Hilton having fun playing golf again

She quit playing golf for about four years to begin raising a family.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
VIENNA -- At one time, golf ceased being fun for Juli Hilton, so she gave it up.
Hilton, a rookie on the LPGA Tour this season after earning exempt status last fall at the LPGA Qualifying Tournament, is in the field this week at the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic at Squaw Creek Country Club.
She turned professional in 1995 and played on the Players West Tour.
"It just got to the point where I wasn't having any fun out there," Hilton said.
She didn't start playing golf until she was 18 years of age, and then played at the University of San Francisco. She was runner-up in the 1992 and 1994 California State Amateur.
So after a couple of years playing professionally, Hilton, whose maiden name is Christopher, just packed it in and quit.
"I never touched a club for nearly four years, got married and had two children," she said. "Then one day I was playing golf with some friends and all of sudden I started to enjoy myself again."
Joined Tour in 2001
The 33-year-old California native joined the Futures Tour in 2001, and had her career best finish at the Lincoln Futures Classic where she tied for third.
After three unsuccessful attempts at the LPGA qualifying school, Hilton finally got her card last fall when she finished tied for 17th place in Daytona Beach, shooting a 3-under-par 69 on her final round to earn exempt status.
She has played in 15 events on tour this year and doesn't have a top-10 finish, but has won $15,596.
She played last week in the Women's Canadian Open and has also played in the U.S. Women's Open two weeks ago, both tournaments won by Meg Mallon.
Didn't survive cut
"I played pretty good at the Open but didn't make the cut," she said. "We were in the afternoon group on opening day when the rains came and suspended play. We had to come back and play 27 holes the next day and it really got to me."
Hilton also played last week at Niagara Falls where she survived the cut.
"I played well for three rounds, then in Sunday's final round I just couldn't make a putt and shot 77," she said.
But Hilton is having fun playing again on tour and is looking forward to having a good week at Squaw Creek Country Club.
"This is my first time on the course," she said Monday during the Home Savings/Butler Wick Pro-Am, which was played for the most part in the rain.
"I really like what I've seen of the course and it seems to be in great condition."