Auburn, WASH -- National Champions once again.
The women's golf team claimed its second NCAA team title in four years, capping an undefeated season with seven team victories dating back to late February.
Also Friday, Duke's Virada Nirapathpongporn secured the individual championship, leading the field wire-to-wire and finishing five strokes ahead of her nearest challengers.
The team waited until the 11th hour to make their move Friday, trailing Arizona by three strokes with only four holes to play. But late in the back nine Duke exploded to pick up nine strokes on the Wildcats and run away with the team title.
"We very much felt like [the win] was slipping and that something needed to happen, either for us or to [Arizona]," said head coach Dan Brooks. "Well into the back side, it didn't feel like we had the tournament."
Arizona held the lead for nearly the entirety of the four-day tournament, racking up a nine-stroke advantage on the first day with a three-under-par 285. The Wildcats then held on for dear life as they saw their lead dwindle to six strokes after the second round, then three strokes when play concluded Thursday.
The lead was intact until defending individual champion Candy Hannemann jumped ahead with three holes remaining, notching birdies on 16 and 17, while Mar Garcia, her Arizona pair, bogied the 16th. In the next pairing, Duke's Leigh Anne Hardin birdied the 17th, while Arizona's Laura Myerscough bogied it.
Hope gave out for the Wildcats, however, when Duke's Virada Nirapathpongporn birdied the 17th as well. Arizona's Lorena Ochoa, the pre-tournament favorite for individual champion, attempted to reach the green on her second shot but fell short, into a waterfall protecting the green, effectively sealing Duke's victory.
The team's ability to overcome its three-stroke deficit going into the final round of play was largely due Hannemann's performance. Hannemann, Duke's lone senior, posted a four-under-par 68 for the round, which featured the toughest pin placements of the tournament.
"Today I felt that it was the toughest conditions out there," said Nirapathpongporn. "The pins were tucked... everywhere."
But Hannemann was not fazed by the course or by her team's urgent need.
"I love playing pressure situations," said Hannemann. "That's why we all play golf."
Although Brooks said he was delighted with Hannemann's final-round play, he added that he was anything but surprised.
"There is no way Candy wasn't going to show up in full form at some time in this tournament," he said. "I think she picked a wonderful time to show up." Hannemann had not posted a score under par in any previous round of the championship.
Nirapathpongporn became the second consecutive NCAA individual champion from Duke, but spent most of the tournament focusing on the team title. "There was no way I could know how everyone else was doing," she said, adding that she was not aware her team had won until the tournament was over.
"I came off the green and looked over at Coach," she said. "And he said, Owe won.'"
Both Nirapathpongporn and Leigh Anne Hardin posted even-par scores of 72 in the final round to help lift Duke to victory.
The win came in record-setting fashion. The Blue Devils' team total of 1179 bested Duke's previous best four-day mark by 15 strokes, while Nirapathpongporn's four-day score of 279 demolished the old record of 285, held by both last year's champion, Duke senior Candy Hannemann, and former Duke golfer Jenny Chuasiriporn.
Although Duke has a few months to relax during the off-season, the team will likely be in a position to compete once again next season. They return sophomores Hardin and Nirapathpongporn, as well as junior Kristina Engstrom and freshman Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh.
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