A collection of the world’s best female golfers descended on Galloway, N.J., for the 38th ShopRite LPGA Classic this weekend, and, along with the talent they’ll display on the Bay course at the Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, the players bring an array of ages and experiences.
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Meaghan Francella, 44, of Philadelphia, is among the 144 pros swinging for the $2 million purse. The former LPGA tournament winner has spent the last four years as an LPGA teaching professional at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Founded in 1854, the club is one of the nation’s oldest and last year hosted the PGA’s Truist Championship.
The historic grounds draw in generations of golfers. Francella, who coaches everyone from junior golfers to senior citizens, says competing helps sharpen not only her game but her coaching as well.
“You’re around the best players in the world, and you gotta learn something while you’re out here,” Francella said. “I just see what they’re doing and try to take it to the range to see if it will help any of my students.”
Invited based on her tournament winner status, Francella tees off at 7:20 a.m. Friday and is ready to represent Philadelphia. She’s spent weeks practicing, though the pressure to perform has waned over the past decade-plus.
Francella turned pro in 2004 after playing college golf at The University of North Carolina. The highlight of her golf career was in 2007, when she beat a field that included then-world No. 1 Annika Sorenstam to win the Mastercard Classic. Though she stepped away from full-time professional golf in 2014, Francella remains competitive, with her love for the game unwavering.
“I still know that I have a lot of good golf left in me,” Francella said. “I put a lot of work in in the last couple weeks, and I feel really good, my body feels good, so I’m looking forward to playing.”
Her ambition, in her post-professional career, is reflected in her students.
Isabella DiLisio, 28, who was one of Francella’s first trainees and now a close friend, has a similar drive and journey. As a member of Notre Dame’s golf team, DiLisio fell out of love with the game after injuries and pressure took a toll. Francella, however, brought healthy competition back into her life.
“Once I was able to learn how to play for fun and just go out and enjoy it, it made me love it again, because I was doing it because I wanted to,” said DiLisio, who won two PIAA Class 3A titles at Mount St. Joseph Academy in Flourtown.
Now, alongside Francella, DiLisio, competes to fulfill personal goals and is playing in two amateur tournaments around Pennsylvania this weekend alone.
“A goal of mine is to continue to compete at a high level, like winning the U.S. women’s Mid-Am would be like an absolute dream,” DiLisio said. “[Francella] definitely pushes me and wants me to be the best golfer that I can be to get there.”
Last year’s champion, Jennifer Kupcho, said that the sport’s age range is beneficial even within the professional ranks, especially for the growing number of rookies.
“To be able to talk to them and give them mentorship and have them ask questions, it’s pretty cool to be in that spotlight instead of where I was as a rookie doing the same thing to girls like Ally Ewing, Emma Talley — girls that aren’t out here anymore,” Kupcho said.
Francella particularly feels that sense of community is especially at the Cricket Club, with many members coming out this weekend to support her.
“I think golf is the one sport that all ages can kind of play together,” she said. “I played with two members that have been members forever at the club, and they’re in their 80s, and both of their daughters are students of mine, and they’re in their 50s.
“I’ve been out here for a long time, and I’m getting to the age where I’m one year away from senior LPGA stuff, but it’s nice to see the younger generation out here.”
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