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Ohio amateur champ eyes LPGA
By JON MOFFETT
Cortland
Laura Nochta has finally found some time to relax and let her victory sink in.
Nochta won the Ohio State Golf Association’s Amateur Tournament on Friday at Belmont Hills Country Club in St. Clairsville. She said she has been going nonstop since earning the top spot.
“I’m exhausted,” Nochta said laughing. “I’m finally at a point where all of my energy has left me. I’ve been on the phone non-stop with people congratulating me.
“I’m still really tired, but I’m really proud of what I accomplished this week.”
A three-hole lead with two to play gave Nochta the title. She defeated Alexandra Casi of East Palestine in the final round.
“It was unbelievable,” Nochta said of the finale. “It was an amazing release of energy for me. I had a three-foot putt to make, and once I made it, it was such a relief.”
The 22-year-old is finishing school at the University of Indiana. Nochta said she’ll graduate in December with a degree in business.
Once school ends, golf will begin full-time.
Nochta said she plans to turn pro within the coming months and wants to make it on the LPGA Tour. But she noted that attaining such a dream is much easier said than done.
But Nochta feels that a pen-pal from the past could be all the motivation she needs to succeed.
At the age of 5, Nochta’s parents took her to an LPGA event at the Avalon Golf Course in Howland. Though her parents didn’t golf much, Nochta said they wanted her to experience a professional sporting event.
It was there she met pro golfer Kris Tschetter. The two started talking and had an immediate bond.
“At that time, I was a dancer, and she had continued to dance,” Nochta said. “So we had that bond. We became pen-pals and we were up until I went to college. Then I sort of lost touch with her.”
She hopes she can make it on the tour, just like Tschetter did.
“Making it out there would just be amazing, to me” she said. “Anything from placing in the top 10 to winning some pro events would be great. Winning is your ultimate goal.”