Smith on course with Lady Jags

At times, she couldn't stand it.

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While Lauren Smith kept busy with her biology major this time last year, her Augusta State teammates traveled across the United States to play golf.

"It was hard watching my roommate (Patti Hogeboom) go off to play in tournaments and I'm having to stay home," Smith said.

Smith chose to redshirt the 2004-05 season instead of finishing her college career. She decided to wait around and give a young Lady Jaguars squad a little experience.

Back on the team this fall, the Fort Mill, S.C., native is hoping her decision pays off with the school's first trip to the NCAA Regionals.

"We've got a great group, a big mix of girls," Smith said. "Everybody seems to get along. I think we're going to have a good team this year."

Smith is the last remaining link to the first Augusta State women's team.

For their first two seasons, the Lady Jaguars went through a required probationary period. No matter how Smith played, she had no shot of postseason play.

Smith did what she could to carry the team anyway. Two of her first three seasons, she led the team in stroke average. During her junior year, she posted eight top-10 finishes, including five second-place finishes.

She could have played last season and enjoyed the fruits of her labor. With Hogeboom and freshmen Garrett Phillips, Lauren May and Kristen Bragg, Augusta State got its first tournament win. The Lady Jaguars went on to post their best season with five top-five showings.

With the team's success, Smith questioned her choice.

"It was something, when we made the decision for her not to play, it was the correct decision," Augusta State coach Trelle McCombs said. "In the process, it was killing her not to play."

Smith worked toward her future, though, diving into the strenuous workload of her biology major.

After finishing her final 21 hours of classes, she plans to attend nursing school at UNC Charlotte to become either an anesthesiologist or a pediatrician.

For now, she is back on a Lady Jaguars team where she's been given the utmost respect. At a team retreat, she was unanimously voted team captain.

While Smith will provide leadership, she also gives the team another top-notch golfer. In her past two seasons, she averaged 76.06 strokes per round, which would've led the 2004-05 team.

"I feel pretty confident," she said. "The scoring's not where I want it to be. I'm hitting it good, so I know the scoring is going to come."

Smith didn't play any amateur golf during the summer. Instead, she followed her boyfriend, former Augusta State golfer Oliver Wilson, for a month on the European Tour. Smith also worked on her swing, with Wilson giving her tips from time to time.

"When something's going wrong, we can usually fix it over the phone," she said.

The fact that she's making phone calls means she's no longer has to sitting the sidelines and cheering. Smith can wrap up her college career and, with four returning starters, can enjoy golf again.

"I think this is going to be a great way to finish off my college career," Smith said.

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.