There's always pressure in playing for the Granville High School boys golf team. It's probably magnified when replacing an older sibling at the top of the lineup as Dillon Bright did this season.
Fortunately, the potential pratfalls of such a situation never materialized as the senior led the Blue Aces back to the Division II state tournament, marking the fourth time in five years they qualified. The team also became the MSL-Ohio Division's first three-time champion, with spring graduate Trevor Bright having led the way as the No. 1 player the previous two seasons while earning ThisWeek's Player of the Year honors.
"They're so different personality-wise. That probably helped alleviate any kind of sibling rivalry they might have had," said coach Brian Booher, whose Blue Aces won a sectional team championship and was the district runner-up before placing eighth (683 strokes) at the state meet on Oct. 16-17 at NorthStar Golf Club in Sunbury as Dayton Oakwood (623) prevailed. "They got along extremely well when they played here together, and I'm sure Dillon really learned a lot from watching how Trevor always conducted himself.
"In fact, I don't recall us ever having any discussion about how the two interacted with each other even though they were in a highly-competitive environment."
Dillon carded rounds of 79-84 for a two-day 163 total at the state meet to finish in a tie for 19th place overall as an individual. His 77 also was the low score for the Blue Aces when they trailed DeSales 315-322 at the district tournament on Oct. 5 at River Greens in West Lafayette. They defeated the runner-up Stallions 315-326 at the home sectional on Sept. 28.
"Trevor was more quiet, and he took everything real serious. I'm more outgoing and like to have fun," Dillon said. "I felt pressure because I wanted the team to do well, but I never really felt I had to compare myself to him."
Dillon was named the MSL-Ohio's Player of the Year. He also garnered the district Player of the Year honor to join Ken Bickell in 2006 as the only Granville players to win that award this decade.
"It's a great honor," Dillon said. "Honestly, I expected it to go to someone from DeSales because they were so good this year (finishing fourth at state with a 635 total)."
Dillon, who also wrestles, is hoping to continue playing golf in college. He's looking as smaller schools such as Mount Union and Walsh University, but Division I programs such as Bowling Green and Kent State remain on his wish list.
"He exudes confidence, and that probably comes at least a little from wrestling," Booher said. "The other kids on the team, they always instantly relaxed around him, too, but they knew when it was time to go he'd be ready. The bottom line is he put the ball in the hole."
Honorees
PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Dillon Bright, Sr., Granville
HONORABLE MENTION -- Emily Dixon, Soph., Watkins Memorial; Amy Greenwood, Soph., Granville; Cody Green, Sr., Johnstown; Tony Guinta, Sr., Newark Catholic; Eric Hall, Sr., Granville; Joe Metzger, Sr., Utica; Jake Miller, Jr., Watkins Memorial; Corey Weisenstein, Sr., Watkins Memorial
COACH OF THE YEAR - - Jay Dalgarn, Watkins Memorial boys