This was not the type of start the third-ranked Blue Devils expected.
After the final round of the NCAA Fall Preview, Duke was surprised to find itself in eighth place, posting a 13-over 301 on Monday's 18-hole conclusion to the two-day event.
The Blue Devils carded a collective score of 34-over-par on the 6,270-yard, par-72 Caves Valley Golf Club in Owing Mills, Md., after 54 holes of golf. Arizona State finished the Fall Preview in first place, dominating the closest competition by eight strokes, after shooting a collective score of 8-over 872. Southern California, Virginia, Georgia and Alabama rounded out the top five.
"We were clearly off," Duke head coach Dan Brooks said. "We didn't play very well as a team, and we were way off the mark."
Senior Amanda Blumenherst and freshman Mina Harigae led Duke by finishing the tournament in 14th place, posting a tournament total of 4-over.
Blumenherst's performance in the tournament ended her streak of 32 consecutive top-10 finishes and 14 consecutive top-five finishes in collegiate tournaments.
The Blue Devils and Blumenherst were plagued by both sickness and adverse weather throughout the event. Tropical Storm Hanna prevented all the teams in the tournament from playing the typical preparatory practice round the day before the event began.
"Personally, a practice round would have definitely made a difference in my performance, by helping with my tee and approach shots, several of which left me in the bunkers and hills," said Blumenherst, the three-time defending National Player of the Year and U.S. Amateur champion.
Despite their performance, the Blue Devils were able to cull some important lessons for the future, as the course will be the site of the NCAA championships in the spring.
"It was great to see the course before we come out in May and to know what shots we are going to need, especially the difference between the grass in Durham and Maryland," Blumenherst said. "Unfortunately, it was really wet because of the tropical storm, so the course will play different come May."
And, like Blumenherst, Brookss is still optimistic and confident despite the relatively lackluster finish.
"We are going to continue to work and prepare, which is something we definitely know how to do, but we don't need to make any major changes," Brooks said. " We are taking the highs and lows in stride and looking toward the future."
Duke next hits the links Sept. 26 at the Mason Rudolph Championship in Nashville, Tenn.
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