Laura Brown
Laura Brown

Bio

With the start of the 2023-2024 season, Laura Brown enters her 26th season as head coach for the Daytona State College Lady Falcon’s Women’s Golf Team.  Brown is the first and only head coach of the Falcon’s Women’s Golf program.

Born and raised in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Brown played golf for New Smyrna Beach High School where she competed and won the 1987 National High School Athletic Coaches Association National Championship.  Her performance attracted the attention of several college golf programs but Brown accepted the offer of a golf scholarship to the University of Florida in 1987. 

As a Florida Gator, Brown earned Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year honors in 1988 and won the Doral State Collegiate Championship in 1990.  Brown was a member of the 1991 SEC Championship team and earned all SEC and All American honors that same year.

After graduating from University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation, she turned professional and competed on various mini-tours until qualifying for the LPGA Tour in 1994.  Brown won the 1995 Briarwood Futures Tour Event.  She competed on the LPGA Tour in 1995 and 1997.  Her best finish was a tie for ninth in the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic where she recorded her career-low score of 66 during the final round.

After realizing the fast-paced lifestyle of the LPGA Tour was not for her, Brown accepted the challenge to create and coach a new women’s golf program at Daytona State College in 1998.

In the 25 years under her leadership, Brown has created a highly respected and very competitive women’s golf program.  Her accomplishments include 10 NJCAA National Championships, 90 All-Americans, and 7 NJCAA Individual National Championship titles.  In 2016 and 2020, DSC Alumna Tiffany Chan was selected to compete in the Olympics representing Hong Kong. She is the first DSC athlete to compete in an Olympic Game.

Academically, Brown’s teams have succeeded in the classroom as well, as illustrated by winning the FCSAA (Florida College System Activities Association) Female Academic Team of the Year 9 times.  In addition, her team has finished 1st nationally for academics against other female NJCAA teams 4 times. In the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 seasons, Brown’s team earned the highest academic achievement possible by being named the NJCAA National Academic Team of the Year, which is awarded to the top academic team in the country for all sports programs. She has had 15 of her players receive Academic All-American honors, with 10 of them receiving Distinguished All-American honors and 5 of them receiving Superior Academic Honors as well.  Her success, both on the course and in the classroom, has attracted student-athletes from all over the world.

Brown has continued her involvement with the LPGA, as she is a Class A Member of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Division. In 2010 she was named LPGA National Coach of the Year.  She was also named the 2005, 2010 and 2011 LPGA SE Section Coach of the Year.  Additionally, Brown has received the 2005, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016 and 2018 NJCAA Coach of the Tournament Award. Brown serves as the president of the NJCAA Women’s Golf Coaches Association and was inducted into the NJCAA Coaches Association Hall of Fame in May 2009.

Brown also continues to compete professionally and participates in various LPGA Teaching & Club Professional Division events when her schedule permits. Brown also participated in the 2001 U.S. Women’s Open Championship held at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina.