EDINA, Minn. — In what could be considered the Duke Open, four former, current and future Blue Devils were among those in contention following the opening round of the U.S. Women’s Open at Interlachen Country Club.

Brittany Lang, who is a 2005 graduate, leads all Blue Devils with a 2-under-par 71, and is tied for 12th. Incoming freshman Mina Harigae and senior Amanda Blumenherst are tied for 21st at 1-under 72, while senior Jennie Lee is tied for 48th with a 1-over 74.

UCLA sophomore Jose Maria Uribe, who defeated Blumenherst in the U.S. Women’s Amateur championship final in August, was the low amateur in the opening round, posting a 4-under 69, two shots back of co-leaders Pat Hurst and Ji Young Oh.

Other Blue Devils in the event are 2007 graduate Anna Grzebien, who is tied for 77th with a 76; 2002 graduate Candy Hannemann, who is tied for 110th with a 78; and 2004 graduate Virada Nirapathpongporn, who is tied for 146th with an 81.

The upcoming U.S. Women's Open will have a distinct Duke feel as seven Blue Devils have qualified for the 156-player field that will convene at the Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn., June 26-29.

Senior Amanda Blumenherst and former two-time All-American Brittany Lang were already qualified. 

On Monday at sectional qualifying, current Blue Devil senior Jennie Lee and incoming freshman Mina Harigae, along with former Duke golfers Anna Grzebien, Candy Hannemann and Virada Nirapathpongporn each registered spots in the open. Recent graduate Jennifer Pandolfi is listed as an alternate.
 
HOT JUNE: N.C. State’s Lauren Doughtie is having quite the June.

One week after winning medalist honors at U.S. Women’s Amateur sectional qualifying, Doughtie won medalist honors

Jordan Walor played his way into The Rex Hospital Open by shooting a 2-under 69 at the annual Pro-Junior Invitational on Sunday.

It should be noted, though, that Walor, 18, a recent Wake Forest-Rolesville graduate, was one of the juniors. So forgive him for probably having some opening-round jitters on Thursday.

Walor, the Cap 7 Conference’s Player of the Year, shot an opening-round 77 on Thursday, totaling seven bogeys and a birdie at the par-5 13th hole.

If there is some consolation for Walor, then it’s that he didn’t post the day’s highest score. No, that honor went to Josh Coley, who posted an 81.

Walor was also two strokes better than Scott Dunlap, who is currently 14th on the Nationwide Tour money list.

LOCAL INTEREST: The list of players with local ties is long, not

Wake Forest-Rolesville High graduate Jordan Walor shot a 2-under 69 at The Rex Hospital Open’s annual Pro-Junior Invitational and earned a sponsor’s exemption into the Nationwide Tour field.

Walor, the 2008 Cap 7 Conference’s Player of the Year, earned medalist honors by a stroke over Daniel Meggs of Charlotte Butler High at the TPC Wakefield Plantation course. Walor’s round featured five birdies, including at the par-5 13th and 18th holes.   

The low girls’ round of the day was shot by Courtney Gunter of Porter Ridge High in Matthews. Gunter, the 2008 Girls 1A/2A/3A champion, shot a 2-over 73, two shots better than Meghan Moore of Bahama.

RED, WHITE AND DUKE BLUE: There was a distinct Duke flavor on the victorious U.S. Curtis Cup team this week.

The eight-player team that defeated Great Britain and

Overshadowed by rookie sensation Vicky Hurst’s win at the Duramed Futures Tour’s Jalapeno Golf Classic on Sunday, was the second-place finish by Ashley Prange.

Prange, 26, a former four-time All-ACC selection at North Carolina, posted solid rounds of 68-68-65–201 to finish at 15 under. Only Hurst, 17, was slightly more impressive with a winning 18-under 198.

For Prange, who spent most of 2007 on the LPGA Tour, but failed to keep her card, the finish was her best since winning twice on the Duramed Futures Tour in 2006.
The result was also a positive step, especially Sunday’s 7-under 65. At one point, Prange made six birdies in an eight-hole stretch and closed to within a stroke after making birdie at No. 13.

"I got focused and in the zone and made the most of each individual shot and didn’t let one shot affect another,” Prange said. “The flatstick was my best friend.