Former Husker Laura Gunia Earns Induction in Nebraska Golf Hall of Fame

Former Husker women's golfer Laura Gunia will be inducted into the Nebraska Golf Hall of Fame in a ceremony at Wilderness Ridge Golf Club on Monday, May 11.

Gunia, who earned All-Big Eight honors as a senior captain for the Huskers in 1987, will be honored alongside Gary Austin, Tom Athy, Don Germer and Terry Riordan.

Laura, who was born and raised in Alliance, Neb., was the daughter of Ron Gunia - the Head PGA Golf Professional at Sky View Golf Club.

Laura Gunia grew up with a golf club in her hand, but she did not have an opportunity to play high school girls golf at St. Agnes Academy in Alliance because the small Catholic school did not sponsor a team. Instead, she played alongside her brother on the boys team. She was the No. 2 player in the lineup behind her brother, and the duo led the team to three Class C state tournament appearances from 1981 to 1983.

A four-year letterwinner at Nebraska, she came to Lincoln and earned a spot on Head Coach Jerry Fisher's team. She fought her way into the lineup and eventually earned a scholarship.  As a senior captain in 1987, Gunia captured All-Big Eight honors with an eighth-place individual finish at the Big Eight Championship. She added a 19th-place Big Eight finish as a junior and a tie for 26th at the conference championship as a sophomore in 1985. From her freshman season (1983-84) to the end of her career, Gunia slashed 8.34 strokes per round from her game.

As a senior, Gunia won an individual championship at the UNI Panther Invitational among her eight top-25 finishes on the season. She also won the 1987 Nebraska Women's Amateur at Beatrice Country Club.

After earning a bachelor's degree in business from UNL, Gunia began her goal of following in her father's footsteps as a PGA Professional. Shortly after graduation, she entered the PGA apprentice program.

Nebraska PGA legend Jim White offered Gunia an assistant golf professional position at Firethorn Golf Club in Lincoln, and in 1992 Gunia earned full Class A PGA Membership. Two years later, she was promoted to Head Golf Professional at Firethorn by developer and Nebraska Golf Hall of Famer Dick Youngscap. She became the first woman in Nebraska PGA history to become a head pro.

At just 28, Gunia ran one of the state's top private courses, which still serves as a home to the Husker men's and women's golf teams. She also managed a staff of 13 while attending to all other areas that make up a great golf experience.

Gunia's experience as an outstanding PGA Professional grew when Firethorn was chosen as the host of the 1996 U.S. Women's Amateur. Not only was it Nebraska's first opportunity to host a USGA event since 1941, it was the largest women's amateur tournament in the world.

After making history in Nebraska, Gunia took her talents to other business interests in Austin, Texas in 2000. However, she returned to the game as the Director of Golf at Falconhead Golf Club in 2011-12. In 2013, she became the General Manager and General Partner at Falconhead in 2013. She led the club until negotiating its sale in 2018. She has remained in the Austin area, working in the real estate business since 2018. 

"Golf has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember - a gift that began in Nebraska and shaped not only my career, but the person I became," Gunia said. "Guided by my father, I learned the game's greatest lessons: integrity, humility, and respect for others. Those values became the foundation for every opportunity that followed. The fairways and communities of Nebraska are where my love for the game took root, and where I first understood what it means to serve something greater than myself. Every step of my journey traces back to those beginnings, and I will always be proud to call Nebraska the place where it all began."

Following her official induction ceremony at Wilderness Ridge on Monday, May 11, Gunia will also be honored with a plaque presentation and reception at Skyview Golf Club in Alliance, May 15 (4-6 p.m.).