Family always comes first for Scotia native Laura Diaz, but there’s plenty of room in her busy life for top-level golf, as well.
Diaz, the former Laura Philo, is a 47-year-old veteran LPGA Tour standout who still enjoys competing with some of the best players in the world. It’s just that most of them are a little older now.
Although she loves supporting her husband, Kevin, and spends most of her time as a super mom to son Cooper and daughter Lily, Diaz can’t get competitive golf out of her mind. The family recently moved to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, because Kevin, the former women’s golf coach at Wake Forest University, got a new job with the PGA Tour.
Despite fixing up the new house and tending to family matters, Diaz showed she still has plenty of game with back-to-back third-place finishes on the LPGA Legends Tour for players age 45 and older. She shot 7-under-par to place behind Karrie Webb and Annika Sorenstam, earning $26,483, at the Senior LPGA Championship hosted by Salina CC in Salina, Kansas, and then picked up another third place showing at last week’s Land O’Lakes Legends Classic at Mystic Lake in Prior, Minnesota. She carded rounds of 70-69 for a two-day total of 5-under-par 139 and earned $17,500.
“The first year I was eligible for the LPGA Legends Tour, COVID hit, and we didn’t get to play anything that year,” Diaz explained. “Last year was my first year competing, and I had no idea what to expect from my game. I went out and prepared to play with Kevin, Coop and Lily.
“I put my clubs away last September, and I didn’t pick them up again until late April. Lily had spinal fusion surgery for her scoliosis, and I was pretty busy taking care of her. I was a bit concerned where my game was at, but as soon as we got to Florida, I was playing and practicing with Cooper. I’m a big believer in working on the short game.”
Getting her competitive juices flowing again was special for Diaz, who rarely competes on the regular LPGA Tour any longer.
“It’s fun to play and compete again,” she said. “I was really looking to play more this year and even thought about playing a few regular LPGA Tour events, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out. Maybe next year I can play a few LPGA Tour events as well as the LPGA Legends. I love competing. You don’t know how much you love it until you don’t do it for a while.
“I love working on my golf game, especially the short game. It’s a passion of mine. I love getting out there and seeing all the ladies I competed against all of those years, and it’s also fun to see many of them.”
Diaz’s father is former local club pro Ron Philo Sr., and her brother, Ron Philo Jr., is the former National Professional Championship winner when it was held at the Turning Stone Resort. Her father and mother, Cheryl, moved to Ponte Vedra with the Diaz family.
“When Kevin took the new job, my mother and father were trying to decide where to go next, and Florida was where they wanted to go, so they made the decision to come to Florida, and they are here with us,” Diaz said .
Diaz was a standout player at Wake Forest, where she was named the college’s 1997 Female Athlete of the Year. She won the 1995 North and South Women’s Amateur at Pinehurst and captured the 1996 Eastern Women’s Amateur Championship. Diaz also competed on the Ladies European Tour, where she was named Rookie of the Year in 1998, and the Espson Tour, where she won three times.
During her LPGA Tour career, where she was known to set a high standard for fashion, she won two tournaments and appeared on four Solheim Cup Teams (2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007).
“Right now, I’m concentrating on getting our new house settled and taking care of Cooper and Lily,” Diaz said. “But I’m back with my old agent, who is one of my closest friends, and hopefully she will continue to educate me on the world of golf to see what kind of golf activities I can get involved in here in the Jacksonville area. I’d like to stay involved with golf, but I still need to make my kids my priority.
“Cooper is looking to play golf in college. He’s also a very good basketball player, and we don’t want to make him choose between golf and basketball. His first choice is UNC, which has a very competitive golf team, and he is also interested in the Naval Academy. We’ll see what happens.”
I’ve known Laura since she was just 12 years old, and the entire Philo family, as well. I’m not surprised that she still has game. It’s in the family’s blood.
LARGE CONTINGENT AT SENIOR WOMEN’S AM
Twenty local women will be competing in the annual NYS Women’s Senior and Super Senior Amateur Golf Championship Tuesday and Wednesday at RaNic Golf Club in Ithaca.
Three-time NYS Senior Women’s Am titlist Mary Sicard of Queensbury CC, former NYS Senior Women’s Amateur champion and current NEWGA titlist Susan Kahler of Ballston Spa CC and former NYS Women’s Amateur winner and defending NYS Super Senior Women’s Amateur champion Mary Jo Kelly of Wolferts Roost CC top the list.
Rounding out the local players are Mary Assey (Ballston Spa CC), Joyce Bassett (Ballston Spa CC), Beth Cuttier (Queensbury CC), Debra DiMaggio (Ballston Spa CC), Karen Feldman (Columbia G&CC), Kathy Harkins (Ballston Spa CC ), Colleen Johnson (Queensbury CC), Pat Joseph (Ballston Spa CC), Ella Kellogg (Glens Falls CC), Sandra Kunz (NYSGA eClub-Capital District), Pat Mayne (Western Turnpike), Kathryn Oppedisano (Ballston Spa CC), Sharon Pike (Eagle Crest GC), Mary Scatena (Pinehaven CC), Penny Schiek (Queensbury CC), Heidi Vittengl (Glens Falls CC) and Cindy Walkanowski (Ballston Spa CC).
