WASHINGTON — Seven weeks after their NCAA Championship in Sunriver, Ore., the Blue Devils traveled to the nation’s capitol where President George W. Bush honored them. Duke met privately with Bush inside the White House, then gathered on the South Lawn for Bush’s address to the 15 teams that won national championships this spring.
“With national championships in 1999, 2002 and 2005, Coach Dan Brooks of the Duke women’s golf team has now won three national championships with the Blue Devils,” Bush said. “That ties him with Coach K. Therefore, he shall be known as ‘Coach B’.”
Brooks said although it was great to return to the White House for his third time, he hoped his new nickname would not catch on.
“Honestly, I didn’t find it that clever,” Brooks said. “I don’t plan on adopting that title.”
Liz Janangelo, Jennifer Pandolfi, captain Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh and NCAA individual-champion Anna Grzebien were on hand for the festivities. Brittany Lang, the Blue Devils’ top-ranked golfer, was an obvious absence.
Lang decided to turn pro and join the LPGA after just two seasons with the Blue Devils.
“Brittany wants to focus on playing well and taking every moment to practice,” Brooks said. “We tried to make plans for her to come with us, but in the end, she decided to pass on the chance to meet the President and take time to prepare for an upcoming tournament.”
The sophomore recently competed as an amateur in the U.S. Open and shocked the field by finishing the opening round in first place. Lang remained at the top of her game for the final three rounds and finished the tournament in second. Coincidentally, she tied with 17-year-old Morgan Pressel, who last winter had given a verbal commitment to attend Duke, but now also appears to be headed to the LPGA.
After her stellar performance, Pressel asked the LPGA to let her turn pro despite an age limit of 18. In an unusual ruling announced July 13, the LPGA decided Pressel can go to qualifying school in the fall, but she cannot officially join the tour until her 18th birthday in May, even if she earns the privilege .
“I completely understand the actions of both players,” Brooks said. “While I feel a college degree is always a good choice, anyone could see the excitement on both of their faces at the U.S. Open, and I believe there is nothing wrong with taking advantage of what the pro game has to offer.”
In her two years at Duke, Lang captured six individual titles, including two ACC Championships, the 2005 ACC Player of the Year Award and the 2004 National Golf Coaches Association Rookie of the Year Award. She finished her sophomore season ranked No. 2 in the country by Golfweek.
“I loved Duke and really learned a lot while I was there,” Lang wrote in an e-mail. “Even before our national championship, I’d pretty much decided to turn pro, and now I’m just excited to see what I can do at the next level.”
Andrew Yaffe contributed to this story.
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