04/29/2008 - Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – On Monday evening at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, the memorial of former Duke women’s golfer Maria Garcia-Estrada, which is located on hole No. 12, was dedicated with family, friends, co-workers, Duke staff and current Blue Devil golfers in attendance for the ceremony.

Although the wet weather put a damper on the ceremony out at the 12th hole, the group headed inside the Washington Duke Inn for some kind words about Garcia-Estrada, food and socializing.  Six family members and friends of Garcia-Estrada from Spain were in attendance for the event. 

It marked the second time members of Garcia-Estrada’s family have been in Durham since her passing on Sept. 3, 2005 from a rare form of cancer.  On Sept. 15, 2005, a memorial service was held at the 12th hole to honor the short life of the 24-year-old Garcia-Estrada.

Garcia-Estrada stormed on the national scene as a freshman with the Blue Devils as she led Duke to the 2000 ACC Championship and the ACC Individual title at the Salem Glen Country Club on April 16, 2000 in Clemmons, N.C. She became the third straight freshman to capture the ACC Individual title as she finished at one-under-par for the tournament with rounds of 76-67-72.

The ACC Champion went on to be named second team National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) All-America as a freshman and was twice named to the All-ACC Women’s Golf team during her tenure at Duke. Garcia-Estrada was a member of the 2002 Duke National Championship squad and the Blue Devils won the ACC Championship during each of her four years.

The Blue Devils won a remarkable 31 tournaments during her four-year career. Garcia-Estrada graduated from Duke in 2003.

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