Courtesy of Vermont Athletic Communications
BURLINGTON, Vt. ? Former University of
Vermont two-sport standout Libby Smith has qualified for the 2009
Women's Golf U.S. Open. Smith, a native of Essex Junction, Vt., played
both basketball and men's golf during her four-year career at UVM.
Smith placed second in an 18-hole local qualifying event at Staley
Farms Golf Club in Kansas City, Missouri on May 20 and then placed in the
top-10 at the sectional qualifier at Westmoreland Country Club in
Wilmette, Illinois. Smith was two-over par for the 36-hole event, but
made the qualifying standard to earn entry into the most prestigious event
in women's golf.
The 2009 Women's U.S. Open will be held July 9-12 on The Old Course at
Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa. Smith will be one of 156
golfers to compete for the U.S. Open title.
"I made lots of changes this year on and off the golf course and things
are coming together," said Smith who is traveling to the next Duramed
Futures Tour event in Mason, Ohio. "I have a much more positive mindset.
I'm playing more carefree this year and it's showing in my results. I am
climbing back up the hill and I feel I'm so close to making the turnaround
it's just a matter of staying patient and continuing to work hard. I also
have to say my support system of family members, friends and coaches back
home has been a great source of strength for me too. Their continued
encouragement has been unbelievable and I am extremely thankful for that,"
continued Smith.
"Qualifying for the Open is a huge pay-off. It's amazing to have this
opportunity. I have struggled in Open qualifiers in the past, but these
past two events I hit the ball the best I have in quite a while. I think
playing college golf against the guys helped me quite a bit, especially in
these past two events. You needed to hit it long and straight and I
learned how to do that playing from the men's tees during our UVM
matches," said Smith.
"This is a great boost to my confidence to get to my first Open and I'm
going there to compete not just show up," stated Smith.
Smith is currently playing on the Futures Tour, the developmental tour
for the LPGA, which she has been on since graduating from Vermont in 2002.
She earned her LPGA card for the 2006 and spent that season playing on the
LPGA Tour. Smith was only the second Vermont native to qualify for the
LPGA Tour, joining Middlebury native and Hall of Famer Patty Sheehan.
Smith also spent time playing on the Ladies European Tour during the
2006 season and earned her first professional victory in golf at the 2007
Hong Kong Ladies Masters, part of the Ladies Asian Golf Tour. Smith
out-dueled Shih Huel Ju in a playoff to pick up her first career win.
Smith was an all-conference selection and 1,000-point scorer in
basketball at Vermont. She graduated as the all-time leader in games
played, having started all 122 contests in her career. During her career,
Vermont won two America East Championships (2000, 2002) and advanced to
the NCAA Tournament (2000). As a senior, Smith led Vermont to the
program’s first-ever national postseason victories as the Catamounts
advanced to the WNIT Quarterfinals.
She also competed on the men’s golf team at Vermont (the Catamounts
did not have a women’s team) and was one of the top golfers for then
head coach Mike Gilligan.
Smith will be playing at the Duramed Championship The Golf Center at
Kings Island in Mason, Ohio on June 19-21. Following that she will be
playing at the Horseshoe Casino Classic at Lost Marsh Golf Course in
Hammond, Ind. on June 26-28 before heading off to the U.S. Women's
Open.