Meet Miss Golf: Lillian O’Grady
By Tom Lang
When the numbers were under review by coaches statewide, it became pretty clear who would be voted Miss Golf by the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association.
The only golfer to average under par all season – at 71.9.
The only golfer to shoot under par in the four divisions of state finals in mid-October.
Meet Miss Golf, Lillian O’Grady of Grand Rapids Christian. The senior who is heading to the University of Findley next year won her second consecutive state championship – and fourth regional – to lead the team to state runner up. She won every tournament, but one, that she played during this fall high school senior season, when she placed runner up at the OK White Conference final.
“It’s such an honor to receive this award, for me and my family,” O’Grady told me. “When coach called, we were all together and it was fun to see their reactions, too. I’m just very grateful for this.”
Speaking of family, her younger sister, Ellie, is a freshman this year and was big sis’ closest threat at the state tournament, as they finished 1-2 in Div. 3 at Michigan State’s Forest Akers West.
We have a really good relationship but also have a really competitive relationship,” Lillian said. “I definitely didn’t want my little sister to beat me, (yet) she helped bring a more competitive feel to the team as well.”
As far as next steps, O’Grady was very thoughtful about where to go to college for golf, and why. She knew she could play Div. 1 golf but believed her path was elsewhere.
“I wanted to find a good fit and I’m not looking to transfer (to another) college. I was deciding between D1 or D2 and I loved that in D2 I’d be competing for a national championship and competing to win and doing so at a high level.
“I wanted a place to excel, so D2 is for me. I love Findlay’s atmosphere. There’s so many great things with the program, a great indoor facility, and the course is very accessible all the time. It was a hard decision, but I feel confident in it.”
The 4.195 GPA student plans to study Business at Findley.
GR Christian head coach Seth Davies said Lillian was the team’s No. 1 golfer all fours years of high school and very deserving of this award.
“Me and my assistant coach were looking at it and realizing there’s a whole ton of girls across the state deserving of the award, and we thought she had as much of a shot as anyone,” Davies said. “So, it was a very pleasant announcement that it came out she won Miss Golf, but we also looked at just how good she’s been over the last four years and showing consistency all along, winning two state championships. We think she’s someone that’s worked really hard for it and is very deserving of being Miss Golf in Michigan.”
Davies added: “Her biggest strength is her incredible consistency. She has gotten a lot longer off the tee in the last year or two, her irons have always been sharp and her putting is fantastic, but she just doesn't mis-hit shots. She has every shot.
“She is also very positive on the course and manages her game and the course well…it has been incredible to witness from so close how complete a player she is as well as how wonderful a young woman she is."
The MIGCA Super Team and Miss Golf were selected by a committee of MIGCA Hall of Fame members, along with the Executive Board. The committee compared and contrasted the efforts of 23 of the state’s top players without access to their names or schools.
All-State Super Team:
Annie Flavin, 12, Plymouth
Avery Manning, 12, Dexter
Sophia McCollum, 11, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer
Marissa Monteith, 11, Macomb Dakota
Lillian O'Grady, 12, Grand Rapids Christian
Saisha Patil, 9, Okemos
Chaille Payne, 12, Forest Hills Northern
McKenzie Stevens, 10, Northville
