Hickory Hawks
LAST POST: November 10, 2008Coughlin: Hampton Roads' Finest Female Golfer
Less than 15 months ago, few outside the Hickory hangout knew the name of Lauren Coughlin.
During her freshman year as the first female ever to wield a nine-iron for the Hawks golf squad, not many people caught her moniker either; despite playing on a squad that went undefeated in the Southeastern District, Coughlin constantly brought up the rear on her team, often finishing sixth, whereas only the top four scores are counted in a match.
But as the season wound down, the district got a quick view of one of its brightest new stars - as Hickory took the district tournament last October at Sleepy Hole Golf Course, Coughlin finally made it to the upper echelon of scoring, as her numbers were high enough to factor into the Hawks' title victory.
"That helped a lot," says GamedayMagazine.com's top female Hampton Roads' golfer of 2008-09. "I played a lot better than some of the guys did."
Heading into her sophomore year last fall, Coughlin, who started playing golf as a kindergartner in Minnesota (her family moved to Chesapeake when she was about 10), was on her way up. It was time to take the next step of a journey that began as an eighth grader in the fall of 2006.
"I was the golf team's unofficial manager," she said, "so I'd come play with them when they were practicing. At first, they didn't really talk to me, but now I hang out with them all the time. They could hit it better, but sometimes, I could chip and putt better."
During her first year, even staying in the top six was tough, but Coughlin managed to do it with regularity. That's something - out of many - that impressed coach John Holmes.
"She knew what she had to do in order to play the next match, and she always won," Holmes said. That she could do it under pressure really impressed me. She was one player that I could count on every match."
Between seasons, Coughlin headed to Elizabeth Manor in Portsmouth (along with Greenbrier Country Club, it's one of her typical practice places) and won her age group in a Virginia State Golf Association event. She also took part in the Women's State Amateur at Fayetteville.
Finally, it was time for another round on the Hickory links. Coughlin knew she still had something to prove, starting right there at home.
"Some of the guys didn't think I would get really good between last year and this year," she said. "I'm smaller than them. I'm a girl, and they're cocky guys."
It didn't take long; only a few matches into the season, she racked up the first medalist honor of her career at another Sleepy Hole match.
Coughlin moved up to third in the team rankings, but her squad was already at the top and stayed there, again sweeping the district. But Cox and Kellam roared past them at Eastern Region competition at Williamsburg's Ford's Colony course, and, unlike the year before, the Hawks wouldn't be making an en masse trip to state.
Aside from the top two schools, the 12 lowest-scoring competitors move up to state as individuals. Coughlin's teammate John Dawson had secured his place on the next level, tying Cox's Brinson Paolini (the eventual state champ) for the regional title. But her two-day score of 157 left her tied with Western Branch's Taylor DiChiara, a frequent playing partner, forcing a sudden-death playoff.
"Most of the time, he beats me when we're playing," she said. "I really wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be."
Coughlin landed a shot in the bunker on the first hole, but chipped onto the green. DiChiara missed a birdie putt, and the two tied for par.
DiChiara overshot the green on the second hole, a par three. Coughlin landed on the green, and DiChiara's second shot missed it as well.
He nearly sank a very long shot on his par stroke, but it missed, and Coughlin two-putted for the win and the trip to state.
"I was very interested to see how she would respond and handle herself when everything was on the line," Holmes said, "and it was a walk in the park."
Two weeks later, in Richmond, Coughlin finished 54th out of about 70 golfers. Shortly thereafter, she took part in a Virginia High School League match in Williamsburg, and notched seventh out of 79, finished just three strokes from the winner.
Until next fall rolls around, Coughlin, who'd like to study biochemical engineering (i.e., help build medical equipment) someday, is back on the Greenbirer and Manor links, working on her long game.
"I'm going to work out and try to get stronger to improve my drive," she said. "I can chip better than mostly everybody else, but they can drive better, so I have to make it up somehow."
Holmes predicted Coughlin would make the All-District team next year.
"You never see her nerves," he said. "You never hear any cracks from the boys. She has taken her game to a higher level."
PREVIOUS ARTICLES
:: Warriors Keeps District Title Hopes Alive - May 15, 2007:: Southeastern District Gears Up for Wild Week - May 14, 2007
:: Sam Kirkland and the Hornets Win Big in Hickory - October 11, 2006
:: Michelle Lighton and Jesse Smith - July 21, 2006
:: Gil Lujan III; Athletic and Academic Excellence - June 15, 2006
:: Hickory & Great Bridge Fall in Semi-Finals - June 10, 2006
:: Kellam's Jason Taylor Selected by KC - June 07, 2006
:: Hickory to Play Stone Bridge in Semi Finals - June 07, 2006
:: First Colonial star Frank Berry Scores Title Run - June 03, 2006
:: Raulerson gives Hickory Region Softball Title - June 02, 2006
:: Southeastern District Sweeps Eastern Region - May 31, 2006
:: Bryan and Mitchell Seal Victory for Princess Anne - May 30, 2006
:: Lenda and Wildcats Win Southeastern Title - May 25, 2006
:: Hickory Upsets Nansemond River; Going to Finals - May 24, 2006
:: Christine Pollard Ends Wildcats Shutout Streak - May 19, 2006
:: Suttmiller and 5th Ranked Wildcats Clinch Title - May 19, 2006
:: Madden and Roenker help Chiefs Clinch Title - May 19, 2006
:: Softball's Top Teams Stumble in Hampton Roads - May 03, 2006
:: Indian River falls to Hickory at Harbor Park - May 02, 2006
:: Hampton Roads Athletes Make Commitments - April 27, 2006
:: Hickory, PA and Cox Girls Score Shutouts - April 21, 2006
:: Hickory is A Team with Great Chemistry - April 18, 2006
:: Hickory Hawks (8) Win over Mills Godwin (1) - April 13, 2006
:: Hickory and Great Bridge Come out on Top - April 05, 2006
:: Coming soon - December 15, 2003