Virginia Women's Golf Announces Two-Person Signing Class
Nov. 10, 2016
Charlottesville, Va. – Virginia women’s golf coach Kim Lewellen announced today a two-person signing class that will enroll next fall. The players who have signed national letters of intent are Beth Lillie of Fullerton, Calif. and Claire Hodges of Sorrento, Fla.
“While they are coming to UVA from opposite ends of the country, both Beth and Claire bring great golf pedigrees to our program. These young women are very driven, have reputations as outstanding competitors and have enjoyed a lot of success in the AJGA and high school ranks and are capable of helping us to win championships. We are excited to welcome both to our program.”
Lillie is currently the 18th-highest ranked player for the Class of 2017 according to Junior Golf Scoreboard. She is ranked the No. 96 junior in the nation by Golfweek and the No. 113 girls player in the AJGA junior rankings.
Lillie earned Rolex Junior Golf honorable mention All-American honors in 2014 after she won the AJGA Junior at Steelwood (Ala.). She debuted on the national golf scene in 2015 when she qualified to play in the LPGA’s U.S. Open as a 16-year-old.
She reached the match play portion of the 2016 U.S. Girl’s Junior Championship after placing 31st in stroke play. Lillie had three top-20 finishes at 2016 AJGA Tournaments. Was fourth at Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, placed sixth at Alison Lee Championship, and was 15th at the Toyota Tour Cup Series.
As a freshman on the Troy High School team, she helped her squad to its first CIF Girls golf title in 2013, earning All-Orange County honors along the way. This October, she helped Troy win the CIF Girls Eastern Division championship, shooting a tournament best 68. She has been the Freeway League’s MVP as a junior and senior. She won the 2016 title in October by shooting 7-under 137.
Hodges had top-10 finishes on AJGA tour last summer at the Greg Norman Junior Championship (fifth) and Judie Oppenheimer Memorial Junior (ninth). Hodges had top-20 showings at Sergio Garcia Junior Championship (13th), Jim Bell Memorial Junior (13th) and Joey D Junior Championship (19th). She was fourth at the Sea Pines Junior Championship.
Hodges competed at the 2014 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship and the 2015 Golfweek International Junior Invitational.
She helped Lake Mary Prep win the last two FHSAA 1A state titles as a junior and senior. The school also won the 2014 state title, but she missed the season due to knee surgery. Hodges was named to the Orlando Sentinel’s all-area team as a junior.
She attended the same high school as current UVA junior women’s golfer Maho Hayakawa. Hodges grew up in St. Louis before her family moved to the Orlando area five years ago.