HOLLIS COMES AWAY WITH FIRST EPSON TOUR WIN
Heading into the last four holes of the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Jillian Hollis (Rocky River) was 5-over par in the final round. Needless to say, she saved her best for when it mattered most.
A three-time All-American while at the University of Georgia, Hollis recorded birdie on the par-3 15th and followed that up with an eagle on the par-5 16th. A pair of pars coming in was enough to capture her first career Epson Tour victory at 4-under par overall.
“I didn’t realize how windy it was going to be,” said Hollis, who carded a 2-over par 74 today. “I played in the afternoon yesterday and had a really good score. I was hoping it would die down a little bit today, but it never did. To finish and get that momentum down the stretch was super great.”
The breakthrough win comes after finishes of tied for eighth at the SKYiGOLF Championship and tied for 20th in the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic. On top of it all, she lost a sudden-death playoff in her Epson Tour debut at the 2018 Forsyth Classic presented by Decatur Parks District.
“Being a champion sounds so great, especially after playing a bunch of tournaments and coming so close,” Hollis said. “In my first one last year being in a playoff and coming close again in our first tournament this year. To finish the drill as we say in Athens, it feels really good. I’m happy that I was able to get it done today.”
LEE DAZZLES IN THIRD PROFESSIONAL START
Walking to the green of the 54th hole, Amy Lee (Brea, California) was tied with Hollis at 4-under par overall. A rookie on the Epson Tour this season and playing in her first final pairing as a professional, Lee had a par putt to at least force a playoff.
“It was the most pressure I’ve felt in a while,” said Lee, who concluded the final round at 3-over par. “I knew it was a right to left putt, was going to break pretty hard to the left at the end. I just didn’t get it on line. It sucks, but you move on.”
Lee now has results of tied for 48th, tied for 23rd and tied for second to start her first year on the “Road to the LPGA.” The 2017 Big 12 Player of the Year will be one to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
VOLVIK RACE FOR THE CARD STANDINGS AFTER WEEK THREE
Following the third tournament of the 2019 Epson Tour season, the Volvik Race for the Card welcomes a fresh top-10.
The victory and $18,750 winner’s check move Jillian Hollis from No. 11 to No. 2, having earned $26,875 through the first three events. Here is a look at the current top-10 heading into the second edition of the Windsor Golf Classic at Windsor Golf Club in Windsor, Calif. from April 5-7:
1. Julieta Granada (Asuncion, Paraguay) - $30,887
2. Jillian Hollis - $26,875
3. Lauren Coughlin (Charlottesville, Virginia) - $22,088
4. Demi Runas (Torrance, California) - $18,923
5. Kelly Tan (Batu Pahat, Malaysia)- $18,750
6. Karen Chung (Livingston, New Jersey) - $15,976
7. Leona Maguire (County Cavan, Ireland) - $14,010
8. Kyung Kim (Chandler, Arizona) - $13,817
9. Amy Lee - $12,690
10. Jean Reynolds (Newnan, Georgia) - $12,152
NOTABLE QUOTES
Amy Lee (-3, T2) on the transition from amateur to professional golf in her rookie year:
“It has been very, very good for me so far. Going into the first two events, my goal was to make the cut. I did that successfully and came here, only an hour away from home so a little more comfortable and didn’t really set a certain goal or expectation for myself this week. Played the way I did and it ended up being very well.”
Julieta Granada (-3, T2) on being in contention down the stretch in the IOA Championship:
“The pin positions out there were really tough and the wind was blowing harder than the first two rounds. The course dried out really well, so I knew there was a lot of bogeys out there. I played well and it’s a shame a lay up goes into the water [on No. 18], that I couldn’t calculate the right distance. It must have rolled like 40 yards. I stayed patient, but definitely the course was playing hard today.”
Leona Maguire (-2, T4) on shooting a 5-over par 77 in the final round:
“I played well and think some of those pins on the front nine greens were a bit ridiculous, just no way to stop the ball. I played as well as I could, my pace putting probably wasn’t great on the front nine and that kind of killed me. Hung in there on the back nine and tried to finish as strong as I could.”
PLAYER NOTES
Jillian Hollis
- Hollis, 21, is from Rocky River, Ohio
- Made her professional debut at the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open
- Spent three years at the University of Georgia and was a three-time All-American
- Two-time All-SEC Second Team selection before being named to the First Team in 2018
- Competed in the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, as well as the 2016 and 2018 Marathon Classic on the LPGA Tour
- Made the cut in eight of 12 starts in her rookie campaign on the Epson Tour last seasonLost in a sudden-death playoff in her Epson Tour debut at the 2018 Forsyth Classic
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