Laurie Keller may be one of the most passionate people about junior girls’ golf that you may ever meet. Her journey to becoming involved in the Ohio Junior Girls tournament began many years ago. As a young girl, she was an outstanding swimmer in the Mansfield, Richland County area where records she set were not broken for 18 years. She later became an outstanding women’s softball player but never played golf.
Then, at age 27, she made the decision she wanted to learn how to play golf. In order to do it right, she went to the Peggy Kirk Bell Golf School in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Upon her return, where she was a member at Westbrook Country Club in Mansfield, OH, she continued learning golf under the direction of her close friend and mentor, Jeane Flockenzier. Now, her golf addiction was in full swing!
Her golf game flourished as she won several ladies championships at Westbrook Country Club and the Richland County Ladies’ Championship. Laurie was always in demand for teams in golf scrambles as her play from the women’s tees helped those teams win many events. She is also the holder of a record women’s score at Evans Prairie Country Club in the Villages, Florida, which has held up for 11 years.
Laurie began playing in WOSGA events in 1991 and has played in the Amateur, Mid-Amateur, and Senior Championships.
In 1998, Jeane Flockenzier, then President of the Women’s Ohio State Golf Association and Director of the Ohio Junior Girls Golf Tournament, asked Laurie if she would take over the Girls Tournament. So, it was 27 years ago, in 1999, that Laurie began her journey with the Tournament. During the 27 years, she has served as the Director or Assistant Director.
She is also a member of the Women’s Ohio State Golf Association, where she represents the Ohio Junior Girls tournament, and is also a member of the Greater Cleveland Women’s Golf Association, where she has served as President.
She has taken great pride in the growth and quality of the Tournament and continually follows many of the former players and their successes later in life. She is a firm believer in the growth of girls’ golf and providing opportunities for their participation and development. She is thankful for the many great memories of golf and people created by the Ohio Junior Girls.
Laurie is a retired college professor and presently resides in Ashland, OH, with her husband, Len.