Lauren Doughtie is having a summer to remember. After becoming the first N.C. State women’s golfer to qualify for the NCAA Championships in May, the rising senior has kept herself busy, playing in the Women’s Amateur Public Links Championships, U.S. Open qualifiers, and even making an appearance at the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open Championship.
For Doughtie, the highlight of her summer so far has been the opportunity to compete against the world’s best at the U.S. Women’s Open in late June.
“That experience was great,” Doughtie said. “It will last me a long time.”
Although she would miss the cut after two days of competition, Doughtie does not regret going to the event which was held in Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minn.
“I played really bad, but it was amazing,” Doughtie said. “I got to play with Annika Sorenstam in one of my practice rounds. It was just an incredible experience. I read an article that there were 1000 people watching our group. It was a little bit bigger than just our parents that are normally at the college events.”
The experience of playing with Sorenstam, winner of 72 LPGA events including 10 major tournaments, is something that will remain with her for a long time. According to Doughtie, her swing coach Kandi Comer did not believe she could connect with the ball on her first shot in front of Sorenstam.
“It was very nerve-racking,” Doughtie said. “My swing coach was out there with me. She was taking bets about whether I could get it airborne off the first tee when I was playing with Annika. I did, and I turned to her and said ‘I win the bet'”
Comer, who has been Doughtie’s swing coach for six years, said the success her pupil has had this summer is well deserved.
“She’s just had a phenomenal summer,” Comer said. “It’s all because of her hard work and wanting to get better and working on the right things. I think she’s realized what she has to do to get to the next level and she’s doing it.”
Doughtie has led the N.C. State team in average score since her sophomore year. Last season, she led the Wolfpack with an average of 74.4 strokes per 18 holes finishing in the top 20 six times and in the top 10 five times. Despite all her accomplishments, she has never won a college tournament. Doughtie said this is one of her goals for the coming season.
“I would like for us as a team to make it to nationals so we can all experience it together,” Doughtie said. “I am just going to try to be the best that I can and keep pushing myself. I definitely want to get a win somewhere in there.”
According to N.C. State coach Page Marsh, Doughtie is just starting to realize her potential as a golfer.
“She’s just really coming into her own,” Marsh said. “She’s put so much hard work and effort into it. She’s just reaping the rewards of what she’s done”
