Duke Opens In Fifth At NCAA; Blumenherst Is Tied Second

Tuesday, May 22

Daytona Beach, Fla.

All Day

Duke University

Day One

Duke Opens In Fifth At NCAA; Blumenherst Is Tied Second

5/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf

By: Duke Sports Information

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA.-- The second-ranked Duke Women's Golf Team battled wind gusts of 10-20 miles per hour on day one of the 2007 NCAA Championship as the Blue Devils posted a 12-over-par round of 300 and are fifth with 54 holes remaining at the 6,351-Yard, Par 72 LPGA International Legends Course in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Duke, who is coming off shooting a record 16-under-par on the final day of the NCAA East Regional on May 12, enters the second round five shots off the leader, Southern California (295). Rounding out the top five is North Carolina (297), Louisville (297), Stanford (299) and Duke (300). It was a day of big numbers for the Blue Devils as all five golfers had at least one double or triple-bogey. After leading the tournament through three holes, Duke suffered two double-bogeys and two triple-bogeys to drop the Blue Devils from a one-under-par ledger. Overall, Duke totaled five double-bogeys and two triple-bogeys on day one after registering only one double-bogey in the NCAA East Regional.

“It is day one and I think we have learned a little bit,” said Duke Head Coach Dan Brooks. “With a course like this you have to respect it. There is a lot to learn about it and there are places you don't want to be on this golf course. We found a few of those today but tomorrow we will be smarter.”

Once again leading the Duke charge was sophomore Amanda Blumenherst as she totaled a two-under-par, 70, on Tuesday and is tied for second, individually. A native of Scottsdale, Ariz., Blumenherst posted par, birdie and par over the first three holes before heading to the 340-yard, par four No. 4. After a nice tee shot, she hit her approach too high into the wind and ended up falling short into the hazard. Blumenherst had to go back to the fairway and hit another approach into the green and ended up getting up and down, after going over the green on her second approach shot. She came back with a par on the next hole and then a birdie on No. 6, before hitting her tee shot wide left on the 181-yard, par three. Blumenherst missed an up and down opportunity and had a bogey.

“At the beginning the putts were not falling,” said Blumenherst. “I was getting a little frustrated but I kept my head on straight. I had kind of a funny shot on a hole that cost me a few, but besides that I played well and hit the ball great. The putts started falling at the end. The wind definitely affected everyone's play. It was strong and was different from even how we played practice rounds.”

Blumenherst made the turn with a 37 and over the final 11 holes totaled a three-under-par mark. This was catapulted by three straight birdies on holes 14, 15 and 16. For the day, Blumenherst hit 13 fairways, hit 15 greens, had 30 putts, registered five birdies and birdied three of four par five holes.

“I definitely want to play well [at nationals],” said Blumenherst. “I really didn't set a golf for myself coming into this tournament--just have fun. Winning nationals, individually, would be great but the team comes first. I put way to much pressure on myself last year at this tournament. I just got into the mindframe of playing my best, giving it my all and whatever happens, happens.”

Going off first on Tuesday for the Blue Devils was sophomore Jennie Lee as she kicked off the action at 12:30 p.m. A product of Henderson, Nev., Lee had a solid front nine as she shot even par with one birdie on No. 6 and a bogey on No. 8. As the winds kicked up over the final nine holes, Lee shot four-over-par, 40, to close with a 76. The 2006 NCAA Individual runner-up, Lee is tied for 39th after day one.

Playing in her home state of Florida, junior Jennifer Pandolfi totaled a 77 on day one and is tied for 53rd. She had an roller coaster round as she opened at four-over-par through seven holes, but collected her first of three birdies on the par five eighth hole and made the turn at 39. Following a par and bogey to open the back nine, Pandolfi reeled off two straight birdies on the 12th and 13th holes to climb back to two-over-par. Pandolfi, who is out of Navarre, Fla., was cruising into the clubhouse at two-over-par, but a bogey, double-bogey finish ended her round with a five-over-par number.

“Overall my round was ok, but I feel good about the next three days,” said Pandolfi. “The way I ended leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. The wind was strong today and was definitely a factor.”

Blue Devil freshman Alison Whitaker made a nice rally over the final seven holes to close with a 77 and is tied for 53rd overall. A product of Melbourne, Australia, Whitaker had a solid day except for a double-bogey and triple-bogey within a span of five holes. Over the final five holes, Whitaker notched a birdie on the 502-yard, par five 14th and the 382-yard, par four 18th holes to finish strong.

“I kind of blew my score on a couple of holes as I had a double and a triple to finish five over,” said Whitaker. The rest of it was pretty solid golf. It was a question of keeping my wits about me. As coach says, just hanging in there and just believing in your ability to make pars and birdies. It leaves a better taste in my mouth going into tomorrow.

