Gilliam, Mendizabal Set for 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championships
August 02, 2020 | Women's Golf
by Josh Lively, Assistant Director/Communications
ROCKVILLE, Md. – Two Bulldogs will represent Mississippi State women's golf in the 120th U.S. Women's Amateur Championships, as Ashley Gilliam and Valeria Mendizabal both qualified for the event.
"What an opportunity for our Bulldogs to compete in the biggest amateur event in the world for females," said head coach Ginger Brown-Lemm. "Just one year ago, we hosted this event at our home course, Old Waverly, and were able to showcase our facilities to the world's elite players. Ashley will be in her ninth USGA event, and she is ready, practicing and playing for this very opportunity. Val is playing in her first USGA event, but with her 252 WAGR ranking, she is more than accustomed to these types of events."
The tournament is slated for August 3-9 and will be played at the Par 72, 6,561-yard Woodmont Country Club North Course in Rockville, Maryland. The low 64 scorers after 36 holes of stroke play will advance to match play. If necessary, a playoff will be conducted to trim the draw to exactly 64 competitors.
The Mississippi State duo will begin play in the first round on Monday, with Mendizabal teeing off at 7 a.m. CT and Gilliam starting at 11:20 a.m. The second round is scheduled for Tuesday.
A first team All-SEC performer last season, Gilliam is competing in her third consecutive U.S. Women's Amateur. The 2020 WGCA All-American selection advanced to match play in each of the last two years. In 2018, she carded a 3-under during stroke play to tie for 15th before tying for 21st with an even par during the 2019 championships.
Gilliam is coming off a successful first season with State, setting the MSU program record with a 70.61 season stroke average, which ranked sixth in Division I and second in the SEC. She broke the State freshman records for Rounds of Par or Better (13) and Rounds in the 60s (5). She ended the season ranked 43rd in the country after posting four top-10 finishes, including three performances inside the top three.
Making her first appearance in a U.S. Women's Amateur Championship, Mendizabal transferred to Mississippi State earlier in the summer after competing for UTEP the previous three seasons. As a junior during the 2019-20 campaign, she earned First Team All-Conference USA honors after winning two tournament titles and leading the conference with an impressive 71.6 stroke average in 20 rounds. The Guatemala City, Guatemala, native posted six top-10 finishes and recorded 12 rounds of par or better.
Approximately 132 players make up the field for the world's top amateur event. The championships will receive live network coverage on Golf Channel during all of match play and live streaming coverage will be available on the USGA website.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow Mississippi State women's golf on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateWG."
ROCKVILLE, Md. – Two Bulldogs will represent Mississippi State women's golf in the 120th U.S. Women's Amateur Championships, as Ashley Gilliam and Valeria Mendizabal both qualified for the event.
"What an opportunity for our Bulldogs to compete in the biggest amateur event in the world for females," said head coach Ginger Brown-Lemm. "Just one year ago, we hosted this event at our home course, Old Waverly, and were able to showcase our facilities to the world's elite players. Ashley will be in her ninth USGA event, and she is ready, practicing and playing for this very opportunity. Val is playing in her first USGA event, but with her 252 WAGR ranking, she is more than accustomed to these types of events."
The tournament is slated for August 3-9 and will be played at the Par 72, 6,561-yard Woodmont Country Club North Course in Rockville, Maryland. The low 64 scorers after 36 holes of stroke play will advance to match play. If necessary, a playoff will be conducted to trim the draw to exactly 64 competitors.
The Mississippi State duo will begin play in the first round on Monday, with Mendizabal teeing off at 7 a.m. CT and Gilliam starting at 11:20 a.m. The second round is scheduled for Tuesday.
A first team All-SEC performer last season, Gilliam is competing in her third consecutive U.S. Women's Amateur. The 2020 WGCA All-American selection advanced to match play in each of the last two years. In 2018, she carded a 3-under during stroke play to tie for 15th before tying for 21st with an even par during the 2019 championships.
Gilliam is coming off a successful first season with State, setting the MSU program record with a 70.61 season stroke average, which ranked sixth in Division I and second in the SEC. She broke the State freshman records for Rounds of Par or Better (13) and Rounds in the 60s (5). She ended the season ranked 43rd in the country after posting four top-10 finishes, including three performances inside the top three.
Making her first appearance in a U.S. Women's Amateur Championship, Mendizabal transferred to Mississippi State earlier in the summer after competing for UTEP the previous three seasons. As a junior during the 2019-20 campaign, she earned First Team All-Conference USA honors after winning two tournament titles and leading the conference with an impressive 71.6 stroke average in 20 rounds. The Guatemala City, Guatemala, native posted six top-10 finishes and recorded 12 rounds of par or better.
Approximately 132 players make up the field for the world's top amateur event. The championships will receive live network coverage on Golf Channel during all of match play and live streaming coverage will be available on the USGA website.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow Mississippi State women's golf on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateWG."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
WOMEN'S GOLF | SEC Championship vs Texas A&M Post Game Press Conference - 4/16/23
Sunday, April 16
Ela Grimwood Senior Feature - 5/17/21
Monday, May 17
Aubree Jones Senior Feature - 5/17/21
Monday, May 17
Clara Moyano Senior Feature - 5/17/21
Monday, May 17