Jolly Joins Husker Women's Golf Program

One of the top young golfers at Illinois State as a freshman in 2024-25, Jessica Jolly announced her decision to follow former Redbird Head Coach Breanne Hall to Nebraska on Monday, June 9.

"I am excited to welcome Jessica Jolly to the Husker Golf family," Hall said. "Jessica had an impressive freshman year and has proven herself as a dedicated, resilient and driven student-athlete. Her commitment to improvement and her love for the game make her an incredible addition to our program. I'm looking forward to watching her grow and thrive over the next three years at the University of Nebraska."

Jolly, a native of Rockford, Michigan, competed in all 33 team rounds for the Missouri Valley Conference champions at Illinois State a year ago. She earned four top-10 individual finishes on her way to a spot on the All-Missouri Valley Conference team. She finished with a 75.36 stroke average on the season, including a season-best 69 in the second round of the Sea Best Intercollegiate (Jan. 27). She added six rounds of 70 and a round of 71 during the season.

Jolly opened her collegiate career by tying for fourth individually at Illinois State's season-opening Redbird Invitational at the Weibring Golf Club in Normal, Ill. (Sept. 8-9). Jolly fired a 215 (-1) with rounds of 73, 70 and 72 on the 6,093-yard layout.

She added her second top-10 finish by tying for ninth with a career-best 210 (-6) in The Clash at Boulder Creek in Boulder City, Nev. (Oct. 20-22). Jolly posted three consecutive rounds of 70 (-2) on a 6,334-yard layout at the Boulder Creek Golf Club to lead the Redbirds.

Jolly opened the spring with a tie for ninth at 216 (-1) at the Sea Best Intercollegiate in Jacksonville, Fla. (Jan. 27-28). Her effort included a career-best 69 (-3) in the second round on a 6,084-yard layout at the San Jose Country Club.

She earned her third consecutive top-10 finish and fourth of the season with a tie for eighth with a 218 (+2) at the Columbia Classic in Viera, Fla. (Feb. 8-9). She carded rounds of 70 (-2) around a second-round 78 on a 6,293-yard layout at the Duran Golf Club.

Jolly produced her fifth top-20 finish of the year by tying for 17th with a 228 (+12) at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship at the Annbriar Golf Course in Waterloo, Iowa (April 13-15). Her opening-round 72 counted toward Illinois State's title-winning team score to help the Redbirds advance to NCAA Regional play.

She capped her freshman campaign by tying for 62nd with a 237 (+21) at the NCAA Columbus Regional (May 5-7). Jolly's final-round 75 (+3) led the Redbirds on the final day of regional competition. She opened with a 77 (+5), before battling her way to an 85 in a rain-soaked second round at the Scarlet Course.

A four-time all-state selection during her four years at Rockford High School in Michigan, Jolly was also a first-team All-State Super Team member in 2022 and 2023. She tied a course record at the 2022 MHSAA Regionals with an eight-under 64. She also set a course record at Pigeon Creek with a six-under 29 over nine holes during a conference match.

Jolly made the cut and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2023 Michigan Women's Amateur and was the 2023 Golf Association of Michigan Junior Kickoff Champion. During the summer, she qualified for the 2023 U.S. Girls Junior Championship. She tied for seventh during the stroke play portion of the 2023 Women's Western Junior, and advanced to the final 16 during the match-play portion of the event.