1973 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Laura Baugh is no longer the only person in her family to have earned rookie of the year honors on a professional golf tour. The PGA Tour announced today that 35-year-old Eric Cole, Baugh’s eldest son, has earned 2023 Rookie of the Year honors 50 years after his mother did so on the LPGA Tour.
Cole is the oldest player since 2004 to be recognized with the Arnold Palmer award, earning six top-five finishes during the 2022-2023 PGA Tour season, two of which were runner-up results at The Honda Classic where he lost in a playoff to Chris Kirk and at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP in October. He earned one additional top-10 finish at the RBC Canadian Open, where he finished in a tie for sixth.
The California native was the only rookie to qualify for the BMW Championship after finishing 43rd in the FedExCup this past season. Four of his six top-five finishes came during the FedExCup Fall when Cole finished fourth at the Fortinet Championship, T3 at the Shriners Children’s Open, T2 at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP and T3 at The RSM Classic.
Following in the footsteps of his mother 👏
— LPGA (@LPGA) January 3, 2024
2023 @PGATOUR Rookie of the Year Eric Cole's mother, Laura Baugh, was the LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 1973! https://t.co/PZzTgRc0uY pic.twitter.com/TEdUlyE0Cy
After a stellar amateur career that saw her win the 1971 U.S. Women’s Amateur, Baugh turned professional and joined the LPGA Tour in 1973, earning Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year honors after a solid debut season. Over the course of her career, Baugh recorded 71 top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour, 10 of which were runner-up results, and made $710,277 in career earnings.
Baugh first became an #LPGAMom in 1982, and Cole is the second of her seven children. She currently serves as a golf instructor and has created The Laura Baugh Golf Schools, located at Placentia Country Club in St. Augustine, Fla.
Eric Cole, my son 2023 PGA Rookie of the Year and me 1973 LPGA Rookie of the Year! So Cool @PGATOUR @Jaguars @GolfDigest @GolfChannel @USGA pic.twitter.com/5d3QzFdpre
— LBaugh (@GOLFERLB) January 3, 2024
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