By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

Gracyn Vidovic, an Aurora junior, is going to state.

She earned that opportunity at the Brookledge Division I District, firing a 4-over-par 75 as the runner-up medalist and first individual qualifier.

“I wasn’t putting great,” said Vidovic. “I managed to pick it up on the back nine and make the most of it.”

Downplaying her outstanding district round, Vidovic talks about the upcoming state tournament.

“I am going to continue my practice regimen,” said Vidovic. “I think I trust it to get me through.”

Following her interview with Portage Sports, Vidovic was headed out to play Barrington Golf Club with her coach Collin McEndree, head golf professional at Club Walden.

“My coach is great,” the junior offered. “He is the best and makes golf awesome and fun for the entire team.
The Aurora Greenmen just missed the opportunity to advance to the state tournament as a team by three strokes.

“It is so sad to miss going as a team,” said Vidovic. “I love playing with the team and all the girls are great. I have been at Aurora since first grade so a lot of the girls on the team I have known my whole life.”

Following a successful summer of tournaments, Vidovic now heads to the biggest stage for an Ohio high-school golfer.

She played in the Northern Ohio PGA series of junior summer tournaments, earning Player of the Year honors over all of the solid golfers throughout northern Ohio.

“I love playing the tournaments,” said Vidovic. “That’s all my golf friends and super fun to meet everyone.”

Vidovic started playing golf four years ago through a few group lessons.

“I wasn’t really serious. Then I started playing with my family and now I play with my great-grandpa, Richard Conway, age 93,” Vidovic said. “It’s amazing to play with family.”

Vidovic’s parents, Shane and Ashley Vidovic, make it possible for her to go to tournaments throughout the summer and support her at every match.

Vidovic is in her first year as a member of Quiz Bowl at Aurora, but she just practices golf over the winter and she just loves to go out and play golf.

“My goal this year was just to go out and win states,” said Vidovic. “Hopefully I win this year or next year since it is a goal.”

Her favorite contests this season included the Walsh Invitational at Hudson Country Club and the nine-hole match against Laurel at Club Walden.

“I got to play with one of my best friends from the summer tournaments that plays for Laurel.”

She has been to Florida to play a tournament and was able to play in an IMG tournament with “really good golfers,” in Vidovic’s words. “It was good to see how they play. It was just cool,” she explained.

Vidovic offered that she just goes out and plays.

“I work hard and I play hard,” she said. It’s really fun.”

When fans see Vidovic on the first tee of the Ohio State University Gray Course in Columbus on Friday, it’s a good bet she is going to be smiling as she tees off at 10:40 a.m. She loves the game of golf and is making the goals she set for herself come true.