Sept. 25, 2007

Courtesy of GoDuke.com

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WASHINGTON, D.C.- In a reward for winning the 2006 and 2007 NCAA Championship, the Duke women's golf team traveled to Washington, D.C. on Friday and met President George W. Bush at the White House. The Blue Devils were one of eight teams who were honored at the Sports Championship Day on the South Lawn at the White House.

Current Duke golfers Jennifer Pandolfi, Amanda Blumenherst, Jennie Lee, Alison Whitaker, Yu Young Lee, Rebecca Kim and Kim Donovan as well as 2006 Blue Devil graduate Liz Janangelo, Head Coach Dan Brooks, Assistant Coach Kalen Anderson, Duke Golf Club General Manager Ed Ibarguen, Duke Golf Club Specialist Bill Sessums, Group Fitness Director Lisa Jindra and Assistant Sports Information Director Lindy Brown all met in Washington, D.C., on Friday morning.

The group had an early Tuesday morning planned as they headed out from Raleigh-Durham Airport at 7:00 a.m. for Washington, D.C. The crew met up with Janangelo at the Washington Reagan Airport and then ate breakfast. After getting changed to appropriate attire for the White House, the Blue Devils headed out for a walk around the area.

Members of the Duke party saw the Washington Monument, Smithsonian, Treasury Building as well as many other landmarks before arriving at the White House at 1:00 p.m.

The team and staff then took a tour of the White House and saw the Library, the House Proper, Rose Garden, East Room, Red Room, Green Room and Blue Room before heading back to the Red Room for a picture with President Bush. All around the White House were beautiful paintings, china, flowers, pictures of past presidents, pictures of rooms around the house as well as numerous historical moments in United States history.

Once President Bush came in the room he visited with the Blue Devils and commented, "welcome back again." President Bush commented on the team winning by 15 strokes for its third straight title, while battling tough wind. Janangelo, who graduated in 2006 from Duke, presented the President with a Duke Championship t-shirt. President Bush also said he hoped to see the squad again next year, after posing for a picture with the group.

After meeting President Bush, the team walked outside to the South Lawn where there was a band playing for each team as they walked down the stairs. Once all the teams were gathered on the lawn, President Bush talked to the group about how proud he was of all of the champions that were there today. He said a few words about each squad and then posed for a group picture with all of the team captains from the eight teams.

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