Duke wins national championship

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Duke is back on top of the NCAA women's golfing world.

The Blue Devils came from behind to hold off top-ranked Southern Cal and win by two strokes at the Tulsa Country Club in Tulsa, Okla for the program's sixth national championship Friday evening. Duke also won the program's first national title in Tulsa in 1999.

Duke shot a six-under, 274 to beat the Trojans, who finished the day with a round of 10-under par, 270. The Blue Devils completed the competition with a four-day team score of 10-over-par 1,130.

Seniors Alejandra Cangrejo and Laetitia Beck led Duke on Friday with matching 2-under par efforts in their final competitive rounds as college golfers.

Sophomore Celine Boutier, the runner-up in the individual event, finished her final round at 1-under, as did freshman Sandy Choi.

Yu Li, the ACC Rookie of the Year, registered a two-over-par 72 to end her inaugural campaign.

Duke found itself tied for third after the first day of competition, five shots back of Oklahoma, two back of UCLA and even with Southern Cal and Arizona State.

After the second round, the Blue Devils were in sole possession of second place, three shots back of Oklahoma.

On Day 3, Duke made its move, carding a two-under, 278 that gave the Devils a six-shot lead heading into the championship's final round.

Duke also won the team national championship in 1999, 2002, '05, '06, and '07.