Tag: Jillian Hollis

A mother-daughter connection 40 years in the making for Jillian Hollis at the LPGA Queen City Championship

“It all looks so different now.”

MADEIRA, Ohio – Forty years ago, Sharon Hollis was a senior at Bay Village High School, a suburb in Cleveland, Ohio.

Sharon played on the boys’ golf team.

“We didn’t have a girls’ team back then,” she said.

That summer, in 1982, Sharon made the trip to Cincinnati to play in the Ohio Women’s Amateur tournament, which was held at Kenwood Country Club. This week, Sharon’s back at Kenwood for the LPGA Kroger Queen City Championship.

She followed one group for all 18 holes, watching her daughter, Jillian, play the same course that she played 40 years ago.

“I didn’t know that,” Jillian said after her round on Saturday. “It’s pretty special that mom’s played here before.”

Following her daughter, at a course they now have in common, stirred up some old memories.

“I remember being here. I remember the clubhouse. It all looks so different now,” Sharon said.

Golf hasn’t just taken them to the same course four decades apart. It’s taken them on a similar path through life. Sharon played in college at NC State and Ohio State. Jillian played at Georgia, and now she’s on the Epson Tour, the same tour, only a different name, that her mom played on before she met her husband, Mike, and they decided to start their family.

Jillian’s playing at Kenwood Country Club this week as a sponsor’s exemption.

But the real reason she’s playing is that her mom taught her about the game and helped her fall in love with it the same way Sharon fell in love with it.

“She taught me from a young age, and I just fell in love with the game and stuck with it,” said Jillian. “She’s pushed me a little bit but has also given me the space to fall in love with it myself.”

Sharon still plays golf. She teaches it, too. Now, though, she loves watching her daughter play.

“It’s always fun watching her play. I just hang out and stand by the trees,” Sharon laughed. “I love it. I’m just super proud. I’m so happy for her when she plays well, and I feel bad when she doesn’t.”

Jillian’s working on earning her LPGA Tour card through her performance on the Epson Tour.

So, Jillian might be back at Kenwood next year for the second edition of the Queen City Championship.

And if she is, her mom will be here, hanging out by the trees watching her.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Local caddie saves the day at Kroger Queen City Championship after spotting 15 clubs in Jillian Hollis’ bag before she teed off

The grandson and son of former Cincinnati Reds broadcasters comes up with a save at LPGA event.

MADEIRA, Ohio — Thanks to her eagle-eyed caddie, former LPGA Rookie of the Year and Epson Tour winner Jillian Hollis avoided a two-stroke penalty Thursday at the Kroger Queen City Championship at Kenwood Country Club.

Hollis’ caddy, Luke Brennaman, grandson of retired Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman and son of former Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman, noticed his player had 15 clubs in her bag – one more than the rules of golf allow – just before she hit her opening tee shot, according to Kenwood’s caddie manager, Dominic Parisi.

“She told him he saved her round,’’ Parisi said, referring to Hollis, an Ohio native.

The younger Brennaman was one 10 caddies at the country club handpicked by Parisi to work this week for tournament players who didn’t bring their own caddies.

Hollis and Brennaman met for the first time during a practice round Wednesday. She got a lot more out of their newfound friendship than she expected.

“I just wanted somebody to kind of walk with me and keep me company,’’ she said before the start of her practice round.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

WATCH: Two minutes with LPGA golfer Jillian Hollis

Beth Ann Nichols asks LPGA golfer Jillian Hollis a few questions about the new golf bag she’s using and starting on the LPGA Tour.

[jwplayer ak1ZFRUP-9JtFt04J]

LPGA rookie Jillian Hollis chats with Beth Ann Nichols about her cool nickname and the new golf bag she’s has, which is just like the one Tiger Woods uses.

Hollis is the first LPGA player to be sponsored by Monster, an energy drink company, it was reported Friday. The 22-year-old joins Tiger Woods as company sponsors.

Among the questions Hollis was asked was if she thinks she’s beginning her LPGA career at a good time. Hollis said after an advantageous year on the Symetra Tour, she absolutely thinks she picked the right time to turn pro.

“I knew I could play our here last year, but mentally it was really good for me to have that growing experience, a full year on the Symetra Tour… I’ve been preparing for this week and preparing for (the Gainbridge LPGA) all last year and even the year before and playing in college. I’m so exited to test my game at all these beautiful courses around the world.”

Watch the video at the top of this page.

[lawrence-related id=778021933]

LPGA rookie becomes first to land Monster as a bag sponsor, joining Tiger

LPGA rookie Jillian Hollis joins Tiger Woods as Monster sponsors. Hollis is playing in the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio this week.

BOCA RATON, Fla. – It’s not often that someone on the LPGA has something identical to Tiger Woods. But that’s the case with rookie Jillian Hollis, who is making her debut this week at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio with a Monster staff bag.

Hollis is the first LPGA player to be sponsored by Monster, an energy drink company. Maria Fassi had similar news this week. The Mexican player is the first to be sponsored by AT&T, joining Jordan Spieth in the look-alike bag category.

“I’m just really excited to get the rest of the year going and be in good company with my bag,” said Hollis after an opening 2-under 70. “I’m a huge Tiger fan. I love Tiger.”

The 2019 Symetra Tour grad also counts Nike as a sponsor.

Hollis joins an extensive list of female athletes on Monster’s roster, including surfers, skiers, snowboarders, skateboarders and motocross.

“Monster Energy is thrilled to be on Jillian’s team as she makes her debut as a rookie on the LPGA,” said Mitch Covington, VP of Sports Marketing. “She has a winning smile and attitude and we know she will represent us well on and off the golf course.”

Hollis, 22, left the University of Georgia after three seasons and won twice last year on the Symetra Tour to finish fifth on the money list. She’s one of nine rookies in the field. Two of those rookies, Yui Kawamoto and Patty Tavatanakit, hold a share of second at 4 under. Other 2020 rookies include Jennifer Chang, Esther Lee, Leona Maguire, Yealimi Noh and Albane Valenzuela.

Prior to this week, Hollis had made four starts on the LPGA, making the cut one time at the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open, her professional debut.

“I got a putting lesson Tuesday and that really has helped my putting,” said Hollis, who works with Gareth Raflewski. She had 27 putts on Thursday and birdied her first hole as an LPGA member.

“Little girls that I see, I want to be a role model for them,” said Hollis. “And I want them to say ‘Oh I want to beat her one day. Or ‘I want to play with her.’ Because that was me when I was little.”