CHAPEL HILL - In a tournament almost completely devoid of competition nearly as soon as the field was announced, real drama in the Lady Tar Heel Invitational finally unfolded Sunday on the 18th fairway of the Governors Club in Chapel Hill.
As sophomore Beth Bauer approached her ball, a rules official asked her if she wanted to know where she stood in the individual standings. Bauer said yes and learned she needed a birdie to tie Auburn's Danielle Downey for the title.
With the team competition well in hand, Bauer took what coach Dan Brooks called an "uncharacteristic" shot at the pin, which landed on the green but far from the pin. Her nearly impossible cross-green putt was close, but not close enough and Bauer's par left her in second place.
It was the only time Duke settled all weekend.
The top-ranked Blue Devils won their third straight Lady Tar Heel, finishing a whopping 21 strokes ahead of second-place finisher Tennessee. The win marked Duke's third victory in as many tournaments this season, though this weekend's field was the weakest the Blue Devils have faced.
"The only time I'm ever concerned is when we get into a tournament where the field isn't very strong," Brooks said. "When we're in a tournament where the field is strong, I'm content that the team is going to play its best golf.... But in a tournament with a weaker field, you wonder if they're going to sustain their better play or play back to the field. But they're pretty good at getting out ahead and staying there, widening the gap."
Along with Bauer, Candy Hannemann, Amie Lehman and freshman Kristina Engstrom all finished in the top 10, while Duke's fifth golfer, Kalen Anderson, finished 13th.
Hannemann finished in fourth, shooting a 7-over 223 during the three rounds. Hannemann was actually tied for first after Saturday's round, but a 78 on Sunday doomed her chances. Although it looked as if the sophomore had a great chance to win her second Lady Tar Heel in as many years, it was her roommate who made the title run Sunday afternoon.
Bauer was four strokes behind before the final round, but despite rainy conditions all afternoon, she fired a 2-under 70, the second-best round of the entire tournament.
"I just felt good on the course today," Bauer said. "I just felt comfortable and more confident in myself. I made some more putts today, so that helped a lot."
Bauer stood at even par in her final day before recording consecutive birdies on the 13th and 14th holes. On the par-4 13th, Bauer hit an approach shot with a nine-iron that landed just five feet from the hole and converted the short putt for the birdie. Then, on the par-3 14th, she stuck her tee shot on the green, but well short of the pin. When her 30-foot putt found the bottom of the cup, Bauer threw her arms in the air and the race was on.
Bauer parred the next three, but did not know where she stood on the leaderboard until the rules official told her.
"I like to know where I stand, especially coming down," Bauer said. "It was kind of an unrealistic putt, so I was just trying to give myself a good chance. I hit a good putt and it almost went in, but not quite."
Although the team championship was expected, the Lady Tar Heel was another opportunity for the Blue Devils to show off their depth. Freshman Maria Garcia-Estrada played as an individual, meaning her scores did not count in team standings, and finished tied for fourth.
Following the graduation of starters Jenny Chuasiriporn and Filippa Hansson, Brooks has relied heavily on newcomers Engstrom and Garcia-Estrada, as well as Lehman, who did not start much last spring.
So far, all three have responded to the challenge.
"We recruited the right people, and I am very, very excited about where we are right now," Brooks said. "Character selects character, and I let my team tell me who to recruit, and I think they've really perpetuated a good thing on this team."
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