CHIP SHOTS
Albany Country Club hosts the third major of the season for the local club pros with the NENY PGA Professional Championship Tuesday and Wednesday. The top two players will earn a spot in the National Professional Championship next April.
Ben Bates, who won his third Schenectady Classic at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course in June, captured the Eagle Crest Golf Club men’s club championship over the weekend with scores of 71 and 74 for a two-day total of 1-over-par 145 to win by nine strokes over Josh Hilderbrand and two-time champion Ryan Tatlock.
At Mechanicville Golf Club, in its 113th season, Shea Bromirski won the men’s club championship, and Bing Miller captured the forward tee flight crown.
Kyle Adams won the men’s club championship, Vinny Liguori won the first-ever junior club championship, Kim Skiba secured the women’s senior club championship and Paul Goetz took the men’s senior club title at The Edison Club.
Susan Kahler (women), Anthony Cavotta (men) and David Fizer (senior men) won club championships at Ballston Spa CC.
Gina Castelli and Kahler of Ballston Spa CC and Mary Scatena and Anne Van Buren of Pinehaven CC teamed up for a 149 to win the gross title in the NEWGA Gail Purdy Best 2 of 4 Championship at The Edison Club. The overall net champ was the Western Turnpike GC quartet of Kathy Canestrini, Sue Chambers, Kelly McKenna and Susan Nardolillo with a 132.
Two teams from Orchard Creek Golf Club advanced from the 17U age group, and both Anders Mattson’s Saratoga National Golf Club team and a team from Berkshire CC advanced in the 13U age group at the NENY PGA Junior League Championships last week at Town of Colonie Golf Course . They will compete in the regionals at Drumlins CC in Syracuse Sept. 9-10.
The second annual Links to Leadership Charity Golf Tournament, to benefit the Capital District Women’s Employment Resource Center, will be held Sept. 12 at Albany CC. Kay McMahon, the NENY PGA’s Teacher of the Year, and 11-year-old Maria Glavin of Van Schaick Island CC are the honorary chairs. There will be a four-hour clinic held simultaneously to the golf tournament. For more information, or to register, go to www.linkstoleadership.org.
Mohawk Golf Club hosts the ninth annual Golf with a Mission Tournament, in memory of Joe Lazzari Jr., on Sept. 12. Entry fee is $750 per foursome or $195 per individual and includes golf, cart, lunch and dinner. There will be registration and lunch at 11 am, followed by a 12:30 pm shotgun start. A fellowship hour, silent auction and dinner/awards presentation will follow at 5 pm For more information, go to citymission.com./golf/.
The fifth annual Schoharie County Amateur Open Championship will be held Saturday at Cobleskill G&CC with tee times beginning at 9 am All amateur golfers are eligible to compete, regardless of residency. Competition will be divided into the championship division, men’s division, super senior division and women’s division. Cost will be $60 for non-members and $15 plus cart for members. Contact the pro shop at 518-234-4045 to register or for more information.
Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course will host the Tim and Ryan Andi Memorial Golf Tournament Sept. 11 at 1 pm Registration and lunch will be at noon. There will be a dinner at 6 pm Entry fee is $140 per player and proceeds benefit The Bernard and Millie Duker Children’s Hospital as well as the Ryan Andi Scholarship Fund at Colonie High School. To register, complete the form at [email protected].
Schenectady Municipal Golf Course is the site for the 14th annual Schenectady City School District Athletic Hall of Fame Golf Tournament Sept. 18. The format will be a modified four-person scramble. Entry fee is $420 per foursome and includes golf, cart, buffet and prizes. This event is named after SCSD Hall of Fame member Pete Famiano. Call Bob Pezzano at 518-346-9297 for more information.
The Albany FireWolves’ “The Pack Gives Back” annual golf outing will be held Sept. 26 at Normanside CC. There will be a 9:30 am shotgun start for the four-person scramble. Entry fee is $600 per foursome and includes breakfast, snacks on the course and a dinner/cocktail reception after golf. For more information, call 518-362-4900 or go to www.albanyfirewolves.com.
HOLES-IN-ONE
Ed Carroll wielded a driver for his hole-in-one on the 162-yard 12th hole at Stadium Golf Club.
Also at Stadium, Nicole Mailloux hit a 3-iron for her ace on the 113-yard 15th hole.
Exactly two months to the date, Jeff Zier secured his second ace at Cobleskill G&CC on the 127-yard second hole with a 9-iron.
Also at Cobleskill G&CC, Dale Wotherspoon used a 9-iron to record a hole-in-one on the 180-yard 10th hole.
EAGLES
At Schenectady Municipal Golf Course, Dave Brown eagled the 12th hole, and Bill Rourke eagled the ninth hole.
Reach Bob Weiner at [email protected].
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