The women's golf team faced tough weather conditions and its own less-than-perfect play in the Golf World/Palmetto Dunes Invitational at Myrtle Beach, S.C. but still managed to hold together for a fourth place finish.
Arizona State won the tournament with a team total of 913. Duke's total of 920 placed it two strokes behind second place Louisiana State and one stroke back of third place Arizona.
After a strong showing at the Rolex Match Play Tournament, the Blue Devils decided not to make any lineup changes and came into the tournament with high expectations.
"We went to Hilton Head with the idea that we were going to win it," coach Dan Brooks said.
The sudden onset of wintry conditions at the normally balmy resort caused problems for Duke, who had trouble with driving distance and shot placement.
"In the course of the tournament we ran into high winds and cold air which really knocks the ball down," Brooks said. "As a group, we were not striking the ball well."
The Blue Devils were able to play through these problems and come up with the fourth place finish. Duke was able to hold the top spot in the tournament until the final day.
"I think that's probably the hardest work I've ever seen done as a team," Brooks said.
The coach noticed that Duke's hard work and determination led to a great short game. Though the Blue Devils struggled getting to the greens all weekend, their play around the greens saved them valuable strokes. Duke did well getting up and down from just off the green and spent a low number of strokes on putts.
Sophomore Jenny Chuasiriporn led Duke with a three day total of 228. She was followed by junior Alicia Allison at 229 and sophomores Filippa Hansson and Amanda Loewen at 231 and 234, respectively. Senior Liz Lepanto rounded out the Blue Devil scoring with a 245.
"I think Alicia Allison was tremendous to be two shots out of the lead after the second day," Brooks said. "I think it was just pure desire."
But like the rest of the Blue Devils, desire couldn't carry her through the entire tournament.
"I think you can only do so much if you're not striking the ball too well," Brooks said. "It just caught up with her on the last day."
Brooks was happy that this tournament was a team effort, not one in which one player dominated and carried the team. He hoped the team had learned a valuable lesson, even in disappointment.
"I just hope the team remembers that we were leading a lot of great teams on guts and desire," Brooks said. "That's a really nice memory to have in future tournaments."
Duke has become used to playing just about every tournament against the other elite teams of women's golf. Brooks describes most tournaments as up for grabs between about three or four teams. As the fall season closes and the Blue Devils take four months off, Brooks hopes Duke can translate this lesson into a special edge for the spring season.
"That's a great way to end the fall [season]," Brooks said. "I think they've got a lot of positive things to dwell on through the winter."
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