSU in 1981.
Brooks and the Blue Devils have only played in two NCAA Championships in the state of California. The first one took place in 1996 in La Quinta as Duke placed seventh of 18 teams and the second was in 2024 with the Blue Devils placing 14th.
DUKE FINISHES THIRD AT NCAA REGIONAL
Duke punched its ticket to the NCAA Championship for the 35th time and will make its 33rd appearance under the direction of head coach Dan Brooks as the 10th-ranked Blue Devils placed third at the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional.
Duke carded rounds of 286, 290 and 292 for a 16-over, 868, to finish in third place at the 6,260-yard, par-71 University of Michigan Golf Course in Ann Arbor. The Blue Devils have finished in the top three of the NCAA regional 24 times out of 33 appearances.
Freshman Rianne Malixi became the 12th Duke rookie to card a top-10 finish at an NCAA Regional as she totaled scores of 71, 70 and 72 for an even-par, 213, which was seventh overall. Junior Katie Li (T15th) and graduate student Andie Smith (T21) both finished in the top 21 of the individual leaderboard.
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.
Smith, Malixi and Li lead Duke with 13 rounds of even or under par. Malixi leads the Blue Devils with seven rounds in the 60s this year, while Li has five and Smith has four.
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 with 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 70.75 stroke average would be the lowest in program history, which would be just ahead of Leona Maguire (70.78) from the 2014-15 season. Her 15 rounds of even or under par are seventh and her four top-5 finishes are tied for ninth.
Malixi is the first freshman golfer in NCAA history to shoot multiple rounds of 63 or better in one rookie season.
With her seven rounds in the 60s, Malixi ranks fourth on Duke's freshman record charts. Leona Maguire (10), Jaravee Boonchant (8), Brittany Lang (8), Malixi (7), Liz Janangelo (6), 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 2.6 12.3 9.6 31.0
Katie Li 3.3 13.3 8.6 31.6
Anna Cañado Espinal 2.5 13.0 10.3 32.2
Carla De Troia 1.9 11.1 9.5 32.0
Rianne Malixi 3.9 13.0 10.4 30.6
Avery McCrery 2.6 13.0 9.7 32.9
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.
Malixi's 30.6 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 have been kept since 2018-19.
IN THE RECORD BOOK
In the Duke career record book, graduate student Andie Smith is moving up the charts. She ranks fourth with 21 rounds in the 60s over her four seasons. She needs two more to move into a tie for third along with Lindy Duncan (23). Smith is also ninth with 50 rounds of even or under par and needs two to move into a tie for eighth along with Celine Boutier (52). She owns 333 birdies to rank tied for seventh and needs five more to move into a tie for sixth with Boutier (338).
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
9. Andie Smith, 2023-present 50
10. Ana Belac, 2017-20 49
Most Birdies
NAME TOTAL
1. Amanda Blumenherst, 2006-09 441
2. Elizabeth Janangelo, 2003-06 391
3. Lindy Duncan, 2010-13 370
4. Anna Grzebien, 2004-07 351
Phoebe Brinker, 2021-24 351
6. Celine Boutier, 2013-16 338
7. Ana Belac, 2017-20 333
Andie Smith, 2023-present 333
9. Virada Nirapathpongporn, 2001-04 331
10. Laetitia Beck, 2011-14 322
IMPRESSIVE COACHES
Duke head coach Dan Brooks was the first head coach in NCAA Division I to win both a stroke play and match play NCAA Championship. Brooks won stroke play titles in 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2014. He led the Blue Devils to the match play title in 2019.
Blue Devil associate head coach Jon Whithaus is the only coach in NCAA Division I to lead both a women's (2016 & 2019) and men's (2011) program into the match play semifinals of the NCAA Championship. He has also coached both a women's and men's individual to an NCAA Individual Championship.
LOWEST STROKE AVERAGE
The Blue Devils currently feature a 72.82 stroke average heading into NCAA Championship action. It currently ranks as the sixth-lowest in school history.
Lowest Scoring Average in a Season
1. 72.23 2013-14
2. 72.51 2023-24
3. 72.72 2017-18
4. 72.73 2018-19
5. 72.74 2003-04
6. 72.82 2025-26
7. 73.02 2020-21
8. 73.63 2019-20
9. 73.68 2005-06
10. 73.81 2016-17
MALIXI TO COMPETE IN ARNOLD PALMER CUP
The 2026 Arnold Palmer Cup teams were announced with Duke standout freshman Rianne Malixi selected to compete for the International squad at Tralee Golf Links in West Barrow, Ireland July 3-5.
The Arnold Palmer Cup was co-founded by Arnold Palmer and the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and began at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida, in 1997. The event is a Ryder Cup-style tournament featuring the top men's and women's university/college golfers matching the United States against a team of international players.
Malixi becomes the seventh Blue Devil to be selected to compete at the Arnold Palmer Cup – Erica Shepherd (2022 and 2021), Jon Whithaus (2021), Gina Kim (2021 and 2020), Dan Brooks (2020), Ana Belac (2019) and Jaravee Boonchant (2018).
LI, MALIXI EARN ALL-ACC RECOGNITION
The tandem of Katie Li and Rianne Malixi received All-ACC recognition and Malixi was tabbed ACC Freshman of the Year following a vote of the league's head coaches.
Li earned All-ACC honors for the second time in her collegiate career, while Malixi earned honors for the first time. Malixi is the 17th Blue Devil to receive ACC Freshman of the Year accolades and the first since 2015.
Other Duke ACC Freshman of the Year selections include Jenny Chuasiriporn (1995-96), Kalen Anderson (1997-98), Beth Bauer (1998-99), Maria Garcia-Estrada (1999-2000), Virada Nirapathpongporn (2000-01), Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh (2001-02), Liz Janangelo (2002-03), Brittany Lang (2003-04), Jennifer Pandolfi (2004-05), Amanda Blumenherst (2005-06), Alison Whitaker (2006-07), Lindy Duncan (2009-10), Laetitia Beck (2010-11), Celine Boutier (2012-13), Yu Liu (2013-14) and Leona Maguire (2014-15).
TOP 10 FINISHES AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Duke owns the second-most top-10 finishes in the NCAA Championship since 2004 as the Blue Devils have totaled 14.
Top 10 Finishes Since 2004
1. Southern California 18
2. Duke 14
UCLA 14
4. Arizona State 13
5. Stanford 11
MOST NCAA TITLES BY A COACH
Duke head coach Dan Brooks owns seven NCAA Championships over his career with the Blue Devils. The seven titles ranks as the most by a women's golf coach in NCAA history.
Most NCAA Titles in NCAA History
1. 7 Dan Brooks, Duke
2. 5 Linda Vollstedt, Arizona State
3. 3 Mark Gale, San Jose State
3 Andrea Gaston, Southern California
3 Anne Walker, Stanford
DUKE'S 35TH NCAA APPEARANCE
The Blue Devils will be making their 35th appearance in the NCAA Championship, which ranks tied for fourth.
NCAA All-Time Appearances
1. 40 Arizona State
40 Stanford
3. 38 Southern California
4. 35 Duke
35 UCLA
6. 34 Texas
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
