No. 3: Plymouth Twin Sisters Finish 1-2 in Division 1 State Finals
By Tom Lang
Bridget Boczar of Plymouth won the high school Division 1 state finals in October, the largest division in the state. Her twin sister, Grace, was tied for the lead at Grand Valley State’s golf course after day one while Bridget was in 4th, but after Bridget’s second round 69 for a 143 total, she finished just one stroke ahead of her sister, Grace (72-72-144).
The simple fact that Bridget won the state title and was voted Miss Golf does not make this the No. 3 story in Michigan, but having twin sisters place 1-2 – at such incredible odds for a competitive result – helped it climb the list.
(Note: two sisters in Nebraska, a senior and a sophomore, finished 1-2 this year, separated by 6 strokes in a smaller division of their high school finals.)
Bridget said the end result didn’t surprise her as much as most people probably would be.
“I can see us both in any (high school) situation placing in the top 5, and I’m glad how it turned out,” Bridget said.
Some might find it hard to believe they are twins. They really don’t even look like sisters to start. Bridget plays more of a power game, hitting it 240-250 off the tee, and Grace is more about success in the short game. According to golf instructor Brian Cairns at Fox Hills Performance Center, Bridget plays more from her instincts, and Grace is a very focused person on technical skills.
“It was just such a great ending to a really great career for both of us,” Grace said about the state finals. “It felt very fitting, yet kind of ironic in a way, because we came into (the high school game) together and we left out together as the two best in the state. It was funny (the odds) but also really sad in a way, too, being the last tournament as seniors. But it was really cool.”
Bridget won Miss Golf on the strength of winning or coming in runner up in every match Plymouth played this year. She broke every school record for women’s golf at Plymouth: Low 9-hole score and low season average, plus low 18-hole score (67) and low season average (70.8). Grace added first-team All-State to her resume.
Despite other differences in their lives, there’s going to be a lot more togetherness ahead after they finish high school this year. Both have accepted offers to play golf at Oakland University.
“I always just imagined us going to college together,” Bridget said. “I don’t think I’d be able to separate from Grace, now. We’ve been together in all the tournaments. I think we’ve only played a couple of tournaments separately, ever, maybe two (since first playing golf tournaments in elementary school), where we weren’t in the same field. So, we definitely want to stick together.”
Grace said they like the competitive schedule Oakland U. plays, the head coach’s goals and the education they will receive.
“No, I don’t think there’s ever too much together time,” Grace said regarding the chance they’ll get sick of each other. Grace also agreed Bridget has come out on top more often in golf scores, “But I think I’m more consistent at shooting just about the same scores over and over and over again, whereas Bridget tends to fluctuate a little more.
“We know it’s going to flip back and forth, so if I’m happy for Bridget (when she wins) I know Bridget will be happy for me the next time.”
That wasn’t always the case, according to their mom, Roxanne, who said a few years ago there was some dissension now and then and “I kind of laid down the law. I told them if one of them wins, the other needs to be there and support each other, so from here on out I don’t care how bad you played, you need to be there for the other one.”
Their older brother, Jack, has always been there for them. Another ironic part of this 1-2 state final tail is the fact that in 2016, at the same course, Jack placed runner up in the state finals when he came up short in a playoff. Both sisters were there on the second day to watch.
“I was in 6th grade then and just okay at golf, so I don’t think I comprehended how big a deal it was to have a chance at the state championship,” Grace said about her brother. “One of the graduated Plymouth team members asked me if Jack was good at playoffs. I looked at him and I vividly remember this, always, and I said, ‘they call Jack the dream crusher,’” she said with a smile, referring to his golf competitors.
“During the practice round I said, ‘Bridget, wouldn’t it be so funny if we got into a playoff for the state championship, too?’”
There was no playoff this time, and no broken dreams in the Boczar house – except for maybe one. Northville won its fourth straight team title, unofficially the No. 11 story this year.
