Beth Lillie knows that this might sound absurd. Beth Lillie realizes that it might sound crazy. After all, who would turn down the chance to compete in Augusta National?
Lillie said, “I don’t want people to think that it was easy for us, or I was scoffing at Augusta,” but she added, “but I think we’re just in a different phase of our lives right now.”
Lillie is now an assistant golf coach at Cal Poly and her main goal each day is to improve the game of another person. Lillie turned down an invitation to compete in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur this year.
Lillie said, “I didn’t think it was in that spirit of the tournament, just go and play just so I went.” It is important that as many people as possible experience ANWA, just like I did, and go to play to win. Even though it may sound insane to others, it feels right to me.
Eight months ago Lillie was playing in the NCAA Championships for the University of Virginia. After finishing in the top 10, Lillie sat with her assistant coach on the flight back to help her improve her resume. Lillie wanted to help others get better, while many of her peers went on to become professionals.
Lillie said, “Watching a player hit an innovative shot or hit a great shot, I had no idea how amazing that could feel.” It’s great to see someone you helped win a tournament or fluff a shot.
Beth Lillie (Photo by UVA Athletics).
Lillie, originally from Fullerton in California, was a volunteer with her Virginia coaches for the entire summer following graduation. Although she used to joke about the work they did in their offices, she is now proficient in all aspects of paperwork behind-the scenes.
Courtney Roberts, Cal Poly’s head coach last summer, had already been eyeing Lillie as someone she wanted on her team.
Roberts, who was a former head coach at Oklahoma State as well as an associate coach at Washington, said that she had always been someone who impressed her.
It wasn’t that long ago, Cal Poly had one head coach who managed both the women’s and men’s golf programs. The school hired a separate head coach for women in 2015 and both programs now have assistant coaches that are fully funded.
Roberts said, “It’s just really cool to be here at an opportunity to have many firsts,” such as qualifying for national championship.
The Mustangs have never had a player qualified for the ANWA, but this year’s players saw Lillie’s invitation which she kept in her bag.
Lillie said, “I want them believe they can do any thing.” They will be able to go wherever their hard work will get them.
Beth Lillie, redshirt junior Jensen Jalufka and head coach Courtney Roberts at Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Courtesy photo)
The Mustangs are currently in the middle of a qualifier for the six-round Tulane Classic in New Orleans. They currently rank 92nd nationally in the Golfweek/Sagarin college rankings.
Lillie was a three-year Virginia captain and graduated with a master’s. Over the course of five year, she won two times and had a career average of 73.51. She qualified at 16 for the U.S. Women’s Open in 2015.
Although Lillie did not make it to the ANWA finals last year, she was able play a practice round at Augusta National on Friday. She called it a fun ride, even though her nerves were a bit higher than anticipated. She didn’t want the burden of having to recall a bad shot.
She loved the 3-wood she hit on the par-5 15th, which was her favorite strike. Her dad was there to “geek out” the whole thing.
She said, “It felt as if it lasted five minutes and five decades simultaneously.”
Memories that last a lifetime
