University of Richmond Athletics
Women's Golf Ready For Inaugural Season
07/02/2002 | Women's Golf
July 2, 2002
On March 4, 2002, former LPGA star LaRee Sugg was hired as the head coach for the inaugural women's golf team at the University of Richmond. That move breathed life into a newborn program and immediately established the Spiders as a contender.
The 19th varsity sport at Richmond, women's golf begins competition during the 2002-03 season with a full slate of tournaments. Coach Sugg has recruited five freshmen and gathered five upperclassmen to complete a 10-woman roster that begins play at the Bay Tree Classic in Charleston, S.C. on Sept. 6.
"We plan on being competitive this year," Sugg said. "My goal is to acclimate the freshmen to campus and improve through the fall and winter and play very strong in the spring."
Sugg, who played four years on the LPGA tour and three seasons on the European tour, was a standout collegiate player at UCLA. She led the Bruins to the 1991 NCAA Championship by sinking the winning putt in a playoff. The NCAA Coaches Association All-American was the third medallist at the U.S. Women's Amateur Golf Championship and the U.S. Women's Public Links Golf Championship.
"I feel my experience as a player will help me relate to my student-athletes and the situation they are in," Sugg said.
The main goal for the inaugural season is to earn respect and establish the Spiders as a team to contend with in the near future. Coach Sugg's goals are set on an NCAA Regional appearance within the first three years. However, one thing holding Richmond back this season is inexperience.
"I will be very patient with the team this year," Sugg said. "My emphasis will be on good fundamentals and learning to balance athletics and academics in a college setting."
The Spiders begin with a tremendous fall schedule that includes the Pine Needles Women's Championship in Southern Pines, N.C. Coach Sugg used her wide range of contacts to play in the best tournaments available.
"Throughout my career I have developed connections with collegiate coaches and others in the industry," Sugg said. "It is very important that we play against the nation's top teams."
Coach Sugg also recognizes and appreciates that the department of athletics has dedicated many resources to the success of the women's golf program.
"The University of Richmond has shown incredible support," Sugg said. "We have been given the resources and an excellent environment for academic achievement and athletic excellence."
With many of the tools in place, all that is left is the actual competition. While Coach Sugg knows the difficulty of the task for both coach and players, she expects only the best from herself and her student-athletes.
"I expect everyone to give 100 percent," Sugg said. "All I ever asked of myself was to play up to my capabilities. And that is what I will ask of my team."
