Oklahoma State University Athletics
Laura Matthews
October 17, 2008 | Cowgirl Golf
Entering her fourth season at the helm of the Oklahoma State women's golf program, Laura Matthews will continue to orchestrate the Cowgirls' progress toward achieving its ultimate goal of winning a national title.
One of the rising young stars in the coaching ranks, Matthews laid the groundwork last season for the program's potential ascent to an elite level.
In 2007-08, OSU recorded a landmark win with its 27-shot victory at the Big 12 Championship, giving Matthews her first conference title as a head coach. The triumph capped a run of three tournament titles for the squad as the Cowgirls also marched to victory at the Donnis Thompson Invitational and the Arizona Wildcat Invitational.
Individually, the Cowgirls were equally successful under Matthews' direction. The 2008 Big 12 Coach of the Year mentored a first-team All-America selection for the second consecutive season in Pernilla Lindberg. The distinction gave the program its first two-time first team pick in 20 years. Lindberg was not the only player to come away with All-America honors as Jaclyn Sweeney garnered honorable mention plaudits despite just one semester of experience.
Matthews' charges were prevalent on the Big 12's postseason honor roll as the Cowgirls swept the league's awards. Lindberg was selected as the league's top player and was joined by Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Jaclyn Sweeney, Tammy Clelland and Karin Kinnerud on the all-conference squad.
The 2006-07 season saw Matthews produce her initial first-team All-American as a head coach in Lindberg, a 10-stroke victory at the Las Vegas Collegiate as well as the school's first regional title as the Cowgirls tied for top honors at the NCAA West Regional.
During her inaugural campaign, Matthews took a team that included three true freshmen and made a run at the Big 12 Championship as well as a top-20 finish at the NCAA Championship. In addition, the Cowgirls tallied their first win under their new coach in impressive fashion, running away with the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic by 25 shots.
The Essex, Ontario native is also dedicated to the academic side of the student-athlete. In Matthews' first three years, eight Cowgirls were named scholar All-Americans by the NGCA.
An assistant at Georgia for three seasons before coming to Oklahoma State, Matthews was a major contributor to the Bulldogs' success over a span of eight seasons. She began her career as a student-athlete with Georgia in 1997, and in four years, she competed in every golf tournament UGA played.
A young and vibrant coach, Matthews was instrumental in Georgia's 2005 recruiting class which included three-time American Junior Golfers Association All-American Mallory Hetzel and two-time AJGA All-American Taylor Leon.
In 45 collegiate events, Matthews finished among the top 20 on 30 occasions and had 19 top-10 showings to her credit. Her best placing came at both the 1998 Ben Hogan Invitational and the ‘98 Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate, where she finished runner-up.
Matthews was also a four-time All-SEC performer after helping Georgia capture three SEC Championships during her four seasons in Athens.
However, the greatest moment of her playing career came at the 2001 NCAA Championship her senior season. She and her teammates captured the Bulldogs first-ever NCAA Championship with a three-stroke victory over heavily favored Duke.
Shortly after her collegiate playing career ended, Matthews was officially named assistant coach for the Bulldogs in March of 2002. She had served as an undergraduate assistant from August 2001 while completing her degree in child & family development.
An accomplished player at the international level as well, Matthews has been a staple on the Canadian National Team since the squad's inception.
Matthews' résumé includes a pair of impressive victories. She won the 2003 Copa de las Americas and the 2005 Canadian Ladies Amateur, where she shot a two-under-par 290 to secure a six-shot win over the rest of the field.
Previously, Matthews had been the runner-up at the Canadian Ladies Amateur in 1998, ‘99, 2000 and ‘03. She represented Canada at the World Team Amateur Championship in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006. Matthews also took part in two Commonwealth Games, an event which is held every four years.
The 2005 runner-up at the Copa de las Americas, Matthews also has a third-place showing at the Canadian Amateur to her credit and competed in the LPGA's Canadian Open in 2005 and 2006.
Matthews tied for seventh in 2002 at the World Team Amateur before posting her second top 10 in the event two years later after carding a three-under 285 to tie for fourth place.
In 2006, Matthews strung together an impressive list of finishes, placing among the top 10 at the Australian Amateur, the European Amateur, the Canadian Amateur and the Ontario Ladies Amateur. She has also posted top 10s in each of the past two years at the CN Canadian Tour event, finishing ninth in 2007 and third in 2006.
Matthews has also advanced to the quarterfinals of the British Amateur on two occasions and reached the second round of match play at the 2005 U.S. Amateur.
For her playing accomplishments, Matthews has been named the recipient of the ScoreGolf Award in 2005 and 2006 as the top amateur player in Canada.
Laura and her husband, Robert, have two boxers named Lady and Roxie.
