Leona Maguire

Duke University Junior Leona Maguire got her spring collegiate season off to the perfect start with a wire to wire performance that also included her first ever collegiate hole in one as she helped her team to third place overall in the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge at Palos Verdes Golf Club in Los Angeles.

Maguire was on the right track from the get-go, opening the event with a share of the lead after a 3-under-par round of 68 that included the hole in one, made on the par-3 15th hole. Two more solid rounds of 70 and 71 followed as she notched six birdies and five bogeys in the final 36 holes to put her at a four-under total and deliver her fifth career victory at Duke.

A pre tournament ruling that no playoff would take place meant that she shared the title with Taylor Tomlinson of Florida and Mackenzie Raim of University of Las Vegas.

Maguire’s twin Lisa also competed for Duke, but posted the team’s lowest score each day and thus did not contribute to the team’s overall score. Maguire broke 80 just once—posting a 79 Tuesday—and notched scores of 82 and 80 Sunday and Monday, respectively.

University of Southern California took the team honours with a three round total of +4, one ahead of Arizona State with Duke back in third on +7.