Winston-Salem, NC (U-WIRE) -- While most students were kicking back and relaxing over the winter break, senior golf stand-out Ashley Hoagland was hard at work participating in two major amateur tournaments. Hoagland finished first in the Dixie Amateur Golf Championship in Pompano Beach, Fla. and second in the Harder Hall Invitational in Sebring, Fla.

"My goal is accomplished; I got lots of points so now my status went way up," Hoagland said.

The sole purpose of Hoagland's "off-season" competition in the two tournaments was simply to gain points.

Those who finish in the top-five spots in other amateur tournaments such as the ones she placed in earn points. Hoagland wanted the points to improve her amateur and collegiate ranking so that she could potentially earn a spot on the Futures Tour, the semi-pro circuit just below the LPGA.

At the Dixie Amateur, Hoagland scored a final round 74 with a four-round total of 287.

In addition, her second-round score of 68 tied her best collegiate score. One of only two participants to score in the 60s, Hoagland overcame Tiffany Joh of San Diego, Calif. by three strokes, thus earning the title.

At the Harder Hall, Hoagland shot a 70 and a 67 on the final two days of play. Her 67 was the lowest round of the tournament and a stroke lower than her previous best collegiate score. She ended up finishing second overall in the competition.

Hoagland's plan is to compete in the Futures Tour over the summer and then attend qualifying school for the LPGA in the fall.

Those who either attend a qualifying school or who have a high enough ranking earn a spot on the Futures Tour. Because Hoagland was in school, she was unable to attend the qualifying school and is trying to improve her ranking through tournament play.

The Dec. 8, 2004 Women's College Individual Golf Rankings placed Hoagland 12th among female collegiate golfers in the nation. She placed in the top10 three times during the fall season.

"I think we did a really good job in the fall," Hoagland said of the women's team. "I think that the fall is kind of a warm up for us and the spring is the real season. We know we're all good and capable of winning, we just haven't really put it all together."

Hoagland currently holds the Wake Forest record for lowest career scoring average with a 74.7. This fall she managed to average a 72.4 in the fall season.

"She's playing amazing," sophomore teammate Maggie Simons said. "If she keeps playing the way she's playing, she's going to lead our team, if not the entire nation."

Hoagland joins the ranks of the stellar golfers to come out of the university. Perhaps the most notable and most recent stand-out from the women's golf program is Laura Diaz, '97, who is currently ranked 39th on the LPGA money list, having earned almost three million dollars.

Diaz also played on the Futures Tour as well and won three separate tournaments between the years of 1997-98.

The women's golf team's next scheduled tournament is the Lady Puerto Rico Tournament from Feb. 21-23 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

(C) 2004 Old Gold and Black via U-WIRE