Upcoming Event: Women's Golf versus NCAA Regional Championship on May 11, 2026
Women's Golf
vs NCAA Regional Championship
Photo by: Duke Athletics
A New Home, A New Stage, A Rising Star
5/9/2026 8:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
DURHAM, N.C. – Rianne Malixi navigates the storied Duke University campus like every student. She circulates from building to building and from class to class as she completes her freshman year. She's also made time in her hectic schedule to join her classmates among the Cameron Crazies inside Cameron Indoor Stadium.
While Malixi blends in with the 18,000 students at Duke, the truth is, because of her success on the golf course she's unlike most students on campus.
As Malixi and the No. 2 seeded Blue Devils begin play at the University of Michigan Golf Course in one of six NCAA regional championships, the freshman is at the top of her game. The NCAA regional championships are scheduled for May 11-13.
While Duke's history as a global university and as one of the top brands all of collegiate golf worldwide is well documented with its seven national championships, 35 NCAA Championship appearances and record 22 ACC championships, it's a first-year player who leads the Blue Devils into postseason play.
A shining star on a team of stars, Malixi is not just any freshman. She's ranked seventh nationally in the individual Scoreboard by Clipp'd collegiate rankings, is 14th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, earned her first collegiate championship at the Sea Best Intercollegiate in January and is 31 strokes under par in her four stroke-play events this spring. In winning the Sea Best Intercollegiate, she finished with a 16 under par score of 200 – a total that included a personal best 9-under, 63, in the final round.
Playing on a national stage with a spotlight pointed in her direction in each event the Blue Devils play, she has not only met the lofty expectations on her shoulders as a first-year collegiate player, she has exceeded them.
Malixi's golf resume includes wins at the U.S. Women's Amateur, U.S. Girls' Junior and the Australian Master of the Amateurs in 2024 along with runner-up finishes at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, fourth at the European Ladies Amateur, tied for fifth at the KLPGA Korea Women's Open and a tied for fifth finish at the Women's Amateur Asia Pacific. She is only the second golfer to win two USGA Championships in the same calendar year. She's played in the 2024 and 2026 Augusta National Women's Amateurs. She received an invitation to play in 2025 Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA) but was not able to play due to injury.
With the incredible success Malixi earned as a junior golfer, a paradigm shift was necessary when she became a member Dan Brooks' team in the fall of 2025.
"During the fall I struggled because I focused on trying to do my best to help the team," said Malixi. "I realized that I can only do that if I focus on myself, which I did this semester, and it has helped me contribute to the team, and I'm really glad."
Malixi, who began playing golf when she was eight years old and the Blue Devils have certainly enjoyed a stellar spring semester. She's finished as Duke's leading golfer at the Sea Best (first), Darius Rucker Intercollegiate (third) at the Charles Schwab Invitational (tied for third) and at the ACC Championship (second) while the Blue Devils have earned four top four team finishes and posted a 2-1 record at the Old Barnwell Match Play Championships.
"Rianne has brought a wonderful element to our team," said Brooks. "She's a worker, she's passionate about golf and extremely talented. She sets a great example for our team."
While she has seamlessly assimilated herself in the Duke culture as a student-athlete, Malixi has successfully cleared a significant hurdle academically and socially as she was homeschooled by her parents throughout most of her adolescent life.
"It's been a big jump," said Malixi. "I am committed to being a student first so going to actual classes was somewhat familiar. I was in a conventional school since until I was in fifth or sixth grade, so it's been a while. I got a gist of it quickly, but the transition was a big jump."
Malixi's journey to becoming a Blue Devil would be considered unconventional.
After her dad introduced her to the game of golf and her love for the game continued to grow, she admittedly didn't understand that college golf in the United States was a possibility.
Malixi made her first trip to the U.S. during the COVID pandemic and to continue her junior golf career. It was then she learned of the Duke's prestigious reputation and its golf program.
"I did not know what Duke was or what it was about," said Malixi. "I was 14, I didn't even know that college golf was a thing for me. If you had asked the 14-year-old me I think I would have said, 'No, I'm not going to that one until I see these college golf coaches doing some recruiting.'
"I then asked the other players how that (recruiting) works."
She has certainly learned about her independence during her first year at Duke, as she has been away from her parents for the first time.
"I've gained a sense of independence, said Malixi, "Coming from the Philippines, I was always with my parents. They always came with me whenever I trained and they did everything for me. I think college golf was something I needed."
The more research she and her family did, and the more she communicated with the coaching staff, the more she realized Duke was the school for her.
"When I was doing research, Duke has one of the good golf programs," said Malixi. "My dad told me coach Brooks and coach Whithaus were out there watching me play during AJGA events. I talked to them, emailed them during the recruiting process, and I am here."
"Rianne has been a great addition to the team this year," added graduate student Andie Smith. "She is a hard worker and a joy to be around. We foster a culture of lifting each other up and pushing each other to get better every day and she has embodied that fully."
She's also found an advantage in the Durham community that has eased her transition to life as a superstar golfer.
A native of Manila in the Philippines, Malixi has been "adopted" by a local family from her home country which has allowed her to find the comforts of a family away from home.
"It's funny because I literally chose a school where there are no Filipinos in the community," said Malixi, who has eight career holes-in-one. "I didn't expect that there would be a small Filipino community here in Durham. I am glad that I've met them. I have been able to get food and a good sense of home while I'm at Duke."
