A Holiday Message From Coach LaRee Sugg
12/18/2003 | Women's Golf
Dec. 18, 2003
Click here to see document with pictures...
Dear Parents, Friends, and Spider Fans,
If I had to sum up our fall season in two words, they would be "Record Breaking". In only our second year of varsity competition, the Richmond Women's Golf Team raised the bar weekly by setting both team and individual scoring records. Freshmen standouts, Ashley Lambert and Lauren Brown, immediately let their impact be felt by proving to all of us that they came to Richmond poised to play hard and help the team reach its goals.
The highlight of the fall season occurred during the Princeton Invitational where the Spiders had their best result in school's history by placing 3rd with Ashley Lambert and Lauren Ritter finishing 3rd and 4th respectively as individuals.
On a personal note, this event was particularly meaningful to me for this tournament site, Springdale Golf Club, is where my recently deceased grandfather caddied and first learned to play golf. All the lessons about golf and life he formulated while walking Springdale's fairways, I now find myself passing on to my team. I know the girls were playing especially hard for me during this week. We all felt we had a special angel watching over us.
I am pleased with how the team is continuing to improve their technique and their course management skills. Everyone is learning how to get the most out of each of their games. Our hard work paid off during the Lady Pirate Intercollegiate where the team shattered our one-day scoring record of 321 by firing a 310 on the first day of competition.
We then were able to follow up this great round with a 308 once again breaking the record. This is by far our proudest moment as a team thus far in our program's short history. We proved to ourselves that we have what it takes to go compete with and beat the top teams in our conference.
The most important lesson I constantly stress with the team is for them to enjoy the competition and to appreciate the opportunity to be a Division I Varsity Athlete. As a team, we have competed at some of the most challenging and beautiful golf courses and resorts in the country including Seth Raynor's Yeaman's Hall in Charleston, SC and Mid-Pines Resorts and Country Club, a Donald Ross gem in the heart of Southern Pines, NC.
We have had the chance to interact, meet, and learn from female heroes and trailblazers in the golf industry. They include LPGA Hall of Famer, Peggy Kirk Bell and touring golf professional and tournament winner, Maggie Will, who generously shared her experiences as a tour player and as a collegiate standout at Furman University. We were all inspired by their stories. Their passion for the game of golf as well as their commitment to continue to give back to the sport was evident and contagious.
During the fall, the girls also had the opportunity to give back to the Richmond Golf Community by volunteering at The First Tee Chesterfield. They lent their expertise by assisting Sherry Dirks, Director of Golf Instruction, in conducting golf clinics for local youths. Moreover, the girls gave their time to help with "The Rally for the Cure" Charity Golf Tournament.
In the spring, we have five events scheduled including the Spider Spring Invitational at Hunting Hawk Golf Course April 2-4, 2004 in Richmond, VA. I invite you all to come out to cheer us to victory. However, the most exciting part about our spring season will be watching the construction of our golf practice facility which is due to open in the fall of 2004.
On behalf of all the Spiders, I want to thank you for your support during our fall season. Please know that all your time, love, and acts of kindness are much appreciated. Have a wonderful holiday season and GO SPIDERS!!!!
Warmest Regards,
Coach LaRee Sugg