April 17, 2006
Stanford junior golfer Lauren Todd came here to play the game she loves and has contributed greatly to the Stanford Women's Golf Program over the past three years. With 28 total events played and 13 top 25 finishes in her near three years on the farm, Todd will pull from her consistency to succeed at the upcoming Women's Golf Pac-10 championships and NCAA Regionals.
Lauren Todd's golf career began at the young age of four in her hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. She picked up her first set of cut-down clubs and gained a genuine love for the game immediately. With the support of her parents, Stephen and Karen and brother, Byron, Lauren took advantage of her golf haven city. She admitted living in Phoenix helped her golf game grow.
"It definitely made it easier, there are a ton of courses to play at good rates in the summer and the junior golf program is really solid," said Todd. "I started just because I didn't want to be left behind when my brother and my dad would go to the range."
Also in Phoenix, Lauren improved her game over the years with her first golf instructor, Kay Kennedy. A former pro, Kay not only influenced Lauren's physical skill, but inspired her to keep the game fun, because golf is a game first. Lauren emphasized this quality in Kay.
"Kay taught me to love golf and to always remember that it is a game," noted Todd. "Golf never defined who she was; golf was and still is a game she plays. Today I still love the game that Kay Kennedy lovingly taught to me."
It is this love for the game that influenced Lauren to choose golf over softball and basketball, sports she played seriously before college, propelling her into Division I golf. Once she made this decision, where to go seemed to align perfectly with her constant pursuit of a challenge.
"I visited Stanford my sophomore year in high school and knew that the challenge of Stanford was something that appealed to me," Todd said. "To be accepted was a dream come true. Playing golf in the Pac 10 allows me to compete in the toughest conference and be close to my family."
Golf's challenges and opportunities have made Lauren understand the importance of hard work and perseverance, and no one has helped her more with these aspects of the game than her family. The Todd's are supportive, encouraging, and very importantly- present. They remain all these things to Lauren while she competes each weekend for Stanford.
"They are by far the best golf family a person could dream of; everyone is so supportive," said Todd. "My parents both have jobs that allow them flexibility to take time off and watch me play... As far as college goes they have been to all but two of my college events."
Lauren has also benefited from her parents emotional guidance.
"They never pushed me, my parents are not the type to watch me practice or to make me practice - they would just emphasize the importance of hard work and trusted me to put the time and effort into it, Todd continued. "They are extremely patient with me; they know that golf is a cyclical game and as long as I work hard they simply help me stay positive when I hit a rough spot."
Lauren's Uncle Steve, brother and sister-in-law are also part of her wonderful support staff and some of her biggest fans. Through spending summer weekends golfing with them, she has never lost the desire to compete and play. Todd relishes in the thought of competition. Competitions have driven her career and continue to be the motivating factor during a long season and spark for her future golf goals.
"I have a lot of intermediate and process goals that keep me on my toes," said Todd, "but what helps most is the fact that I feel lost when we don't have tournaments. "I love to play in competitions so it's really easy to keep going."
Todd will look to do just that for the remaining season and have fun competing at Pac-10's.
When Lauren is not on the course or hitting the books, she enjoys staying active by hiking or rollerblading, spending time with her dogs and of course relaxing with the occasional good book or movie.
For now, Todd is focused on golf and academics. Majoring in Economics, Todd hopes to make that a part of her career after professional golf with a focus on health care policy.
"I plan to play golf professionally and when I've met my goals in that I am really interested in the healthcare sector (the economics of health and medical care class had been my favorite class at Stanford since I have come to school)."
Similarly to other Stanford student-athletes, Lauren found she could pursue her passion for golf and academics best here and plans to accomplish big things in both realms of her life. First, Todd will look to achieve her immediate goals here at Stanford.
Todd's goals certainly go beyond individual ones. She sees the team, "winning the NCAA championship, this team has enough talent to do so- we just have to get it going all at the same time. As for myself, my goal is that each and every time I leave the course I feel that I played to the best of my abilities and that I was true to and believed in myself."
Todd desires to be remembered as an honest, hard-working player and friend to her teammates. Her willingness to get better and take advantage of her opportunities definitely sets a fantastic example for her teammates and future Stanford golfers.
Todd has developed this inner drive on her own with the constant love and support from her family. It is a not a matter of if Todd will reach her goals, but when. Her positive outlook on life will no doubt take her wherever she wishes to go in golf and in life.