COLUMBUS, Ohio - The final round of the NCAA Championships proved to be little more than a coronation for No. 1 Duke, which made its run to a second consecutive national title look easy as it cruised to a 10-stroke victory over No. 4 Southern California at the Scarlet Course at Ohio State University last Friday.
Finishing with a four-day total of 1,167-15 strokes over par-the Blue Devils won their fourth national title and the eighth overall for the University. The women's golf team also took home titles in 1999, 2002 and 2005.
"Performance comes in cycles, and we were in a good cycle," head coach Dan Brooks said. "You have to take it one athlete at a time, that's why we did well."
The only major drama of the final round of the NCAA Championships came when a moving golf cart interrupted Liz Janangelo while she approached her ball on the par-five fourth hole. Flustered, the senior knocked her shot into the protective pond that persuaded most players not to attempt the green in two.
Other than that, it was smooth sailing for the Blue Devils, who were propelled by a hot third round. During the third round Thursday, Duke rocketed from second place and three strokes behind No. 3 Arizona State to first place and a commanding 13-stroke lead with one round to play.
"I was never really scared to lose the team lead," Brooks said. "We had a good run through those first few holes, and I relaxed then."
The third day of the tournament was marked by high winds that swept across the Jack Nicklaus-designed course, forcing higher scores out of most of the nation's best teams. Only the Blue Devils emerged from the pack, successfully battling through the stormy conditions and a field of the 24 best teams in the country. Duke proved why it was ranked No.1 all year by shooting the lowest team round of the contest-a 1-under-par 287.
"I think good players like adversity," Brooks said. "So whenever it's windy or the course is long or the golf course is a tough one, a championship-type course, I think the better players are going to like that."
The nation's top-ranked female golfer, freshman Amanda Blumenherst, led the third-round charge with a 2-under-par 70. She went on to finish the tournament at 6-over par in a tie for ninth place, the second-best Blue Devil showing.
Freshman Jennie Lee led her team to its victory by coming in second place individually. Before entering the National Championships, Lee had hardly made noise on Duke's deep roster. She was ranked 36th and had only one top-10 finish all season. Yet she played some of the most consistent golf of the tournament, finishing at even par through four days.
Dewi Schreefel of USC took home the individual title by finishing at two under par for the tournament. But Lee was not far behind, entering the final day tied with Schreefel for second place and playing with her in the final group.
"I was nervous all day but I reminded myself to stay patient really well so it worked out well," Lee said.
The other Blue Devils weren't too far behind Lee's pace. Playing in her final tournament at Duke, Janangelo recovered from four consecutive bogeys on the front nine Friday-including the ball in the water on the fourth hole-and carded 12 straight pars to finish her collegiate career. She finished tied for 12th.
Both defending-champion Anna Grzebien and sophomore Jennifer Pandolfi recorded scores of 1-over-par 73 on the last day to finish tied for 21st.
After a career that included a National Player of the Year award her sophomore year and consecutive National Championships her final two seasons, Janangelo will now head to pro circuit and be the only golfer not to return for next season.
And with three talented freshmen joining the team next year, the chance at a three-peat was discussed after a brief victory celebration.
"It's been unbelievable just to be a part of two championship teams and to have such talented and great people as my teammates for the past four years," Janangelo said. "I think the team will be in good hands after I leave."
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