BRIGHTON — When Julia Dean opted to join the Brighton girls golf team, she quickly became the Bulldogs’ cherished treasure.
A junior, Dean did not compete at the high school level the previous two years. She took most of her classes online through a home school option and did not compete for Brighton.
Instead, Dean competed year round in the American Junior Golf Association, traveling the country to prestigious junior events and recording numerous top-10 and top-20 finishes.
“Playing for Brighton is something I always wanted to do, but I had been so busy with other tournaments for [the American Junior Golf Association]. I could never make it work with my schedule,” said Dean. “This year this was my first opportunity to play for the high school. It worked out. I wanted to join. The camaraderie of the high school team is so much fun. I’m glad I did it.”
Playing on the high school circuit for the first time, Dean quickly established herself as one of the state’s most talented players.
Over the course of the last two months, Dean averaged 72.9 over 10 tournaments. In fact, she recorded her highest score of the season on the first day of the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 state finals, when she shot an 82 in blustery conditions. That was still fifth and only five strokes off the pace. The other nine tournament outings, Dean finished either first or second.
The Baylor University-commit won the Hartland regional (71), Milford Mavericks Invite (69), Grosse Ile Invite (77), KLAA-Lakes Division Preseason Tournament (70), Holt Invite (69), and Brighton Invite (68). Her score in the Brighton Invite set a school record for 18 holes.
She was second at both the Ann Arbor Pioneer Invite (74) and the KLAA Conference Tournament (76).
On the season’s final day, Dean rose to the occasion under cold and windy conditions with a sterling round of 73 at The Meadows at Grand Valley State University. That round was not only the best round of the two-day state finals, but it also catapulted Dean into pole position for medalist honors.
She became Brighton’s first state champion in the sport. “It’s an amazing feeling,” said Dean. “I don’t think we’ve had a state champ here at Brighton.”
Dean helped Brighton climb to No. 3 in the state rankings this year and aided the Bulldogs’ ninth-place finish at the Division 1 state finals. Brighton was also in the top five at every tournament it entered this season until the state finals.
A lock for the All-State Super Team as one of the state’s top eight players, Dean will also be a finalist for 2015 Miss Golf, who will be selected in November by the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association.
“That would be really cool,” smiled Dean. “But that’s not why I play. I just want to go out each time and play my best and hope to help my team [finish] as high as it can.”
Brighton coach Paul Parsell knew that he had a special talent joining the roster this season and a type of player who would help bring Brighton back to the top 10. The Bulldogs did not qualify for the finals in 2014 after making the cut nine times in the previous 15 seasons through 2013, a year that Brighton finished 12th overall.
Brighton has now posted six top-10 team finishes since 2000, and Dean was huge part of the success this season.
“She’s a great kid and a great golfer. We’re thrilled she joined our team this year,” said Parsell. “Julia was one of the top golfers at every tournament we played at this season. She’s a competitor. She’s very calm out there. She’s played in a lot of big tournaments through the AJGA and handles the pressure very well.
“We only have one senior on our entire roster, so we’re hoping Julia comes back next year for her senior season,” added Parsell. “I think we could be a very good team again next year and be right up there with the top teams in the state.”