An interesting story from the 2018 Marathon Classic involved a new professional golfer from Ohio, Jillian Hollis, who was given a sponsor’s exemption into the field. This was not Hollis’ first attempt at playing in the Marathon Classic, she also earned a sponsor’s invite in 2014, while still a student at the University of Georgia and a member of the Lady Bulldogs Women’s Golf Team.
Hollis is an Ohio native from Rocky River and has some very serious golf DNA. When Hollis’ mother was walking with her during the 2014 Marathon Classic, they happened to bump into Marathon Classic Tournament Director, Judd Silverman.
Introductions were made and Silverman was immediately taken aback, when he recognized Jillian’s mother. Twenty-six years ago, Sharon Minnich (now Hollis) was a member of the Ohio State Women’s Golf Team and was given a sponsor’s exemption into the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic.
In a testament to how long the Marathon Classic and Silverman have been operating the annual LPGA Tour stop in Toledo, Jillian Hollis is a second-generation sponsor’s exemption.
Hollis carded two rounds of 73-70 to miss the cut by a single shot, but gained the experience of playing with the best women golfers in the world, plus she followed in her mother’s sizeable footsteps.
