CORAL SPRINGS, Florida (Jan. 3, 2010) - - Duke University freshman Lindy Duncan claimed the 79th Annual Dixie Amateur Championship on Sunday afternoon at the Heron Bay Golf Club in Coral Springs, Fla.

Duncan, who is from Fort Lauderdale, turned in a final round of 73 to win by five strokes over teen phenom Alexis Thompson. With rounds of 70, 71, 70 and 73, Duncan posted 4- under 284 in the 72-hole event. Thompson, the 2009 amateurgolf.com Women's Rankings Player-of-the-Year, led by three at the halfway point with rounds of 69-69, but struggled over the final 36 holes, posting rounds of 73 and 78 to finish with in a tie for second with Holly Clyburn of England at 289. Defending Champion, Candace Schepperle of Birmingham, Alabama finished tied for fourth at 291.

“The field strength of this year’s Women’s Dixie was spectacular and featured nine highly ranked international players,” said Tournament Director Jeff Hunt. “Having Lindy Duncan’s name on our Championship Trophy is an honor.”

Hunt has worked hard to build on the fields of both the men's and women's Dixie Amateur events, which were moved along with the Senior Dixie to Heron Bay in 2008.

As with the Dixie Men's Championship won by Peter Uihlein in late December, weather played a major role in the scoring but instead of rain mother nature dealt out cold winds that turned "moving day" on Saturday into survival of the fittest. Indeed, Lindy Duncan's 2-under 70, the round of the day on Saturday, moved her into a tie with Thompson and gave her the opportunity to get the job done on Sunday.

Note: Duke University Sports and the Dixie Amateur Tournament Committee contributed to this story.