Playing in the final NCAA Championship of her career, senior Anna Grzebien totaled 10 pars over the first 11 holes, but a triple-bogey on the 385-yard, par four sixth hole led to a three-over-par front nine. A native of Narragansett, R.I., Grzebien struggled on the way in with five bogies during the final seven holes. She finished with an 80 and is tied for 95th in the individual play. Grzebien's round of 80 was a season high and marks only the fifth time over her four-year career she has shot in the 80s.

As a team, Duke played the par five holes at four-under-par and registered 11 total birdies on Tuesday. The Blue Devils will tee off on Wednesday beginning at 8:00 a.m. on the 10th hole along with Southern California and Stanford.

“It was sort of interesting coming out of LSU [regionals] where it was a birdie fest there,” said Brooks. “Coming on to this golf course with the wind and everything-- we got a little effected by some big numbers, which is a possibility. I think the team has done a pretty good job handling the difference from the last tournament we were in a week ago and this one. I understand we will have just as much wind if not more tomorrow so we are mentally prepared for that. That is what you have to be ready for. You have to adjust your expectations to the conditions and the golf course you are on.”

Notes:

* The average score for round one was 76.42.
* Duke shot a first round score of 306 during the NCAA Fall Preview and was tied for 11th with 36-holes remaining. The Blue Devils closed out with round sof 288 and 284 to finish second.
* The weather was partly cloudy, warm and had wind gusts up to 10-20 mph.
* Duke is the reigning back-to-back NCAA Champions and owns four overall NCAA titles.

- d - u - k - e -

rankteamscores
1Southern California295295+7
T2North Carolina297297+9
T2Louisville, Univ. of297297+9
4Stanford299299+11
5Duke300300+12
6Denver, Univ. of302302+14
T7UCLA303303+15
T7Georgia303303+15
T7Vanderbilt303303+15
T7Purdue303303+15
T7UC Irvine303303+15
12Arizona304304+16
13New Mexico305305+17
T14Pepperdine306306+18
T14Wake Forest306306+18
T16Arizona State307307+19
T16TCU307307+19
T18Brigham Young Univ.309309+21
T18Auburn309309+21
20Michigan State310310+22
21Tennessee311311+23
22Oklahoma State312312+24
23Alabama, U. of314314+26
24Indiana University320320+32