Robert played college football at Georgia from 1996-99. He was a head football coach at Shiloh High School in Atlanta for three years. He is now the director of recruiting for the Oklahoma State football team.
One of the rising young stars in the coaching ranks, Matthews laid the groundwork last season for the program's potential ascent to an elite level.
In 2007-08, OSU recorded a landmark win with its 27-shot victory at the Big 12 Championship, giving Matthews her first conference title as a head coach. The triumph capped a run of three tournament titles for the squad as the Cowgirls also marched to victory at the Donnis Thompson Invitational and the Arizona Wildcat Invitational.
Individually, the Cowgirls were equally successful under Matthews' direction. The 2008 Big 12 Coach of the Year mentored a first-team All-America selection for the second consecutive season in Pernilla Lindberg. The distinction gave the program its first two-time first team pick in 20 years. Lindberg was not the only player to come away with All-America honors as Jaclyn Sweeney garnered honorable mention plaudits despite just one semester of experience.
Matthews' charges were prevalent on the Big 12's postseason honor roll as the Cowgirls swept the league's awards. Lindberg was selected as the league's top player and was joined by Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Jaclyn Sweeney, Tammy Clelland and Karin Kinnerud on the all-conference squad.
The 2006-07 season saw Matthews produce her initial first-team All-American as a head coach in Lindberg, a 10-stroke victory at the Las Vegas Collegiate as well as the school's first regional title as the Cowgirls tied for top honors at the NCAA West Regional.
During her inaugural campaign, Matthews took a team that included three true freshmen and made a run at the Big 12 Championship as well as a top-20 finish at the NCAA Championship. In addition, the Cowgirls tallied their first win under their new coach in impressive fashion, running away with the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic by 25 shots.
The Essex, Ontario native is also dedicated to the academic side of the student-athlete. In Matthews' first three years, eight Cowgirls were named scholar All-Americans by the NGCA.
An assistant at Georgia for three seasons before coming to Oklahoma State, Matthews was a major contributor to the Bulldogs' success over a span of eight seasons. She began her career as a student-athlete with Georgia in 1997, and in four years, she competed in every golf tournament UGA played.
A young and vibrant coach, Matthews was instrumental in Georgia's 2005 recruiting class which included three-time American Junior Golfers Association All-American Mallory Hetzel and two-time AJGA All-American Taylor Leon.
In 45 collegiate events, Matthews finished among the top 20 on 30 occasions and had 19 top-10 showings to her credit. Her best placing came at both the 1998 Ben Hogan Invitational and the ‘98 Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate, where she finished runner-up.
Matthews was also a four-time All-SEC performer after helping Georgia capture three SEC Championships during her four seasons in Athens.
However, the greatest moment of her playing career came at the 2001 NCAA Championship her senior season. She and her teammates captured the Bulldogs first-ever NCAA Championship with a three-stroke victory over heavily favored Duke.
Shortly after her collegiate playing career ended, Matthews was officially named assistant coach for the Bulldogs in March of 2002. She had served as an undergraduate assistant from August 2001 while completing her degree in child & family development.
An accomplished player at the international level as well, Matthews has been a staple on the Canadian National Team since the squad's inception.
Matthews' résumé includes a pair of impressive victories. She won the 2003 Copa de las Americas and the 2005 Canadian Ladies Amateur, where she shot a two-under-par 290 to secure a six-shot win over the rest of the field.
Previously, Matthews had been the runner-up at the Canadian Ladies Amateur in 1998, ‘99, 2000 and ‘03. She represented Canada at the World Team Amateur Championship in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006. Matthews also took part in two Commonwealth Games, an event which is held every four years.
The 2005 runner-up at the Copa de las Americas, Matthews also has a third-place showing at the Canadian Amateur to her credit and competed in the LPGA's Canadian Open in 2005 and 2006.
Matthews tied for seventh in 2002 at the World Team Amateur before posting her second top 10 in the event two years later after carding a three-under 285 to tie for fourth place.
In 2006, Matthews strung together an impressive list of finishes, placing among the top 10 at the Australian Amateur, the European Amateur, the Canadian Amateur and the Ontario Ladies Amateur. She has also posted top 10s in each of the past two years at the CN Canadian Tour event, finishing ninth in 2007 and third in 2006.
Matthews has also advanced to the quarterfinals of the British Amateur on two occasions and reached the second round of match play at the 2005 U.S. Amateur.
For her playing accomplishments, Matthews has been named the recipient of the ScoreGolf Award in 2005 and 2006 as the top amateur player in Canada.
Laura and her husband, Robert, have two boxers named Lady and Roxie.
Robert played college football at Georgia from 1996-99. He was a head football coach at Shiloh High School in Atlanta for three years. He is now the director of recruiting for the Oklahoma State football team.
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