Shining Bright(ly)

MUNCIE — Brooklynn Bright didn’t have the strongest start to her golf career.

After a season of work, she exhibited exactly how much she has grown.

Bright had a career day as three Jay County High School girls golfers competed at the IHSAA girls golf sectional No. 17 at Crestview Golf Club on Saturday.

The Delta Eagles won the meet with 349 strokes. The other two teams to earn regional berths were Wapahani (370) and Yorktown (375). The Patriots (2-10, 1-5 Allen County Athletic Conference) only had three golfers available for the match, falling short of the required four for a team score.

“Unfortunately, once again due to injuries on the team, we weren't able to field a competing team and the girls worked through that and didn't let that get them down,” JCHS coach Marvin Buckner said. “I was thrilled when the girls started coming in with their scores. All three of them improved from the beginning of the season, especially our young ones who are first time golfers.”

Bright saw a drastic improvement at the sectional meet. During the first two 18-hole matches of the season, she shot a 128 and a 130 respectively. She cut that down to a 124 at the ACAC tournament on Sept. 7 before shaving even more off for a 102 on Saturday.

“I just went for it,” Bright said. “I was excited (to see my score).”

Bright finished the match with two pars and seven bogeys while limiting the amount of holes with triple-bogeys and double-pars to four.

Her first par came on the 370-yard, par-4 16th hole. The second came on the 405-yard, par-5 hole No. 2.

On the second, Bright teed off with a line drive that bounced up a hill and landed on the left side of the cart path. She miss-hit her second shot, only sending it 10 yards forward, but got it back to the correct side of the path.

She saved the hole when she hit her seven-iron 250 yards to get onto the green in regulation. From there, she putted one yard short of the cup before dropping in the par-putt.

“Her confidence in her swing has improved,” Buckner said. “She handled her nerves really well. She asked a lot of good questions during the round.

“She was just extraordinary at handling the first time being in this type of setting (at sectional).”

Maddy Snow also put together a strong match for the Patriots. 

She finished with 91 strokes, leaving her just short of making the regional meet (the top three golfers not on advancing teams also clinch a regional berth). Jane Armington, from Wes-Del, shot an even-par (72) to take the first spot while Daleville’s Addy Gick (75) and Ava Capes (86) took the final two spots. Snow finished sixth among golfers not on qualifying teams.

“I think I did really good,” Snow said. “Obviously I could have done better, but still proud of how I did.”

Snow’s highlight was a birdie on hole No. 15. Everything came together for the junior on the 340-yard, par-4.

Her drives had been strong to that point in the day, and this one matched that trend almost making it to the green. A good chip set her up for the birdie putt and she executed.

Snow parred the two holes prior as well as the second and sixth.

While Snow’s drives were flying well, she struggled with putting and penalties on the 18th and first holes.

“These greens are hard to read,” Snow said. “Way harder than ours (at Portland Golf Club), and they’re bigger.”

Whitney McIntire finished with a 141 during the match. She struggled throughout the match with double-pars, but had a triple-bogey on the 13th before pulling out a bogey on the 14th.

Despite the struggles, Buckner is pleased with how she improved throughout the season.

“Whitney’s swing has improved from the beginning of the season,” Buckner said. “She’s getting a little better at self-confidence. She's improved immensely. 

“I was happy with what she shot today. She didn't shoot double borrow the whole round.”