After shooting a 68 in the opening round, Westfield High School junior Jocelyn Bruch knew her dream of winning a state title was in reach.
“I just didn’t look at the scores much and tried to keep the same mindset, playing one shot at a time,” Bruch said. “Golf is crazy, anything can happen. I just tried to stay in the moment.”
Bruch finished with a 75 in the second round for a two-day total of one-under par 143 to win the individual state title Sept. 29 at the Indiana High School Athletic Association Girls Golf State Finals at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel. Her 68 tied for second-lowest round ever in the state finals.
Bruch, the Shamrocks’ first individual girls golf champion, had to wait while the individuals on the top teams finished before learning she had won by six strokes.
Bruch placed in a three-way tie for seventh as a sophomore and 14th as a freshman. Westfield finished second in team standings both those years, but the team failed to make it out of the regionals this year.
Westfield coach Trevor Neu said Bruch benefited from the approach she took going into the tournament.
“We stuck to the game plan even when things were going a little wrong for her,” Neu said. “I think that was a big factor for her in how she stuck to the game plan (during the second round). She trusted the process, trusted herself, trusted her swing and was able to fight through the holes she had troubles with, then to rebound and finish strong the way she did is just so impressive.”
Bruch admitted the second round was tougher.
“I played well for the first 12 holes and kind of stumbled there at the end,” Bruch said. “I birdied the last hole, so it felt good to finish on a high note. I played consistent both days.”
