BY DAN STICKRADT
CORRESPONDENT
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
BRIGHTON — When Julia Dean opted to join Brighton’s girls golf program, 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 on-line through a home-school option and did not compete for Brighton.
Instead, Dean competed year-round on the American Junior Golf Association, traveling the country at prestigious junior events all while 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 — in Michigan the girls golf high school season last only a swift two months from mid-August to mid-October — 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, the lowest she finished was at the first day of the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 state finals, where she shot a season-low 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), the latter a school record for 18 holes.
Dean was also second at both the Ann Arbor Pioneer Invite (74) and KLAA Conference Tournament (76).
On the season’s final day, Dean rose to the occasion under cold and windy temperatures with a sterling round of 73 at Grand Valley State University’s The Meadows Golf Course. That round was not only the best round of the two-day state finals, but it 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 (359-354-713). Brighton was also top five at every tournament the Bulldogs played in 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 be a finalist for the 2015 Miss Golf award, which 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 that would help bring Brighton back to the top 10. The Bulldogs did not qualify in 2014 after making the cut nine times in the previous 15 seasons through 2013, a year Brighton finished 12th overall.
Brighton has now posted six top-10 team finishes since 2000 and Dean was huge part of that success this season.
“She’s a great kid and a great golfer. We’re thrilled she joined our team this year,” said Brighton coach Paul 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.”