May 28, 2003

DURHAM, N.C. - Duke University rising senior Virada Nirapathpongporn will compete in the LPGA Kellogg-Keebler Classic this week from May 30-June 1 at the Stonebridge Country Club in Aurora, Ill.

It will mark the second LPGA event the 2002 NCAA Individual Champion has appeared in this year as she played in the Kraft Nabisco Championship in the fall. Nirapathpongporn finished tied 21st with a 76-72-72-73=293, which was the third-best amateur score in the field.

Nirapathpongporn, a Bangkok, Thailand product, was selected National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) first team All-America for the second straight season in 2002-03. She posted a 73.39 stroke average as a junior, which ranked as the sixth-best in school history. The three-time All-ACC selection collected four top-five, five top-10 and six top-20 finishes in eight tournaments played. Her best finishes of the year came at the ACC Championship and Auburn Derby where she placed fourth.

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