Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Alumna Laura Diaz Wins First LPGA Tournament
3/25/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
March 25, 2002
TUCSON, Ariz. - Wake Forest alumna Laura Diaz broke the barrier and captured her first LPGA title this past weekend at the Welch's/Circle K Champions tournament in Arizona. Diaz posted four rounds in the 60s to earn the title in her fourth year as a professional.
"I think that as much as it's been talked about, all of my seconds, no victories yet-the question, 'When are you going to get a victory?' I got a victory. The question is over. That's a great feeling to have that pressure off," said Diaz of her first title.
Diaz took home a $120,000 paycheck as the Rolex First-Time Winner. She was paired with Hall of Famer Juli Inkster and feeling the pressure after opening with rounds of 67-67-68. She started two shots behind Inkster, the leader on the final day. After three-putting the first and second holes for bogeys, Diaz turned things around making three consecutive birdies to pull within on shot of Inkster and eventually pulling into the lead on the 15th hole.
"I'm very excited for Laura," said Wake Forest women's golf head coach Dianne Dailey. "She's the first LPGA winner from Wake Forest. She started out slow at the beginning of the year but then picked up the pace. It's a great win for the Wake program."
Diaz was a standout at Wake during her tenure from 1993-97, earning All-America honors in 1996 and 1997. Diaz was a member of the 1993 and 1994 Wake Forest team's that earned first place finishes in the ACC and the NCAA Regionals and a third place finish in the 1995 NCAA Championships.
After turning professional in 1997, Diaz has compiled quite a list of accomplishments and accolades. In 1997-98 she won three times on the Futures Tour. In 1998, Diaz was named Rookie of the Year on the Women Professional Golfers' European Tour (WPGET). In 1999, her best finish was a tie for sixth at the Michelob Light Classic and then in 2000 her top finish was a tie for third at the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic.
Then in 2001 Diaz enjoyed the best season of her career, posting 12 top-10 finishes, including three second place finishes at the Long Drugs Challenge, McDonald's LPGA Championships presented by AIG and Sybase Big Apple Classic presented by GOLF MAGAZINE.
For more information on Laura Diaz and the Welch's/Circle K Champions go to www.lpga.com.
