May 25, 2004

DURHAM, N.C. - Former Duke women's golf four-time All-America Virada Nirapathpongporn is set to make her professional debut this weekend in the New Innsbrook Country Club FUTURES Golf Classic. The tournament will take place from May 27-29 in Merrillville, Ind., at the Par 72, New Innsbrook Country Club.

Nirapathpongporn will try to follow in the footsteps of former Duke All-America's Candy Hannemann and Beth Bauer who earned their LPGA Tour cards by finishing in the top-three of the FUTURES Tour money list. Last season, in Nirapathpongporn's only FUTURES Tour appearance she finished tied for third at the York Newspaper Company FUTURES Classic.

There will be 13 remaining FUTURES Tour events Nirapathpongporn will be able to participate in and if she finishes in the top-five of the money list she will receive her exempt LPGA Tour card.

Duke currently has three former Blue Devils who play on the LPGA Tour- Bauer, Hannemann and Jean Bartholomew. A number of former Blue Devils also play on the FUTURES Tour- Kalen Anderson, Katti Poppmeier, Kristina Engstrom and Filippa Hansson.

A native of Bangkok, Thailand, Nirapathpongporn became Duke's first four-time first team All-America this past season and finished her career with 27 top-10 finishes, which ranks tied for first on Duke's all-time list. She holds Blue Devil records for best 18-hole total (65-tie) and 72-hole total (279). Her 72.53 stroke average during her senior year is the third-best single-season total in Duke history.

One of the most decorated athletes to play at Duke University in any sport, Nirapathpongporn earned the 2004 Nancy Lopez Award as the world's most outstanding female amateur golfer, won the 2003 U.S. Amateur Championship, won the 2002 Honda Award, won the 2002 NCAA Individual Championship and led Duke to the 2002 NCAA team Championship. Among all the athletic awards, she was also selected a three-time National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Academic All-America.

- d - u - k - e -