Helped by freshman Michael Quagliano of White Plains, NY, the 2003 MGA Junior Champion, the Duke Men’s golf team captured their first ACC Championship since 1966.

Widely considered one of the strongest conferences in the country but thanks to the likes of Wake Forest and Georgia Tech, who have produced numerous PGA Tour players in recent years, Duke’s achievement is certainly one which Quagliano (t-24th 75-75-76) and his teammates are proud of.

“We really feel we accomplished something for the school,” Quagliano said. “They just had us on The Golf Channel. They said we were the hottest team in the country.” 

Indeed the Blue Devils will roll into the NCAA Eastern Regionals, May 19-22 and if they finish in the top ten, they will advance to the NCAA Championships June 1-4 at Cave’s Valley Golf Club in Baltimore.

This has been another impressive year for Quagliano, who despite compiling a very strong amateur resume in the Met Area, which included a runner-up finish in the 2003 Met Amateur, a state championship in 2004 and back to back appearances in the USGA Junior Amateur, set modest goals for his freshman campaign.

“My number one goal was to play in every tournament. I missed one with an injury. I’m quite happy with what I’ve done the whole year and what the team has done.”

Certainly Duke is quite happy Quagliano will be around three more years.