Two Westfield golfers will play in the semi-finals of the Women’s Western Junior today.
Jocelyn Bruch and Gabriella Gilrowski won two matches during Wednesday’s competition at the prestigious event, which finishes up today at Woodland Country Club in Carmel.
Bruch, the No. 7 seed, is a Purdue University-commit. She took control early in her afternoon match.
“My caddie made the difference for me in the second round of match play,” Bruch said. “I did not have a caddie in the morning match. He kept me in a better mood.”
Bruch, an incoming senior for the Shamrocks and the reigning IHSAA individual champion, was 3 up through nine holes. She went on to win holes 11, 12 and 13 to win 6 & 5.
Looking ahead to Thursday’s semi-finals, the 17-year-old Bruch said, “I obviously want to get to the final match. I really just want to have fun out there.”
Gilrowski, the No. 12 seed, upset the Nos. 5- and 4-seeded players on Wednesday. She found herself 2 down through seven holes in her afternoon match against Molly Bebelaar of Louisville.
“I kept my head in the game,” Gilrowski said. “Golf is such a fickle sport. I never took myself out of it.”
The senior-to-be brought the match to all square on the ninth hole.
“I love holes 10, 11 and 14,” Gilrowski said. “I was able to stick my wedges inside 10 feet to put myself in birdie range.”
Gilrowski birdied 10, 14 and 15, winning the match 3 & 2.
Gilrowski will play the first semi-final, taking on Brooke Biermann of Wildwood, Mo. at 7:30 a.m. Bruch plays Nathaly Munnicha of Columbus, with tee time for that match at 7:38 a.m. The semi-final winners advance to the afternoon championship match.
Jocelyn Bruch receives a congratulatory hug from her opponent, Isha Dhruva, after winning their quarter-final match Wednesday and advancing to the semi-finals of the Women’s Western Junior at Woodland Country Club in Carmel. (Photo by Madison Banas/WGA)
Gabriella Gilrowski advanced to the semi-finals with a 3 & 2 win in the quarter-finals. (Richie Hall)