It may be a four-hour drive from Austin to Dallas, but Kristen Gillman still feels right at home this week for the Volunteers of America Classic. The 23-year-old always relishes the opportunity to play in her home state of Texas, with a special hometown connection following inside the ropes this week as she aims for her first LPGA Tour victory.
“I actually have my dad on the bag this week, so if it ended up being this week then that would be extra special to have him on the bag and playing at home in Texas,” said Gillman, whose dad Mark caddied during her amateur career but never since she turned pro. “Just nice to be able to get any first win.”
Gillman comes to the Volunteers of America Classic needing a strong week to turn around a streak of five consecutive missed cuts. Old American, a course she knows well from this tournament and last year’s Texas Women’s Open, might present just the opportunity for Gillman to get back on track heading into the second half of the 2021 LPGA Tour season.