Hardin, Janangelo and Nirapathpongporn Honored At NGCA Banquet
Virada Nirapathpongporn was also named NGCA Scholar All-America
Liz Janangelo was named first team All-America as a freshman

Liz Janangelo was named first team All-America as a freshman

May 24, 2003

WEST LAFAYETTE, IND. - Juniors Leigh Anne Hardin and Virada Nirapathpongporn as well as freshman Liz Janangleo all were honored on Friday evening at the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) banquet held at the University Inn located in West Lafayette, Ind.

Nirapathpongporn became the first Blue Devil to receive NGCA first team All-America honors in each of her first three years at Duke. The 2002 NCAA Individual Champion led Duke with a 73.39 stroke average and registered five top-10 finishes in eight tournaments played. Her stroke average tied Beth Bauer for the sixth-best in school history. A Bangkok, Thailand product, Nirapathpongporn also turned in a 21st place finish at the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship in the spring.

For the second straight year, Nirapathpongporn was also named to the NGCA All-America Scholar team, which requires over a 3.5 grade point average. The three-time All-ACC selection was also named to the NCAA East Regional All-Tournament team for her tied fifth place finish.

Also receiving first team All-America honors was Janangleo, a native of West Hartford, Conn. Janangleo led Duke with two individual medalist victories on the season as well as collecting 13 rounds of even or under par. Her 73.58 stroke average marks the third-best freshman stroke average under theh direction of head coach Dan Brooks. Janangelo also becomes only the third Duke freshman to be named first team All-America (Bauer & Nirapathpongporn).

Hardin received honorable mention All-America accolades after notching a 74.55 stroke average, six top-10 finishes and 10 rounds of even or under par in 11 tournaments. Last season, Hardin was named second team All-America.

As a team, Duke finished 10th in the NCAA Championship with a four-day total of 1,225. The 10th place finish marks the ninth time in school history Duke has placed in the top 10 at the NCAA Championship. The Blue Devils lose two seniors--Kristina Engstrom and Maria Garcia-Estrada-- but return four of five starters and welcome a stellar recruiting class for 2003-04.

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