KIAWAH ISLAND, SC – Duke of the second year Erica Shepherd accompanied the Blue Devil women’s golf team in its opening rounds of the 2021 campaign, doing one of seven rounds under par on Sunday at the Palmetto Intercollegiate.
Shepherd, who hails from Greenwood, Ind., Posted scores of 71 and 75 for a 36-hole ledger of 146, which is the third overall and just two strokes off individual lead on the Par 72 Turtle Point golf course, from 6,021 yards, in Kiawah Island, SC
In the first round on Sunday morning, Shepherd destroyed the first four holes, before being bogged out at numbers 5 and 6. She then destroyed five consecutive holes, before catching fire. Shepherd drained a 12 foot birdie at 345 yards, par four 12th for the first red number of the day. She then gave the birdie a five-foot putt at 338 yards, par four 15 to return to the tie. After missing the fairway at No. 18, Shepherd maintained his 2.5-meter approach and drained his third birdie in the morning to end with a one-under-par, 71, who came in second after 18 holes.
Shepherd kept his momentum going for the second round in the afternoon with 10 consecutive pars to open the action. She then made back-to-back holes at No. 11 and No. 12 to take the individual lead. Shepherd, a candidate for the ANNIKA Award, collected birdie strokes of four feet and nine feet, respectively, to reach three under par for the tournament. She dropped to two under par with a bogey at No. 14. After watching the No. 18 birdwatching hole in the first round earlier in the day, Shepherd struggled along the way with an eight to drop to three over par, 75, in the second round. She ended the day with 27 strokes, the best on the team.
Dorthea Forbrigd from East Carolina leads the field with an even pair, 144, with rounds of 71 and 73.
Making his Duke debut on Sunday, freshman Anne Chen signed by rounds of 76 and 77 for a 153 ledger, which is tied for 23rd overall.
In his opening round, Chen destroyed his first university hole and then collected his first birdie at the 349 yard hole, par four third. She went on to shoot a four-over-par, 76, in the first round. Chen, who is from Sugar Land, Texas, registered the best team of four birdies in the second round on her way to card a 77. She scored birdies at No. 5, No. 8, No. 13 and No. 15.
Megan Furtney opened his sophomore campaign with two birdies on his way to post a 78 in the first round. She registered her first birdie at the sixth 356-yard, par four, when she hit a 87-60 meter wedge and sank the shot. Furtney, who is from St. Charles, Illinois, also drained a 14-foot gauge for the birdie.
In the second round, Furtney hit the No. 1 hole, but then he ran out of bogey for seven holes. She closed the top nine with a bogey to make the turn with a two-over, 38. In the back, she posted her first high school eagle at 477 yards, par five 13th. Furtney used a 35-degree 60-yard wedge and drilled for the eagle. She ended the day with a four-over, 76. Furtney is tied for 27th with 154 positions for Monday’s final round.
Junior Gina Kim opened its third season with the Blue Devils with a 77, after being held without a birdie in its first 18 holes. The Chapel Hill, NC native signed for a 78 in the second round, which included a birdie in the fifth hole par five. She is tied for 30th with 155.
He also made his Duke debut on Sunday as a freshman. Phoebe Brinker. She collected rounds of 79 and 78 and is tied at 36 with 157. A product from Wilmington, Del., Brinker rolled his putter for two birdies in the first round, one 20 foot at No. 8 and one 15 foot at No 12. In the second round, she added two more birdies – 10 feet at No. 5 and four feet at No. 10.
Duke enters the final round tied for third, after posting rounds of 302 and 306 to a 608. Wake Forest (587) leads the action with East Carolina (603) in second. The Blue Devils are tied with Virginia (608). The College of Charleston, North Carolina and Indiana has not completed the second round due to darkness and will return to the course at 8am on Monday.
The final round will open at 9:08 am for the Blue Devils out of hole # 1. Live scores will be available at www.GolfStat.com.
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Duke Results
Erica Shepherd 71-75 = 146 (3, +2)
Anne Chen 76-77 = 153 (T23, +9)
Megan Furtney 78-76 = 154 (T27, +10)
Gina Kim 77-78 = 155 (T30, +11)
Phoebe Brinker 79-78 = 157 (T36, +13)