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Thursday, April 4, 2002
On course for stardom

By Andrea Wall
Caller-Times
15-year-old golfer Leisl Hasbrouck has already made a name for herself
   Leisl Hasbrouck was only 4 years old when she started her formal training in golf.
   By age 13 she was named the Metro New Orleans Female Golfer of the Year after helping lead the boys varsity golf team at Riverside Academy to a state championship. She was only in eighth grade at the time.
   Today Hasbrouck is ranked No. 1 in her age group in Texas and has an accrued an individual record of 531-1 when playing against other girls. Not bad for a 15-year-old.
   "For as long as she could walk she's had a club in her hand," said Hasbrouck's father and head golf professional at King's Crossing, Bob Hasbrouck. "Her numbers in South Texas are phenomenal, mainly because she is a better player, but mostly because she works a lot harder than most."
   The sophomore is in her first year at Carroll after transferring from Aliso Niguel High School in Orange County, Calif. The season before Hasbrouck attended Aliso Niguel, the girls golf team finished last in their conference. As a freshman, Hasbrouck led the team to a 17-1 record and a conference championship.
   This wasn't the first bout of success for the young golfer. Previous to California, Hasbrouck had a three-year stint in Reserve, La. She attended Riverside Academy, a private school that houses kindergarten through 12th graders.
   The private school allowed the students to play varsity sports despite age, so in 6th-grade Hasbrouck became the youngest girl to ever letter in a male varsity sport. She earned three varsity letters and amassed an 83-8-3 record.
   The team won three district titles, two regional and in Hasbrouck's final year, a state championship at the Class 2A level.
   Despite being an 11-year-old on the boys' varsity team, Hasbrouck still had to use the men's tees at tournaments.
   "It's amazing," said Carroll golf coach Fred Shaw. "She doesn't really have a weakness. She hits the ball so straight, her short game is outstanding and she is very tough mentally."
   Hasbrouck has continued her success at Carroll where she has won seven of eight tournaments this season. Her scoring average is 73.5, more than three strokes less than her 76.8 average last year.
   Hasbrouck credits her achievements to loving what she does. Spending three hours a day on a golf course seven days a week couldn't hurt either.
   "Pretty much the only time I don't play is if I'm going to be going to the hospital, dying, or if it is pouring rain," she said. "I'm out there everyday, at least two hours a day during the week and sometimes six hours a day on the weekends. But, to me, it isn't practice. I would go crazy if it wasn't what I loved to do."
   The District 29-5A tournament will be played at Gabe Lozano Golf Course Monday and Tuesday. Shaw believes that Hasbrouck - who is ranked fifth in the state and 97th in the world - not only has a chance to win district, but the regional and state tournament as well.
   "I think she definitely has a chance to win state this year," Shaw said. "The first time I met her, she shot a 33 at Gabe Lozano and it was her first time ever seeing the front nine. It was almost like having Tiger Woods walk up and tell you he wants to play for you."
   The sophomore has already garnered attention from division I schools around the country. Texas A&M has contacted Shaw, and Nevada, SMU and Hawaii have all shown interest as well. While she is trying to stay focused on her immediate goals - winning the district, regional and state tournaments - Hasbrouck still thinks about the future.
   "I wouldn't mind going to Arizona, Duke, LSU or a few of the Texas schools if I had to pick right now," Hasbrouck said. "Just any major (Division I school) would be great. I have just always had a niche for it. It's what I love to do now. It's what I plan to do in college and then I'll go pro."

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