Hollis Leads After One At Michigan PGA Women’s Open

Hollis Leads After One At Michigan PGA Women’s Open

MICHIGAN PGA WOMEN’S OPEN: LPGA Epson Tour Player Jillian Hollis Leads

  THOMPSONVILLE – Jillian Hollis of Rocky River, Ohio, had the first tee time in the 30th Michigan PGA Women’s Open presented by Coca-Cola at Crystal Mountain Monday morning after making the long drive Sunday night from the LPGA Epson Tour’s Island Resort Classic in Harris of the Upper Peninsula.

  “I was enjoying being in a cart today,” she said after shooting a 5-under 67 to lead through the first round on the Mountain Ridge Course. “I was pretty tired, got in late, but being tired I still hit the ball well and made some good putts.”

  Competitors are allowed to ride in carts on the course that roams up and down and around Crystal Mountain.

  Hollis, a fourth-year pro who played college golf at the University of Georgia and tied for 24th in Harris Sunday, had a one-shot lead on last year’s first-round leader, Sandra Angulo Minarro of Mexico, and Jessica Welch of Thomasville, Ga., at 68.

  Jean Reynolds of Newman, Ga., and Jessica Porvasnik of Ponte Vedra, Fla., were at 69, as was Addison Klonowski, an-18-year-old amateur from Naples, Fla.

  The low Michigan players checked in at 70 and included 2019 Michigan PGA Women’s Open Champion Anika Dy of Traverse City, who just completed her golf career at the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University golfer Sabel Imesch of Grosse Pointe Farms.

  Defending champion Sarah White of Grand Rapids shot 74 after coming in from Harris and the LPGA Epson Tour Sunday night, too.

    Hollis almost holed out on the first hole to start her round. She hit a 9-iron to just a few inches from the cup. She then bogeyed the second hole for her only bogey of the day and finished up the round with six birdies total, including back-to-back at 14 and 15 and then a closing one on the par 5 18th.

  “I had a pretty good second shot of the day,” she said. “It would have been nice if it went in, but I was still pretty happy with it. My game has been trending up. I have been hitting it a lot better and putting the ball well. I’m just trying to put everything together.”

  She said the defending champion, Sarah White, is a friend of hers from the Epson Tour and she figured if White could make the drive from Harris to play, she would give it a try.

  “I drove through some horrendous weather to get here but I’m glad I made it,” she said. “I played here before as an amateur and in 2020 and this is one of my favorite state opens. I really like the golf course and the resort.”

  Minarro is back at the Michigan PGA Women’s Open and its 21-year host Crystal Mountain for the seventh time. She has stayed with a host family, Steve and Pam Perry, in each of those years.

  “This is a very special place to me,” she said. “I’m close with my host family and it just feels like a home away from home.”

  Minarro, who tied for fourth a year ago here, had just one bogey on her card for the day at No. 10, and birdied 14 and 16 coming in.

  “The highlight of the day for me was staying in every single shot,” she said. “In golf we’re going to miss, but I let it go and I’m proud I stayed in every shot.”

  Welch, who finished second here last year, was 5-under without a bogey before playing the par 5 18th hole. A second shot ended up in high grass on the hill left of the green, and she ended up with a bogey.

  The 54-hole championship with an estimated purse of $40,000 continues through Wednesday.

 ABOUT CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN: Established in 1956, Crystal Mountain is a family-owned, four-season resort destination located 28 miles southwest of Traverse City and a short drive from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The 1,500-acre resort features lodging, dining, downhill and cross-country skiing, two championship golf courses, shopping, award-winning Crystal Spa, Michigan’s only alpine slide, Peak Fitness, the Park at Water’s Edge, Michigan Legacy Art Park, weddings, a conference center, and real estate options.

SPONSORS: The tournament’s presenting sponsor is Coca-Cola, a long-time partner of Crystal Mountain. Click sponsors to see a list of the great support that makes the championship possible.

SCORES:  At michiganpga.com.