Leona Maguire wins but Lisa loses as they bid farewell to US college golf after four years at Duke University

STILLWATER, Oklahoma – The Duke University women’s golf team saw its run at the NCAA Championship come to an end Tuesday in the quarter-finals of match play as the sixth-seeded Blue Devils dropped a 3.5-1.5 decision to third-seeded Southern California at the 6,328yd, par 72 Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma

The end of the season marked the conclusion of the collegiate careers of Leona Maguire andLisa Maguire, after helping the Blue Devils to three trips to NCAA match play, two ACC Championships and a total of 14 team victories over the last four years. 

Leona Maguire concluded her storied career with Duke records in even or under par rounds (87), rounds in the 60s (32) and career stroke average (70.97).  Her 70.97 career scoring average is the lowest in NCAA history for golfers that participated in 100 or more rounds.  The two-time National Player of the Year also collected an impressive 10 career wins, 24 top five finishes, 36 top 10 placements and 39 top 20 finishes. 

In Monday’s match  fans were treated to an exciting contest, which was started off by Leona Maguire against Jennifer Chang.  Maguire and Chang combined for 11 birdies and were back and forth the entire match.  Chang took the first lead of the morning with a birdie on No. 12, but Maguire came back with a birdie of her own at No. 13.  Maguire, who hails from Cavan, Ireland, would not trail the rest of the way 

Maguire went two up by winning holes No. 4 and No. 5, but Chang battled back to get the match all square with one hole remaining.  A four-time first team All-America, Maguire stuck her approach on the par five No. 9 to a foot and had her birdie conceded for the win, after Chang missed her birdie putt. 

Southern California got its first win as Alyaa Abdulghany took down Lisa Maguire  4 and 2.

Blue Devil freshman Jaravee Boonchant battled with rookie Gabriela Ruffels and held a one-hole lead after winning holes No. 15 and No. 16.  Boonchant, who is from Bangkok, Thailand, dropped back-to-back par five holes with bogeys on No. 18 and No. 1 to go one down.  She briefly got back to all square with a par on No. 3.  Ruffels regained the lead and did not  relinquish it.  Boonchant tried to make a comeback by winning hole 16, but could not catch Ruffels over the last two holes and lost by one hole.

After trailing the entire match and trailing at times by as many as three holes, Duke  sophomore Ana Belac mounted an impressive comeback over the final nine holes.  Belac, a native of Portoroz, Slovenia, won holes No. 2, No. 3 and No. 5 to square the match.  After Ameila Garvey of USC hit her drive out of bounds  on No. 6, Belac wasn’t able to take advantage and ended up losing the hole with a double-bogey.  The All-ACC selection responded by draining an eight-foot birdie on the par three seventh and the match was all square once again.  Belac lost the the final two holes and Garvey won by two holes.

Virginia Elena Carta’s match with Allisen Corpuz was all square through four holes, before Carta birdied the par five 14^th.  A product of Udine, Italy, Carta was never behind for the rest of the match and was two up with two to play.  Corpuz won the eighth and holed a 10-foot birdie on No. 9 to send the match to extra holes.  The two golfers were on the third extra hole when the match was clinched by the Trojans overall and the Carta v Corpuz tie declared a halved match.. 

The Blue Devils finished the season with five wins, including the ACC Championship and the NCAA Madison Regional.

Southern California 3.5, Duke 1.5

Southern California names listed first

Jennifer Chang lost to Leona Maguire 1 hole.

Allisen Corpuz halved with Virginia Elena Carta

Gabi Ruffels bt Jaravee Boonchant 1 hole.

Alyaa Abdulghany bt Lisa Maguire 4 and 2.

Amelia Garvey bt Ana Belac 2 holes.