LaRee Sugg facts for kids

LaRee Pearl Sugg (born November 11, 1969) is an important person in sports. She is currently an athletic director at Richmond University. Before this, LaRee was a professional golfer. She was the third African American woman to play on the LPGA Tour.

LaRee played on the LPGA Tour from 1995 to 1996 and again from 2000 to 2001. She also played in major golf events like the United States Women's Open Championship and the Women's British Open. Besides the LPGA, she competed on other tours. These included the LGPA Futures Tour, Ladies European Tour, and Ladies Asian Golf Tour. In 1998, LaRee won the Aurora Health Care Futures Classic. She also finished third in the 1993 Singapore Ladies Open and the 1997 Indonesian Ladies Open.

Early Life and Education

LaRee Sugg was born on November 11, 1969. Her hometown is Petersburg, Virginia. She started playing golf when she was only six years old. As a young golfer, she won more than thirty titles.

LaRee earned a golf scholarship. This allowed her to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She played on the college's golf team for four years. In 1991, during the NCAA Division I Women's Golf Championship, she faced a challenge. She accidentally started a hole in the wrong spot and got a penalty. However, LaRee scored a "birdie" in a playoff hole. This helped UCLA win the championship! She later graduated from UCLA with a degree in English.

Golf Career Highlights

LaRee Sugg began her professional golf journey in 1991. She started on the LGPA Futures Tour. The next year, she became a professional golfer on the Ladies European Tour. She also continued to play on the Futures Tour. In 1992, LaRee tried to earn her LPGA Tour card but did not qualify. She kept playing on both the European and Futures Tours until 1994. For a short time in 1993, she also played on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour.

Joining the LPGA Tour

In 1995, LaRee made history. She became the third African American woman to play on the LPGA Tour. The last African American woman to play before her was Renee Powell, who stopped playing in 1978. LaRee played on the LPGA for two years. However, she lost her tour card in 1996. This happened because of her earnings that season.

After leaving the LPGA, LaRee continued to play. She competed on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour and Futures Tour. This was during the late 1990s. During this time, she won the 1998 Aurora Health Care Futures Classic. She also finished third in the 1993 Singapore Ladies Open and the 1997 Indonesian Ladies Open.

Return to the LPGA and Beyond

LaRee Sugg returned to the LPGA in 2000. She played in the Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open. At that time, she was the only African American woman golfer in the LPGA. In 2000, she achieved 8th place at the Wegmans Rochester International. LaRee's LPGA career ended in 2001. She lost her tour card for the second time.

Throughout her time on the LPGA, LaRee played in ten women's major golf championships. She made several appearances at the United States Women's Open Championship and the Women's British Open.

Life After Golf

After leaving the LPGA, LaRee Sugg started a new career. In 2002, she moved to the University of Richmond. There, she became the very first head coach for their women's golf team. For a short time in 2005, she also coached the men's golf team.

From 2005 to 2008, LaRee worked as an assistant athletic director for the university. Since 2008, she has continued her career as an athletic director at Richmond. She has held roles as an associate director and deputy director.