Top college player sent off course

by Purdue coach

FROM THE GOLFWEEK.COM WEBSITE
By Lance Ringler
There is not a lot of Monday morning armchair quarterbacking going on when it comes to college golf. The decisions by a golf coach are usually made prior to an event and geared toward preparation, with very little Xs and Os. Therefore, you don’t have discussions about a bad play–call, poor use of a timeout or players who should have stayed in the game.
However, this past weekend at the Tiger Wave Classic, played at English Turn Golf & Country Club in New Orleans, there is some discussion about a player being pulled out of the game.
Auburn defeated 22 other teams to win the inaugural event, but it was an incident (a sending off the course) that took place in the second round that is stealing the attention.
One of the top players in the field, Purdue’s Quebec-born Maude-Aimee LeBlanc, pictured above – ranked No. 6 by Golfweek– was sent off the course by her own coach for unsportsmanlike conduct. After 11 holes, Purdue coach Devon Brouse told LeBlanc, 21 on February 14, she was done and to walk back to the clubhouse. She was 11–over- par at the time.
“This is about disrespecting the course, fellow competitors, her team, her school and the game,” said Brouse, who has been coaching college golf for more than 30 years. “This is not her first time.”
LeBlanc had been penalised in the past for conduct issues.

LeBlanc opened with an 8–over 80 and then, after her No Return in the second round, came back in the final round to shoot 73. According to Brouse, the Canadian apologised to everyone and played in the final round, which he felt was big for her to do.
“She is aware of our team rules and is working on overcoming her struggles in this area. I do think she is a good person and wants to do the right thing. Her actions have hurt our team score,” said Brouse.
The Boilermakers entered the event ranked No. 4, but turned in their worst showing of the season with a 14th –place finish.
There is no question LeBlanc is one of the best female players in college golf. She has been a Golfweek All–American in her first two seasons at Purdue, and was ranked 28th as a freshman and 19th as a sophomore. She won twice in the fall season.
This was not about protecting a player’s ranking, which some suggest. This was about coaching and teaching. LeBlanc is not alone when it comes to this sort of conduct. I would bet there are numerous coaches out there that have entertained the thought of doing this in the past and probably would have helped the player become a better player and the team become a better team.
“Let’s hope she can grow and learn the lessons that all young players have to learn in their careers,” said Brouse.
I have a feeling she will.