Upcoming Event: Women's Golf versus Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational on October 17, 2025
Women's Golf
vs Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational
Monday, February 27
Hilton Head, S.C. (Long Cove Club)
Duke University
vs
Darius Rucker Intercollegiate
Photo by: Todd Drexler
Brinker Paces Blue Devils in Opening Round in Hilton Head
2/27/2023 7:26:00 PM | Women's Golf
HILTON HEAD, S.C. – Duke women's golf junior Phoebe Brinker opened the 2023 Darius Rucker Intercollegiate on Monday with a 1-over-par, 73, to pace the Blue Devils at the 6,220-yard, Par-71 Long Cove Club.
How It Happened
• Duke jumped out to a solid start to the round and led the field with a 2-under-par score mid-way through the opening nine holes.
• The Blue Devils hit a tough stretch to close the front nine as Duke was 6-over-par on the 158-yard, par-3 eighth hole to drop back in the standings.
• Junior Phoebe Brinker led the Blue Devils on the day with a 1-over-par, 72. After parring the first five holes, she had a bogey on No. 6. Brinker then collected her first birdie of the day as she hit her 9-iron from 135 yards to five feet and rolled in the putt on No. 7. After a bogey on No. 8, she had six consecutive pars. Brinker hit the green in two on No. 15 and two-putted for birdie to get back to even. She closed the day with two pars and a bogey to finish with a 72.
• After parring the first four holes to start her morning, senior Erica Shepherd drained a 14-footer for birdie on the 317-yard, par-4 fifth hole to get to 1-under. She registered a par on the next hole and then played the final 12 holes at 5-over-par to close the day with a 75. Shepherd hit 12 fairways, 12 greens and had 34 putts on the day.
• Sophomore Rylie Heflin carded a 5-over-par, 76, to open the tournament. She started with a 2-over score through five holes, before hitting her 54-degree wedge to six feet for birdie on No. 6. Heflin would go on to make the turn with a 3-over, 39. She had six straight pars to start the back nine, which included an up-and-down par save on No. 11. Heflin also had another key up-and-down par save on No. 18, before closing with a 76. Heflin hit 12 fairways, 11 greens and had 31 putts.
• Freshman Andie Smith collected a team-best four birdies on the day as she shot a 77. She had Duke's best start of the morning as she birdied both par fives over the first six holes. Smith drained a 20-footer on No. 3 and 15-footer on No. 6. She went on a tough stretch where she dropped six shots over a span of five holes. Smith connected on a 13-footer for birdie on No. 13 and chipped in for birdie on No. 18 to close the day.
• Megan Furtney signed for an 81 to open action.
• LSU and South Carolina opened the event with a 1-under, 283, to lead the team standings. The Blue Devils are currently in a tie for 12th with a 300.
Notes
• The Blue Devils rolled in eight birdies on the day.
• Phoebe Brinker hit nine greens, 11 fairways and had 32 putts on the day. She enters the second round in a tie for 12th.
• Megan Schofill of Auburn leads the individual leaderboard with a 4-under-par, 67.
• Duke ranked tied for third overall with a 1-under-par average on the par-5 holes.
Up Next
Duke will tee off on Tuesday in the second round beginning at 11 a.m., off hole No. 10 along with Arizona State and Kentucky.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's golf, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWGOLF".
#GoDuke
How It Happened
• Duke jumped out to a solid start to the round and led the field with a 2-under-par score mid-way through the opening nine holes.
• The Blue Devils hit a tough stretch to close the front nine as Duke was 6-over-par on the 158-yard, par-3 eighth hole to drop back in the standings.
• Junior Phoebe Brinker led the Blue Devils on the day with a 1-over-par, 72. After parring the first five holes, she had a bogey on No. 6. Brinker then collected her first birdie of the day as she hit her 9-iron from 135 yards to five feet and rolled in the putt on No. 7. After a bogey on No. 8, she had six consecutive pars. Brinker hit the green in two on No. 15 and two-putted for birdie to get back to even. She closed the day with two pars and a bogey to finish with a 72.
• After parring the first four holes to start her morning, senior Erica Shepherd drained a 14-footer for birdie on the 317-yard, par-4 fifth hole to get to 1-under. She registered a par on the next hole and then played the final 12 holes at 5-over-par to close the day with a 75. Shepherd hit 12 fairways, 12 greens and had 34 putts on the day.
• Sophomore Rylie Heflin carded a 5-over-par, 76, to open the tournament. She started with a 2-over score through five holes, before hitting her 54-degree wedge to six feet for birdie on No. 6. Heflin would go on to make the turn with a 3-over, 39. She had six straight pars to start the back nine, which included an up-and-down par save on No. 11. Heflin also had another key up-and-down par save on No. 18, before closing with a 76. Heflin hit 12 fairways, 11 greens and had 31 putts.
• Freshman Andie Smith collected a team-best four birdies on the day as she shot a 77. She had Duke's best start of the morning as she birdied both par fives over the first six holes. Smith drained a 20-footer on No. 3 and 15-footer on No. 6. She went on a tough stretch where she dropped six shots over a span of five holes. Smith connected on a 13-footer for birdie on No. 13 and chipped in for birdie on No. 18 to close the day.
• Megan Furtney signed for an 81 to open action.
• LSU and South Carolina opened the event with a 1-under, 283, to lead the team standings. The Blue Devils are currently in a tie for 12th with a 300.
Notes
• The Blue Devils rolled in eight birdies on the day.
• Phoebe Brinker hit nine greens, 11 fairways and had 32 putts on the day. She enters the second round in a tie for 12th.
• Megan Schofill of Auburn leads the individual leaderboard with a 4-under-par, 67.
• Duke ranked tied for third overall with a 1-under-par average on the par-5 holes.
Up Next
Duke will tee off on Tuesday in the second round beginning at 11 a.m., off hole No. 10 along with Arizona State and Kentucky.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's golf, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWGOLF".
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Golf
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/ Women's Golf
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/ Women's Golf
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/ Women's Golf
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