By Matt Bradshaw —

Women’s golf will feature a new head coach in Whitney Young after the 2019 season. Both an accomplished leader and professional player, Young coaches a junior on the current roster who is following in her footsteps to play at the next level.

Lauren Hartlage received an invitation last week to play at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship. The Elizabethtown native earned All-ACC honors as an underclassman back-t0-back years and enters her junior run leader of the roster.

“It was a great honor to receive the invitation,” Hartlage said. “Ever since they announced the tournament, this was a goal of mine and it really shows that all my hard work is paying off.”

Taking place a week prior to the Masters in April, the tournament at Augusta features an international field of 72 amateurs competing over 54 holes. Cardinal junior Hartlage qualified for the field due to her standing in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Hartlage closed out 2018 ranked 59th in the world and 22nd among American golfers. Suffice to say, she is one of the most talented student-athletes to compete for Louisville in a long while.

“This is absolutely a huge honor for Lauren to get to play in the inaugural event at Augusta National,” current head coach Courtney Trimble said, who will retire at the conclusion of the upcoming season. “Lauren has proven to be a really consistent and great player and this is a reward for all of her hard work. This proves that our program is helping players reach their goals and we couldn’t be happier for Lauren.”

The winner of the tournament earns an invitation to competitions like the 2019 U.S. and British Women’s Opens. Hartlage will play with a fighting chance to take the top spot, as she’s performed well on the amateur circuit previously and most recently finished fourth at the Orlando International Championship.

U of L women’s golf finished fall play ranked No. 28 in the nation and begins 2019 with a matchup against the Kentucky Wildcats. Hartlage guides the Cards with a 72.6 stroke average.

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File Photo / The Louisville Cardinal