During the spring season, The Chronicle is polling its readers every week via its Sportswrap newsletter to highlight one Blue Devil athlete’s outstanding performance. This week, the spotlight is on Anna Cañado Espinal of Duke women’s golf:
Fighting strong winds in Chattanooga, Tenn., Duke women’s golfer Anna Cañado Espinal etched her name into the books and became the 17th freshman in Duke history to win an event.
“Winning as an individual, it’s a big motivation to continue to work hard and get better to achieve my goals,” Cañado Espinal said.
Cañado Espinal opened with a career-best 68 at the Chattanooga Classic, putting her in a prime position in the chase for her first collegiate title. Though her dominating start of back-to-back birdies and a 2-under finish was briefly stalled by three bogeys on Saturday morning, the freshman regrouped in the windy conditions.
The Barcelona native reclaimed her rhythm to close out the second round with four birdies and a lead that expanded until the end. The final day she doubled her dominance with another four birdies across 12 holes. Despite a few late-round struggles, Cañado Espinal held on for a two-shot victory, securing her position on the podium.
"I'm real proud of Anna. For a freshman to get her first college win on a windy Honors Course is very special,” said head coach Dan Brooks. “The golf was difficult, plain and simple. What a great win for Anna.”
In her inaugural spring season at Duke, Cañado Espinal has become a pivotal member of the Blue Devil team. She executed team-best putts during individual rounds at both the spring opener — recording 34 putts in the opening round — and the final round of the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate to post 28 putts.
Before arriving at Duke, Cañado Espinal had already built an impressive resume at the international level. At the 2024 European Girls’ Team Championship, she helped Spain attain the No. 1 seed in stroke play qualifying and won two of three matches in Flight A. The year prior included a third-place finish at the 2024 Copa R.C.G. Sotogrande (European Nations Championship).
Cañado Espinal’s impact within Duke’s roster comes as no surprise. Arriving in Durham, she carried her momentum to execute a strong performance in the 2024 fall season. At the Landfall Tradition — the final fall tournament — she delivered three straight rounds of even or under par, a feat she only achieved once in a single round prior. Her growth from that performance to a recent first-place finish reflects her development and rising confidence on the course.
With the ACC Championships beginning on April 16, Duke women’s golf is positioned for an exciting stretch, and Cañado Espinal’s continued dominance will be integral to the team’s pursuits.
Get to know Cañado Espinal
- Favorite prematch meal: Avocado toast and iced latte
- Favorite athletics memory: Winning the Europeans 2023 — “It was a really special week to share with my closest friends from the national team.”
- Favorite hobby outside of sport: Tennis and soccer
- Favorite artist: Bad Bunny
- Favorite class at Duke: Math or economics
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