The 2026 Epson Tour season kicks off this week at Atlantic Beach Country Club with the Atlantic Beach Classic presented by Access Golf, and the event carries extra hometown pride thanks to two players who truly call this course and community home: Jillian Hollis and Jackie Lucena.

For both athletes, teeing it up at Atlantic Beach Country Club isn't just another tournament stop; it's a rare chance to compete on familiar ground, with no long travel days, and a built-in cheering section of members, friends, and fans who've watched their journeys unfold.

Jillian Hollis, now serving as a tour ambassador for the club, has made Atlantic Beach her practice home base in recent weeks. The advantage to her this week is clear and immediate.

"It is very great to be at my home course this week," Hollis said. "I've gotten to play the course a bunch of times over the last couple of weeks and met a lot of the membership here, and everybody's so nice and supportive."

The course's reputation as one of the toughest on the Epson Tour schedule only amplifies the edge for a local like Hollis. Tight fairways, swirling winds, and demanding approach shots demand precision and creativity, skills she's honed right here during the off-season.

"This is really the hardest course that we play all year," Hollis noted. "I'm just very grateful for Atlantic Beach Country Club, and them allowing me to practice here and to get better and to practice at a course that just... knocks your teeth in because it's really tough out here, day in and day out."

That daily grind has sharpened the 28-year-old’s versatility. "I think it's taught me a lot of different ways to hit a golf ball," Hollis explained. "Like you have to hit so many different shots out here, especially around the greens. The fairways are tight, and around the green are tight... You can never get complacent out here. I think I'm always challenged mentally every day with deciding on my shots. I think it really has refined my game a lot."

The payoff extends beyond yardages and shot shapes; it's the community embrace that makes this week special. With no cross-country flights or hotel adjustments, Hollis arrives rested and dialed in. And the fan support? It's personal.

"I hope so," she said when asked about a bigger gallery. "I have had a lot of members tell me that they're going to come out and watch. I should have a lot of support and a lot of love out there. I'm so excited. The membership here is great. Made a lot of really good friends. I've got one of the members caddying for me, and I couldn't be more excited... Having the support of the members means the world to me."

Adding to the local flavor, Epson Tour General Manager Jody Brothers is a member of Atlantic Beach Country Club. His dual role this week of leading the tour while being part of the host club's community underscores the deep ties between the Epson Tour and this venue, making the season opener feel even more like a family gathering.

Jackie Lucena, a University of Florida alum and Jacksonville-area resident, brings her own local flavor to the week. As a Florida native with deep ties to the region, Lucena benefits from the same short commute and comfort of home turf. Practicing and competing at Atlantic Beach Country Club allows her to lean on familiar green complexes, wind patterns, and sight lines. The advantages that traveling players spend days adapting to.

"It's exciting," Lucena said of starting the season at her home course. "To be able to play a course for your first event of the year that you've been playing for the last three months, four months is obviously a great advantage for me. And to not just have a golf course, but to have members that you've seen and that you're now friends with, and you have a community around you that is going to come out, watch, and rally behind you. That's not something you get to see often in golf; we are always traveling for events."

Atlantic Beach Country Club isn't just hosting, it's rallying behind its ambassadors, locals, and even its own Epson Tour leader, Jody Brothers. Galleries will include familiar faces from the membership rolls, friends who've followed their amateur and pro paths, and a supportive vibe that turns a standard tournament round into a community celebration. Minimal travel means more energy for preparation and fan engagement, from pre-round chats to post-round autographs and stories.

The member experience amplifies the excitement for both players. "I think that there's definitely going to be people who come out and support," Lucena noted. "The women's club out here has been really great... a lot of the members out here, they come out to watch regardless, but knowing that Jillian and I are both here and you have kind of some kind of like a home team, you feel like you've got people that want to support you and have been talking to us for weeks looking forward to coming out and seeing you."

As the Epson Tour season begins, Hollis and Lucena embody what makes events like the Atlantic Beach Classic special: the blend of elite competition and genuine hometown heart. With the course's challenges waiting and a sea of local support ready to cheer, this opening week promises memorable moments for the players, and unforgettable viewing for the members and fans who know them best.

Watch for both to leverage their home-course knowledge as the winds swirl and the putts roll at Atlantic Beach Country Club. The 2026 season starts right here, with locals leading the way.

Local Heroes Tee It Up: Jillian Hollis and Jackie Lucena Bring Home-Course Magic to the Atlantic Beach Classic

Related Articles