Leaving her hometown of Charleston, Illinois, Laura attended the University of Arizona where she was named a 2002 NCAA All-American Honorable mention selection, finishing 7th at the 2002 NCAA Championship.
On a roll, Laura was named to the 2002 United States Women's World Amateur team where she and two teammates competed in the championships held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Also a member of the 2000 U.S. Women's World Amateur Team, Laura was runner-up at this competition. In the words of her golf coach, Greg Allen, "It's quite an honor for Laura to be selected to the team. This will be her second appearance on the World Amateur Team and her third major international competitionwe couldn't be more proud to have her representing the United States."
Her success in college earned Laura a spot on the prestigious U.S. Curtis Cup Team. Not only did this senior-to-be lead the United States to victory in the 2002 Curtis Cup matches, but she finished with a perfect 3-0 record.
She also played in the U.S. Open and helped the University of Arizona to a runner-up finish at the 2002 NCAA Women's Golf Championships where she rolled to a seventh place finish overall.
With a solid amateur and collegiate career behind her, it was only natural for this avid golfer to turn professional, competing in the second half of 2003 on the Futures Tour. True to form, Laura garnered three top-ten finishes in eight starts.
Rounding out the year, Laura earned her exempt status on the LPGA Tour with a T-22nd finish in the Tour's Final Qualifying School.
Runner-up, U. S. Women's Amateur Championship, 2000
