BY DAN STICKRADT
CORRESPONDENT
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
BRIGHTON — Just when one thought Brighton’s Julia Dean had accomplished it all over the past several months, the junior added another niche to her impressive resume at the recent Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association All-State Banquet.
Dean, a junior who completed her first season of high school golf in October, was named the 2015 recipient of Miss Golf, given annually to the state’s top player on the high school circuit at the awards presentation at Eagle Eye Country Club.
Dean, who has already committed to the University of Baylor, tied a school record with a round of 68 at her first tournament back in August, set a school record for both nine holes (37.2) and 18-hole tournaments (72.9), and, for good measure, won 16 of the 18 events she participated in from mid-August to mid-October.
At the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 state finals, Dean carded a two-day total of 82-73—155, coming back from a five-stroke hole after the first day of competition to win by a stroke.
Named to the All-State Super Team in early November, Dean had to wait nearly another month before she earned the Miss Golf award, as she was chosen over a talented field that included Midland Dow junior Stefanie Carras, Plymouth senior Katie Chipman, Maple City Glen Lake junior Nichole Fox, Rochester junior Veronica Haque, Rochester Stoney Creek junior Lauren Ingle, Spring Lake junior Anna Kramer and Lake Orion junior Moyea Russell.
The banquet featured the reading of each Super Team’s resume before they announced the winner.
“It was a great (moment),” offered Dean, who spent the past two school years competing solely on the AJGA circuit. “I knew it would be close. But then I heard my name. I got really excited.”
Dean became the first golfer in school history and first golfer from Livingston County to earn the prestigious award.
“We knew she was very talented, and she came out all season and performed at a high level and ended up being a state champion (as well as Miss Golf),” said Brighton coach Paul Parsell. “She had just an amazing season, very consistent. You always knew she would be among the medalists.”