Duke women increase lead at Tar Heel Invite

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (Oct. 13, 2018) – Duke began to pull away Saturday in the second round of the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invite, firing a steady 2-over 290 that set up an eight-shot cushion entering the final round.

Duke was 17 under in its opening round, but scores rose across the board on Saturday at UNC Finley Golf Course. In fact, only two teams (Arkansas and Wake Forest) posted a round under par on Saturday.

Senior Virginia Elena Carta had the hottest start of the day for Duke and was 3 under through five holes early in the day. She rolled in birdie putts on Nos. 2, 3 and 5. Carta double-bogeyed No. 9, but played her final nine holes at 1 under with birdies on Nos. 10, 13 and 17 to finish with a 70.

Carta posted Duke’s low score and is in second individually. She trails Wake Forest’s Emilia Migliaccio, last year’s ACC Freshman of the Year, by three shots. Migliaccio, who is chasing her second career victory, had rounds of 67-68 to reach 9 under. Carta is 6 under.

Virginia is in second place at 7 under while Arkansas is 4 under and in third. Wake Forest, at even par, is fourth.

Information from Duke Athletics used in this report