Inspired by friend's memory, VU-bound Davy leads L.C.

BY RYAN METZ

Times Correspondent

Missing the cut by two strokes to reach the girls golf state finals last season as an individual and three strokes as a team gave Lake Central's Brianna Davy plenty of motivation for her senior season. But what transpired over the summer last year gave her the all the more initiative.

In June Davy's close friend, Tyler Graves, a member of the Lake Central boys golf team, passed away. The somber days that followed had Davy, a golf disciple, unable to pick up a club and find the course because his memory lingered.

"It was hard to go out to the golf course and be able to concentrate," said Davy, who would practice with Graves as both would play as members at White Hawk. "I've learned a lot the past four years in high school, not only in golf but in life."

Davy has worn a patch with Graves' initials on her sleeve all season, along with carrying his Big Bird driver head cover that she won from him in a match before his death.

"He and I were pretty close on the golf course," Davy said. "Throughout a round this year, I would think about him a lot. After he died it gave me an added initiative to start working harder and do everything in honor of him."

So the success of being the No. 1 player on a Lake Central team that finished 11-2 this season has found Davy pretty satisfied heading into Friday's Bishop Noll Sectional at Lost Marsh.

"Every time I get done with a round, I would think afterwards about how Tyler would critique it. He was always looking out for me," Davy said.

Along with reaching the state finals this season, Davy also had a goal of playing golf in college. She'll do just that as she recently verbally committed to play at Valparaiso University next year.

"I'm proud of a lot of things that I've accomplished, but that's been a big goal of mine," Davy said after shooting a 35 on nine holes at Palmira on Monday.

The decorated Davy has been the Indians' No. 1 player since her sophomore season, and, as the only senior on the team, she also has found her niche as a leader.

"I've been very fortunate to have Brianna as a player," Lake Central coach Chris Rossiano said. "She works extremely hard and you couldn't ask for a better teammate."

Davy plays in more than 40 tournament rounds a year, which includes the prep schedule and Indiana Mountain Dew Tour tournaments.

"All summer long I'm constantly going to tournaments," Davy said. "I can't complain about it though, it's been well worth it."

Published in the Northwest Indiana Times on Sept. 16, 2009.