Professional Golfer. Following a noted amateur career she had some success on the LPGA tour. Raised in Corona, California, she was medalist in the 2000 US Junior Girls Championship and reached the quarter finals of the 2003 US Women's Amateur. After playing on the boys' golf team in high school, Erica attended the University of Arizona where she won six tournaments including the 2003 Arizona Wildcat Invitational, got her nickname for her inability to skip around a track, and earned numerous honors; named All-American in 2003 and 2004, she was "Golfweek" magazine and PAC-10 Conference 2003 Player of the Year and that same season was NCAA Freshman of the Year and winner of the Golfists Cup for lowest NCAA scoring average. After being part of the Curtis Cup-winning American team in 2004 she left school to turn professional; Erica joined the Futures Tour where she captured her only pro title, the 2004 Lacona Savings Bank Futures Golf Classic. Entering the LPGA Tour she had the status of a non-exempt player meaning she could only participate in each tournament on a space available basis. She won two matches in the 2005 Lexus Cup and in 2006 was signed by Puma to model and endorse their clothing line, while also also having a similar arrangement with Casio and Cleveland Golf). Finishing just outside the top 100 money winners each year, Erica had to either remain non-exempt or attend the fall Qualifying School; she was successful there in 2006, earning an exemption for 2007, but declined to return. At the time of her death she was continuing to compete on an occasional basis.
Professional Golfer. Following a noted amateur career she had some success on the LPGA tour. Raised in Corona, California, she was medalist in the 2000 US Junior Girls Championship and reached the quarter finals of the 2003 US Women's Amateur. After playing on the boys' golf team in high school, Erica attended the University of Arizona where she won six tournaments including the 2003 Arizona Wildcat Invitational, got her nickname for her inability to skip around a track, and earned numerous honors; named All-American in 2003 and 2004, she was "Golfweek" magazine and PAC-10 Conference 2003 Player of the Year and that same season was NCAA Freshman of the Year and winner of the Golfists Cup for lowest NCAA scoring average. After being part of the Curtis Cup-winning American team in 2004 she left school to turn professional; Erica joined the Futures Tour where she captured her only pro title, the 2004 Lacona Savings Bank Futures Golf Classic. Entering the LPGA Tour she had the status of a non-exempt player meaning she could only participate in each tournament on a space available basis. She won two matches in the 2005 Lexus Cup and in 2006 was signed by Puma to model and endorse their clothing line, while also also having a similar arrangement with Casio and Cleveland Golf). Finishing just outside the top 100 money winners each year, Erica had to either remain non-exempt or attend the fall Qualifying School; she was successful there in 2006, earning an exemption for 2007, but declined to return. At the time of her death she was continuing to compete on an occasional basis.
