Golf

Leona Maguire climbed the winner's podium at the LSU Tiger Golf Classic in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Leona Maguire of Ireland, and Lisa Maguire, her twin sister and caddie, line up a putt on the 18th hole during the second round of the women's golf event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson).
Leona Maguire of Ireland, and Lisa Maguire, her twin sister and caddie, line up a putt on the 18th hole during the second round of the women's golf event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Chris C Leona Maguire of Ireland, and Lisa Maguire, her twin sister and caddie, line up a putt on the 18th hole during the second round of the women's golf event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson).

For the sixth time as a collegiate golfer and the second time this season, Duke University’s Leona Maguire climbed the winner's podium, as she carded a season-best 10-under-par 206, at the LSU Tiger Golf Classic on the 6,247-yards, par 72 University Club in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Also, the Blue Devils, thanks to the Cavan girl's brilliance, won the team title for the second straight season with 10-under-par 854.

Maguire collected the wire-to-wire victory with rounds of 67, 68 and 71, which was four shots better than team mate Virginia Elena Carta (210). The Ballyconnell member's six wins at Duke now ranks her tied fifth on the all-time charts, along with Brittany Lang and Lindy Duncan.

“It was great to finish our regular season with a win,” enthused Maguire. “Hopefully we can build on our performance this week and take some good momentum into ACC Chanmpioinship.”

In the final round, Maguire produced a strong start as she fired her approach shot to within one foot for birdie on the second hole.

After a bogey at the fifth, Maguire then carded three birdies over a five-hole stretch on the back nine to move to three-under. However, at the 144-yards par three 16th, Maguire hit her tee shot into water and ran up double bogey but she finished with back-to-back pars for a one-under-71 and her 54-holes total of 10-under 206.

Maguire has now posted 14 rounds of even or under-par this season.

It was Duke University's second win of the season with rounds of 285, 286 and 283. Second was Oklahoma State (872) with Arkansas (873), North Carolina State (880) and Denver (880) completing the top five teams.

Playing as an individual, Leona's twin sister Lisa had her best round of the weekend on Sunday with a three-over-75. Lisa played her final 14 holes at level par with two birdies and her first collegiate eagle on the 448-yards, par five 14th. She rifled her rescue club from 200 yards onto the green and then holed a 35-foot rail-road putt for eagle.

The Blue Devils will next compete against Northwestern in matchplay on Sunday, April 2 in Durham, North. Carolina., prior to heading to the ACC Championship on April 13 to15 at Pawley’s Island, South Carolina.

Holywood's Jessica Carty was also in action at the LSU Tiger Golf Classic, finishing tied fifth together with her Denver University team mates and joint 16th individually, Carty carded scores of 76, 74, 70 for a four-over-par total. The Irish international, who is a Senior at Denver, showed great form in Baton Rouge which makes head coach Lindsay Kuhle confident heading into the rest of the season;

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