sports stars: Laura Diaz American professional golfer

September 3, 2011

Laura Diaz American professional golfer

Amelia Island Plantation is the home of both Laura and her family’s golf school. The beautiful setting features three 18-hole courses offering seven oceanfront holes, more than any Florida golf resort.
Laura Diaz has also benefited from a friendship with David Duval. Her dad and David’s dad, Bob Duval, grew up together in Schenectady, N.Y. When Ron Philo Sr., set up his golf school in Florida, the elder Duval taught there for a few years as he prepared his game to join the Senior PGA Tour. David and Laura were fixtures on the practice tee.

“Golf has always been part of my life, but I did it for fun with my family. I did not get really serious until I went to college.” Diaz graduated from Wake Forest, a school famous for its golf program, joining the likes of Arnold Palmer. Diaz won the 1995 North-South Amateur Championship and 1996 Eastern Championship. In addition, she made it to the quarterfinals of the 1996 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, was the 1995 ACC champion, a First-Team All-American from 1996-97 and 1997 Female Athlete of the Year. After missing her first attempt at LPGA Qualifying School in 1997, Diaz played in Asia and the European women’s tour, where she was the top rookie that year. Diaz earned her first LPGA Tour victory in 2002 at the Welch’s/Circle K Championship.