Duke's women's golf team continued its hot play yesterday and advanced to the finals against Georgia at the Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship.
The first-ranked Blue Devils beat Ohio State 4-0-1 and then defeated UCLA 3-1-1.
When second-round play resumed yesterday against the Buckeyes, Duke's Liz Janangelo defeated Allison Hanna convincingly 5 and 4. Anna Grzebien, Leigh Anne Harding and Brittany Lang also won their matches by scores of 3 and 1, 4 and 3, and 1 up respectively. Virada Nirapathpongporn bogeyed her final hole to halve her match against Buckeye Kristen White.
In the semifinals against UCLA, the Blue Devils were led by Janangelo's second 5 and 4 win of the day. Nirapathpongporn also played well in her victory, as she downed Hannah Jun, 3 and 2.
"We had two matches that were in pretty good shape all day," head coach Dan Brooks said in reference to Janangelo and Nirapathpongporn.
Grzebien came from behind to win her match 1-up when Krystal Shearer bogeyed the 16th hole. Lang halved her afternoon match against Bruin golfer Charlotte Mayorkas, and Hardin lost hers, 2 and 1.
"They were tough," Brooks said. "UCLA is a very good team. Their short games are very good. We had to scrape a little bit."
Although the Blue Devils have continued to win, many of their matches have been decided on the 18th hole.
"We are coming close in some matches and it's not because we are playing worse than we are capable of," Brooks said. "If you look at the scores, most of the girls are scoring at par or under par. Match play just brings the best out of you."
Today, Duke will face Georgia, which has defeated Pepperdine, Arizona and Auburn on its way to the finals.
"They'll be ready for us," Brooks said. "They are playing some of their best golf so we need to be on our toes, ready to play."
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