StartFinish PlayerTeam Scores
-1 Selanee' Henderson UC Irvine 69
-3 - T2 Lauren Todd Stanford 70
-2 - T2 Amanda Blumenherst Duke 70
-2 - T4 Stacy Lewis * Arkansas, U. of 71
-1 - T4 Veronica Felibert Southern California 71
-1 - T6 Christel Boeljon Purdue 72
E - T6 Catherine Matranga TCU 72
E - T6 Emily Hoeper Denver, Univ. of 72
E - T9 Amanda Wilson Arizona 73
+1 - T9 Camille Williams Louisville, Univ. of 73
+1 - T9 Paola Moreno Southern California 73
+1 - T9 Tiffany Joh UCLA 73
+1 - T13 Caroline Westrup * Florida State Univ. 74
+2 - T13 Angela Oh Tennessee 74
+2 - T13 Sydney Crane North Carolina 74
+2 - T13 Lauren Hunt North Carolina 74
+2 - T13 Jenny Calkins Louisville, Univ. of 74
+2 - T13 Giselle Claux New Mexico 74
+2 - T13 Mandi McConnell Michigan State 74
+2 - T13 Kate Thomas North Carolina 74
+2 - T13 Taylor Leon Georgia 74
+2 - T22 Rhea Nair Alabama, U. of 75
+3 - T22 Adriana Zwanck Arizona 75
+3 - T22 Maria Hernandez Purdue 75
+3 - T22 Misun Cho Pepperdine 75
+3 - T22 Daphne Vines Brigham Young Univ. 75
+3 - T22 Katie Miller North Carolina 75
+3 - T22 Chris Brady Vanderbilt 75
+3 - T22 Adrienne White Louisville, Univ. of 75
+3 - T22 Jacqui Concolino Vanderbilt 75
+3 - T22 Cindy LaCrosse Louisville, Univ. of 75
+3 - T22 Belen Mozo Southern California 75
+3 - T22 Nannette Hill Wake Forest 75
+3 - T22 Anna Nordqvist Arizona State 75
+3 - T22 Marisa Milligan Auburn 75
+3 - T22 Mallory Hetzel Georgia 75
+3 - T22 Hannah Jun UCLA 75
+3 - T22 Karin Kinnerud Oklahoma State 75
+3 - T39 Patty Chawalitmetha UC Irvine 76
+4 - T39 Eileen Vargas Pepperdine 76
+4 - T39 Kristen Svicarovich Vanderbilt 76
+4 - T39 Jodi Ewart New Mexico 76
+4 - T39 Jennie Lee Duke 76
+4 - T39 Juliana Murcia Arizona State 76
+4 - T39 Catherina Wang Stanford 76
+4 - T39 Mandy Goins Wake Forest 76
+4 - T39 Camille Blackerby TCU 76
+4 - T39 Dewi Schreefel Southern California 76
+4 - T39 Jean Chua Wake Forest 76
+4 - T39 Mari Chun Stanford 76
+4 - T39 Whitney Wade Georgia 76
+4 - T39 Stephanie Sherlock Denver, Univ. of 76
+4 - T53 Pamela Ontiveros * Oral Roberts Univ. 77
+5 - T53 Nicole Montgomery Pepperdine 77
+5 - T53 Stefanie Endstrasser Purdue 77
+5 - T53 Jenny Suh Alabama, U. of 77
+5 - T53 Alison Walshe Arizona 77
+5 - T53 Marci Turner Tennessee 77
+5 - T53 Liebelei Lawrence Vanderbilt 77
+5 - T53 Rachel Meikle Michigan State 77
+5 - T53 Py Bengtsson New Mexico 77
+5 - T53 Rachel Newren Brigham Young Univ. 77
+5 - T53 Jennifer Pandolfi Duke 77
+5 - T53 Catalina Marin Southern California 77
+5 - T53 Alison Whitaker Duke 77
+5 - T53 Jennifer Tangtiphaiboontana Stanford 77
+5 - T53 Sara Djos Denver, Univ. of 77
+5 - T53 Dawn Shockley Denver, Univ. of 77
+5 - T53 Margaret Shirley Auburn 77
+5 - T53 Pernilla Lindberg Oklahoma State 77
+5 - T53 Sydnee Michaels UCLA 77
+5 - T72 Leanne Bowditch Pepperdine 78
+6 - T72 Ashley Childers Brigham Young Univ. 78
+6 - T72 Alexandra Phelps New Mexico 78
+6 - T72 Sara Brown Michigan State 78
+6 - T72 Ann Laney North Carolina 78
+6 - T72 Azahara Munoz Arizona State 78
+6 - T72 Jennifer Osborn Arizona State 78
+6 - T72 Elin Emanuelsson TCU 78
+6 - T72 Ryann O'Toole UCLA 78
+6 - T72 Garrett Phillips Georgia 78
+6 - T72 Nicole Hage Auburn 78
+6 - T83 Kay Hoey * Long Beach State 79
+7 - T83 Henna Cho UC Irvine 79
+7 - T83 Diana Cantu Tennessee 79
+7 - T83 Myrte Eikenaar Purdue 79
+7 - T83 Kim Lorenzana UC Irvine 79
+7 - T83 Mary Jacobs Arizona 79
+7 - T83 Danielle von Arnim Brigham Young Univ. 79
+7 - T83 Juli Erekson Brigham Young Univ. 79
+7 - T83 Laura Crawford Wake Forest 79
+7 - T83 Maiya Tanaka UCLA 79
+7 - T83 Laura Nochta Indiana University 79
+7 - T83 Candace Schepperle Auburn 79
+7 - T95 Kelly Nakashima * Idaho, University of 80
+8 - T95 Brooke Goodwin Vanderbilt 80
+8 - T95 Angela King Stanford 80
+8 - T95 Anna Grzebien Duke 80
+8 - T95 Alina Lee Georgia 80
+8 - T95 Lauren Harling Indiana University 80
+8 - T95 Sarah Bradley Oklahoma State 80
+8 - T95 Amanda Johnson Oklahoma State 80
+8 - T95 Elaine Harris Indiana University 80
+8 - T104 Laura Goodwin Alabama, U. of 81
+9 - T104 Nicole Smith Tennessee 81
+9 - T104 Helena Blomberg Alabama, U. of 81
+9 - T104 Heather Rose Michigan State 81
+9 - T104 Megan O'Donnell TCU 81
+9 - T104 Anita Gahir Indiana University 81
+9 - T110 Brittany Benvenuto Arizona 82
+10 - T110 Holly Cantwell Tennessee 82
+10 - T110 Mallorie Underwood Oklahoma State 82
+10 - T110 Abigale Schepperle Auburn 82
+10 - T114 Stephanie Oukeo Purdue 83
+11 - T114 Jane Chin UC Irvine 83
+11 - T114 Mikaela Backstedt New Mexico 83
+11 - T114 Lindsay Anderson Arizona State 83
+11 - T114 Katie Kempter Denver, Univ. of 83
+11 - T119 Lene Krog * East Carolina Univ. 84
+12 - T119 Cristina Gonzalez Louisville, Univ. of 84
+12 - T119 Holly Niederkohr Michigan State 84
+12 - T119 Kellye Belcher Indiana University 84
+12 - T123 Sarah Sturm Alabama, U. of 86
+14 - T123 Valentine Derrey TCU 86
+14 - 125 Maggie Simons Wake Forest 87
+15 - - Jayvie Agojo Pepperdine W        -