U.S. Amateur like starting second ‘home' for Gilliam

WEST POINT – For Tullahoma, Tennessee. golfer Ashley Gilliam, this weekend is like starting a second home.

First, her coach is V.J. Trolio, the teaching professional at Old Waverly, second, she's played the course several times, and third, in three weeks, she'll begin her freshman year as one of Mississippi State's prized golf recruits.

On top of all that, her putting is the part of her game that has shown Gilliam the most improvement in recent weeks.

That's all good news as Gilliam joins 155 other of the world's best young amateur golfers for the 119th U.S. Women's Amateur at Old Waverly.

“I'm really excited, really excited about playing there since that's going to be home for the next few years,” Gilliam said of the prestigious tournament. “I've played it a few times and V.J. is my coach so he's given me a few tips. It's definitely helped me out.”

She played it in early July after sessions with Trolio, but the course was only beginning to be set up by the United States Golf Association, which puts on the tournament. She'll get one more look at the set up during today's second practice round day before the start of two days of stroke play Monday.

That set up includes deep but “fair” rough and three holes that will play very differently depending on the tee box on any given day. The par-4 fourth hole will be either 389 yards or 426 yards, the par-3 seventh hole will either be an uphill 177 yards or a long uphill 201 yards and the par-3 17th will be a testy 142 yards or a longer 168 yards.

Pen placements change regularly.

During this weekend's practice rounds, the players can hit drives from both tee boxes but can play only one of the balls.

Gilliam is coming off the U.S. Junior Girls Amateur July 22-27 at Sentrywobrld in Stevens Point, Wis. She finished tied on the cut line for the top 64 there after the two days of stroke play but bogeyed the par-3 first playoff hole and didn't advance to the match play.

She said that experience has prepped her for this week's trip to Old Waverly.

“Playing the Girls Junior really gets me ready for the Amateur because it's the same format,” Gilliam said. “Right now my also will