Duke Women's Golf Team Tied for Second in ACC Championship The Duke women's golf team began the 2026 ACC Championship with a strong performance, finishing 12-under-par over 36 holes and sitting tied for second place with 18 holes remaining in stroke play at the Porters Neck Country Club in Wilmington, North Carolina. The Blue Devils’ total score of 564 places them alongside SMU, while Stanford leads the field with a 23-under total of 553. The tournament, held at a 6,197-yard, par-72 course, will determine the top six teams advancing to match play, with an individual champion also being crowned following Friday’s final round. Duke’s freshman Rianne Malixi and junior Katie Li emerged as standout performers, securing top-six individual rankings. Malixi, who entered the final round two strokes behind leader Paula Martin Sampedro, carded bogey-free rounds of 67 and 68 to finish with a 9-under total of 135, placing her second overall. Her 564 total score also ties a Duke record for the lowest 36-hole score in ACC Championship play on a par-72 course. Malixi’s first-round 67, the lowest 18-hole score for Duke in the tournament’s history, showcased her dominance, with nine birdies over the two rounds. Li, meanwhile, finished with a 4-under total of 140, tying her for sixth. Her rounds of 69 and 71 included a strong start with three consecutive birdies in the first round, followed by a steady performance in the second round. Li’s 34th and 35th rounds of even or under par mark a career milestone, while her 15th round in the 60s highlights her consistency. The team’s performance was bolstered by contributions from other players. Freshman Avery McCrery, making her first tournament appearance since early March, posted a 3-under 69 in the first round, finishing with a 143 total (T14, -1).#smu #stanford #duke_womens_golf_team #porters_neck_country_club #wilmington_north_carolina
