DuBois spurns Division I offer to attend UCO
Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Rogers senior golfer Laura Beth DuBois passed on a chance to play Division I golf so she could stay closer to home.
And she —and her family — couldn’t be more thrilled.
DuBois signed with the University of Central Oklahoma on Nov. 13, becoming the Lady Mounties ’ third-ever golfer to earn a scholarship.
DuBois was committed to Bowling Green University in Ohio earlier this season but decided the 16-hour trip there was too far.
The four-hour drive to Edmond, Okla. — where her grandfather also attended UCO and her mother was born — seemed a better fit.
“ I decided yeah it is DII but my family is a little more important that playing DI golf, ” DuBois said.
DuBois was getting interest from UCO but the coach left after last season. First-year head coach Michael Bond then offered a scholarship before he ever saw DuBois play.
“(Bond ) has changed the entire program around, ” DuBois said. “ They’re playing well. ”
The Bronchos have five top-10 finishes, including a first-place finish at the NSU Women’s Classic at Tahlequah, Okla. They ranked No. 15 in the final Golf World / NGCA Division II Women’s Coaches ’ Poll of the fall season.
DuBois is looking forward to learning from her college teammates.
“ I’m looking more for what I can learn from them, ” she said. “ They’re older, more experienced. I’m looking to see what I can learn from them to become a better golfer. ”
DuBois, who transferred from Bentonville to Rogers before her senior year, had an instant impact for the Lady Mounties.
She won medalist honors twice during the regular season — both times against her former team — and hit a hole-in-one on No. 2 at Lost Springs early in the season.
DuBois also improved her score by 10 strokes between the 7 A-West Conference and Class 7 A State Tournaments. She shot an 86 at the conference tournament — and finished one spot out of All-Conference honors — before shooting a 76 and finishing eighth to help the Lady Mounties take second place at state.
She earned All-State and was named the team’s most improved player.
“ She improved by 10 strokes from the conference tournament to the state tournament because it meant that much to her, ” Rogers coach Brenda Alexander said. “ I think that’s the competitiveness she has — not just the ball skills she has but the drive that she has to be better. ”
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