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Blue Devils Provide Surprise Ending to the 2009 Tournament

By Bill Paris, Marketing Chair

They were ranked 14th nationally, behind UCLA, Southern Cal, Arizona State, Alabama, Virginia, Michigan State, and Purdue, all teams they would have to beat. They had lost their two best players from last season, including Amanda Blumenhurst, a three time Player of the Year winner and had not won a tournament this fall. They played three freshmen and one junior out of five, and yet, when the 2009 Landfall Tradition ended on Sunday, the Duke Blue Devils were its 2009 Champs. They did it with steady play over three days, through sun and rain, to edge out UCLA and Auburn by just one shot. Senior Aussie Alison Whitaker made the biggest difference Sunday with a 3 under par 69. Duke coach Dan Brooks was highly pleased to beat the strongest field they had faced this season, especially on the Landfall Dye Course which will also be the sight of the NCAA Women’s Championship next May.

Auburn’s Cydney Clanton, a North Carolina native, shot her third consecutive 70 to win individual honors by five shots over Virginia’s Brittany Altomare, while second round leader Cheyenne Woods (Tiger’s niece) of Wake Forest came in third. The UNCW Seahawks were led by Sofia Hagsund in 20th place and Carmen Perez-Narbon in 26th.

As with the previous seven Traditions, coaches, players, and parents alike, echoed compliments on the condition of the course and the hospitality they experienced from the more than 300 volunteers, many from the Landfall community.

The Landfall Tradition Committee would again like to thank those volunteers who once again stepped up to make our tournament one of the best in collegiate golf. And to those families who have hosted teams for dinner in their homes in past years and wanted to again, please understand that due to NCAA guidelines, we were not allowed to offer that special time to teams in the 2009 Tradition. Because this year’s tournament was considered a preview to the Women’s Championship on Dye next May, NCAA regulations prohibited such entertaining. The in-home dinners will again be a feature of future Landfall Traditions as will the College Am which was also not permitted by the NCAA this year.

Finally, the galleries for this year’s tournament were the largest ever, even with the sudden downpour that held up Saturday’s play. Next May, we expect much larger galleries from all over the state as our community and club will truly be on a national stage with a terrific opportunity to showcase the wonderful place we call home. We will need many volunteers then and hope all of you will raise you hands and bring along a friend or two as we watch the 24 best women’s teams in America. Thank you.