Shepherd, a 2-time USGA champ, ties for 35th at Marathon LPGA

Erica Shepherd’s summer success would indicate that she’s more than ready to get started at Duke. Shepherd, the 18-year-old from Greenwood, Ind., will be a freshman on the NCAA title-defending Blue Devil team in the fall. She has much to add.

Shepherd was the only amateur to make the cut this week at the LPGA’s Marathon Classic in Sylvania, Ohio. She played 72 holes at Highland Meadows Golf Club in 5 under, which left her tied for 35th.

Shepherd competed in her fifth career professional event and has made the cut in three of those tournaments. She played the Marathon Classic on a sponsor exemption. Amateurs Lizzie Win, a rising senior at Seton Hall, and Virginia Elena Carta, a recent Duke graduate, also played the event but missed the cut.

“I’m super grateful that I had this opportunity, to play somewhat close to home. This is a great tournament and I really like the course,” Shepherd said in an interview with the Toledo Fox affiliate. “Just getting experience playing against the best in the world, and where I want to be in four years, just shows me what I need to do to prepare, to be on track for it.”

Fun weekend for @ericashepherd35 🔵😈🏌️‍♀️💙💪⛳️ pic.twitter.com/mCCNvcqIAb

— Duke Women's Golf (@DukeWGOLF) July 14, 2019

In May, Shepherd combined with Megan Furtney, a fellow incoming Duke freshman, to win the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball. She has continued to roll from there, with a top-5 finish at the Rolex Girls Junior Championship and a spot in the AJGA’s Wyndham Cup.

Also of note at the Marathon Classic: Yealimi Noh, the 17-year-old who recently turned professional and finished in the top 10 at last week’s LPGA event, missed the cut with rounds of 73-72.