Newsmakers: October 31, 2005

College Round-up

Laura (Henderson) Matthews was named head women’s golf coach at Oklahoma State last week, leaving her post as assistant coach at the University of Georgia. The 25-year-old from Essex, Ontario, was the assistant coach at Georgia since she graduated in 2002.

A Rolex Junior All-American in 1996 and 1997, Matthews earned All-SEC honors four times and played in every event while at Georgia. Matthews, who was vital to the recruiting process at Georgia, has been active on the amateur circuit, winning the 2005 Canadian Women’s Amateur and advancing to the second round of the U.S. Women’s Amateur.

Brian Locke, a freshman at Loyola Marymount, earned his first college title at the Santa Clara University Invitational last week, helping his team to a third-place overall finish. Carding rounds of 64-68-73 – 205, the 2005 Rolex Junior All-American tied the program record for the lowest single round. His 8-under-par 64 posted during the first round helped him earn this distinction. In his last season of AJGA play, Locke finished tied for third at the FootJoy Boys Invitational.

Boise State finished first in the team division at the event. The team was led by AJGA alumni Graham DeLaet and Matt Hastings.

After earning medalist honors two times in the past week, Jason Parajeckas of the University of Connecticut was named National Men’s Golfer of the Week by Golfweek. The junior earned his first victory at the New England Intercollegiate Golf Association Championship with a 5-under par 139. Parajeckas then went on to earn his second victory of the week at the Hawks Invitational, where his tournament total 141 helped lift UConn to the top of the team leader board.

Harvard freshman Ali Bode earned her second title of the season last week at the ECAC Championship in Falmouth, Mass. The HP Scholastic Junior All-American shot 17-over-par 161 to earn her victory by one shot over teammate Jessica Hazlett. The Harvard team earned medalist honors beating its nearest opponent by 55 strokes. Bode’s first title came earlier this season at the Dartmouth Invitational, her first collegiate event.

Other AJGA Alumni in Men’s College Golf…
Coastal Carolina junior Dustin Johnson took home top honors at the Landfall Tradition…James Love, a senior at the University of Denver, captured his first collegiate title last week at the TaylorMade Barona Cup…Brigham Young University, led by a second place finish from junior Clay Ogden, earned team honors at this tournament…Robert Pancratz, a senior at Oral Roberts University, took home medalist honors last week at the Oral Roberts University Invitational.

Other AJGA Alumni in Women’s College Golf…

Taylor Leon

Katie Stepanek, a junior at the University of Maryland, earned top honors last week at the Taco Bell Intercollegiate…Amanda McCurdy took home medalist honors last week at the Mercedes-Benz Women’s Championship. Led by junior Whitney Wade and freshman Taylor Leon, Georgia took home the team medal at this tournament…A third place finish by freshman Lauren Showers helped hoist Butler University to the top of the leader board at the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate…Hillery Wilson earned medalist honors for the second time this season at the Cincinnati Fall Classic last week.

Professional Round-up

Carl Pettersson earned his first victory on the PGA TOUR after shooting an even-par 71 on the final day of play Sunday. He finished the tournament at 9-under-par 275, winning by one stroke over Chad Campbell.

After starting the week strong with rounds of 69-68-67, Pettersson struggled in his final round, but was able to hold on for the victory. Needing a birdie on the 18th hole, Pettersson came through in the clutch and earned his first victory.

Atlanta will play host to the world’s top golfers as they come to East Lake Golf Club to compete in the TOUR Championship. The top-30 money earners on TOUR this season will compete starting Thursday. Fifteen of the players are AJGA alumni, including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, David Toms, Sergio Garcia and Justin Leonard. Davis Love III, Sean O’Hair, Tim Clark, Billy Mayfair, Scott Verplank, Mark Calcavecchia, Charles Howell III, Tim Herron and Lucas Glover will also try to earn the top prize.