"What I learned in my first year at Duke is that it's all about managing yourself and being more responsible in what you do," said Malixi. "And I think that was the main case; the main difference I've had the past year."
That, and becoming one of the top collegiate golfers in the nation.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's golf, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWGOLF".
#GoDuke
While Malixi blends in with the 18,000 students at Duke, the truth is, because of her success on the golf course she's unlike most students on campus.
As Malixi and the No. 2 seeded Blue Devils begin play at the University of Michigan Golf Course in one of six NCAA regional championships, the freshman is at the top of her game. The NCAA regional championships are scheduled for May 11-13.
While Duke's history as a global university and as one of the top brands all of collegiate golf worldwide is well documented with its seven national championships, 35 NCAA Championship appearances and record 22 ACC championships, it's a first-year player who leads the Blue Devils into postseason play.
A shining star on a team of stars, Malixi is not just any freshman. She's ranked seventh nationally in the individual Scoreboard by Clipp'd collegiate rankings, is 14th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, earned her first collegiate championship at the Sea Best Intercollegiate in January and is 31 strokes under par in her four stroke-play events this spring. In winning the Sea Best Intercollegiate, she finished with a 16 under par score of 200 – a total that included a personal best 9-under, 63, in the final round.
Playing on a national stage with a spotlight pointed in her direction in each event the Blue Devils play, she has not only met the lofty expectations on her shoulders as a first-year collegiate player, she has exceeded them.
Malixi's golf resume includes wins at the U.S. Women's Amateur, U.S. Girls' Junior and the Australian Master of the Amateurs in 2024 along with runner-up finishes at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, fourth at the European Ladies Amateur, tied for fifth at the KLPGA Korea Women's Open and a tied for fifth finish at the Women's Amateur Asia Pacific. She is only the second golfer to win two USGA Championships in the same calendar year. She's played in the 2024 and 2026 Augusta National Women's Amateurs. She received an invitation to play in 2025 Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA) but was not able to play due to injury.
With the incredible success Malixi earned as a junior golfer, a paradigm shift was necessary when she became a member Dan Brooks' team in the fall of 2025.
"During the fall I struggled because I focused on trying to do my best to help the team," said Malixi. "I realized that I can only do that if I focus on myself, which I did this semester, and it has helped me contribute to the team, and I'm really glad."
Malixi, who began playing golf when she was eight years old and the Blue Devils have certainly enjoyed a stellar spring semester. She's finished as Duke's leading golfer at the Sea Best (first), Darius Rucker Intercollegiate (third) at the Charles Schwab Invitational (tied for third) and at the ACC Championship (second) while the Blue Devils have earned four top four team finishes and posted a 2-1 record at the Old Barnwell Match Play Championships.
"Rianne has brought a wonderful element to our team," said Brooks. "She's a worker, she's passionate about golf and extremely talented. She sets a great example for our team."
While she has seamlessly assimilated herself in the Duke culture as a student-athlete, Malixi has successfully cleared a significant hurdle academically and socially as she was homeschooled by her parents throughout most of her adolescent life.
"It's been a big jump," said Malixi. "I am committed to being a student first so going to actual classes was somewhat familiar. I was in a conventional school since until I was in fifth or sixth grade, so it's been a while. I got a gist of it quickly, but the transition was a big jump."
Malixi's journey to becoming a Blue Devil would be considered unconventional.
After her dad introduced her to the game of golf and her love for the game continued to grow, she admittedly didn't understand that college golf in the United States was a possibility.
Malixi made her first trip to the U.S. during the COVID pandemic and to continue her junior golf career. It was then she learned of the Duke's prestigious reputation and its golf program.
"I did not know what Duke was or what it was about," said Malixi. "I was 14, I didn't even know that college golf was a thing for me. If you had asked the 14-year-old me I think I would have said, 'No, I'm not going to that one until I see these college golf coaches doing some recruiting.'
"I then asked the other players how that (recruiting) works."
She has certainly learned about her independence during her first year at Duke, as she has been away from her parents for the first time.
"I've gained a sense of independence, said Malixi, "Coming from the Philippines, I was always with my parents. They always came with me whenever I trained and they did everything for me. I think college golf was something I needed."
The more research she and her family did, and the more she communicated with the coaching staff, the more she realized Duke was the school for her.
"When I was doing research, Duke has one of the good golf programs," said Malixi. "My dad told me coach Brooks and coach Whithaus were out there watching me play during AJGA events. I talked to them, emailed them during the recruiting process, and I am here."
"Rianne has been a great addition to the team this year," added graduate student Andie Smith. "She is a hard worker and a joy to be around. We foster a culture of lifting each other up and pushing each other to get better every day and she has embodied that fully."
She's also found an advantage in the Durham community that has eased her transition to life as a superstar golfer.
A native of Manila in the Philippines, Malixi has been "adopted" by a local family from her home country which has allowed her to find the comforts of a family away from home.
"It's funny because I literally chose a school where there are no Filipinos in the community," said Malixi, who has eight career holes-in-one. "I didn't expect that there would be a small Filipino community here in Durham. I am glad that I've met them. I have been able to get food and a good sense of home while I'm at Duke."
"What I learned in my first year at Duke is that it's all about managing yourself and being more responsible in what you do," said Malixi. "And I think that was the main case; the main difference I've had the past year."
That, and becoming one of the top collegiate golfers in the nation.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's golf, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWGOLF".
#GoDuke
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