Two more rounds

Jalyn Bruns had two holes to play in what could have been the final round of her high school career.

She birdied the par-5 17th hole, then was even on the 18th for the last of her nine pars for her district round.

As one of the first groups off the course, she had to wait to find out her fate.

Dad, coach Joe Bruns, handled the delay with much more anxiousness than his teenage daughter.

“It was pretty stressful,” she said of having to wait for the rest of the field to finish playing the district tournament at Sycamore Springs Golf Course on Oct. 4. “I could tell Dad was definitely stressed out. I think I’m a little bit better of staying calm. I knew there was nothing I could do once I finished (but) just wait, just enjoy my time there.”

Nearly two hours later, Jalyn, a Fort Recovery High School senior, learned her round of 82 was enough to earn the fourth and final individual qualifying spot to the OHSAA Division II girls golf state championships, which are Friday and Saturday at Ohio State University’s Gray Course.

“I always wanted to,” Jalyn responded when asked if she believed two months earlier she could make the state finals. “I didn’t know if I would. Even during the district tournament because I knew the girls I was playing with were beating me by a few strokes the whole time so until the end I wasn’t exactly sure if I’d get it.

“But I still tried my best and stuck it out.”

In doing so, Bruns became the program’s first state qualifier, and she’ll begin the two-day tournament by teeing off the 10th hole at 10:50 a.m. Friday.

(Her tee time Saturday will be based off Friday’s play.)

Joe Bruns, who was sick most of last year as he battled cancer, believes his fight was always in the back of his daughter’s mind and may have affected her play. Healthy for her senior year, however, he felt any possible distraction was gone.

And father feels it’s quite special to coach his youngest daughter to the state’s pinnacle.

“I know it was a goal of mine because I think she’s worked her way up there,” he said, mentioning one mistake during Jalyn’s sophomore year at district that kept her out of the state finals and then dealing with his health issues a season ago. 

“This year I’m healthy and I think it’s made her mind clear. She’s a very deserving person to go to state.”

Jalyn credits the family aspect of the sport with helping her to become the player she is today and affording her the opportunity to continue playing at Indiana University – East next season. She’s spend the summer months on the course with Joe and older brother Chase, and plays in area tournaments as well.

“It took a lot of practicing,” she said. Joe noted she picked up the game naturally. “Not just the mandatory practices … Lot of not just playing nine holes but (being) on the range; kind of the more boring stuff. Putting for more than (just) 15 minutes a day.”

The field of 71 golfers includes three-time defending state champion Lima Central Catholic, as well as four other teams that played in last year’s tournament: Independence (fifth), Middletown Bishop Fenwick (seventh), Van Buren (eighth) and Canton Central Catholic (ninth). LCC has teammates Emma Mayers (tied-15th) and Bridge Mulcahy (tied-18th) who finished in the top 20 in 2020.

Benjamin Logan senior Sydney Wasson was ninth overall last season, one spot ahead of Shelby senior Nicole Jones. Senior Susan Thompson (tied-15th) of Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley returns to the state meet after placing in the top 20 a year ago.

Bruns, who was the sectional champion, was sixth overall during the district tournament. Based on district scores, her 82 is in a three-way tie for 19th among state qualifiers.

Kristin Ma, a freshman at Columbus School for Girls, and Crooksville sophomore Riley McKenzie are seeded first with their district rounds of 72.

“I think (Jalyn is) definitely capable of being a top-10 player,” Joe Bruns said. “I keep telling her, ‘Go down there and have fun. Don’t put any extra stresses, but understand you belong there.’”

Jalyn will be grouped with Ayersville sophomore Autumn Osborne and Villa Angela-St. Joseph junior Samantha Turk, who shot 81 and 82, respectively, during their district tournaments.

She said her focus will be concentrating solely on her game, not Osborne, Turk or anyone else on the course.

“Just play my best,” she said.