Pine-Richland’s Freyvogel wins Symetra qualifier
Tri-State Sports & News Service
Lauren Freyvogel has golfed in tournaments throughout the winter and it paid off in a way she never expected.
On April 1, the Pine-Richland sophomore shot a 2-under 70 in the first round of the Women’s Health Classic Junior Challenge at The Links at Stoney Point in Greenwood, S.C., and put up a 77 in the second round for a final total of 3-over 147 to win the event by four strokes over Kathryn Carson of Mooresville, N.C.
With the victory, Freyvogel earned a spot in the LPGA Symetra Tour Women’s Health Classic May 11-14 at the same course. Only the winner of the junior event received a sponsorship exemption to participate in the Symetra Tour, which is one of the few developmental tours for the LPGA available in women’s golf.
“It was a great tournament and I’d just like to thank them for giving us this amazing opportunity,” Freyvogel said. “I’m super excited and I’m not really sure what to expect, but I just have to play my game and be the best that I can, stay in the moment and enjoy every single thing I can that week.”
Freyvogel was one of three local participants in the event. Reigning WPIAL Class 3A champion Caroline Wrigley, a sophomore at North Allegheny, finished tied for 22nd with an 81-85166, while Sewickley Academy freshman Tatum McKelvey, who finished fourth in the WPIAL Class 2A finals and qualified for the state championships, was 29th with an 86-89-175.
During the high school season, Freyvogel finished third in the WPIAL Class 3A individual finals with a 6over 78 at Treesdale, which is the Rams home course. She also came in fourth in the state finals at Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York when she shot a two-day 153, nine shots behind champion Mia Kness of Peters Township.
As a freshman, she finished tied for second in the WPIAL with a 5-over at Rolling Hills Country Club and came in seventh in the PIAA tournament with a 157 at Heritage Hills.
Playing in a professional tournament, however, is something she didn’t expect to do so quickly. But to do so on a course she has already played may give her something of an advantage when she makes the trip back to South Carolina next month.
“I know a little bit of what to expect,” Freyvogel said. “The most challenging thing for me will be the greens because they’re going to speed them up much faster than the qualifier.”
If she does play well and make it through the cut, she will have to be on the course for Mother’s Day. And it’s something she’s hoping she’ll have the opportunity to experience.
“That would be amazing and mean the world to me,” Freyvogel said. “I would love to go out there with my family and have my mom watching me on Mother’s Day playing in the final round of a Symetra tournament. I can’t wait to have that amazing experience.”