Valpo's Dubsky prepares for next week's U.S. Junior Girls Golf Championships

"It's a process."

That phrase has been uttered to Valparaiso sophomore Harley Dubsky on countless occasions this past year -- at an admittedly annoying rate at times -- but she's not about to complain about the results.

Earlier this summer, Dubsky qualified for the U.S. Junior Golf Championships, which runs Monday through July 23 at Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club.

"I think I'm slowly getting toward the end of the process," Dubsky said. "I'm really starting to believe in what I'm doing."

Dubsky punctuated her initial prep season last year with a fifth-place finish at the IHSAA state finals. A couple of months later, she headed off to the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.

To make it happen, Dubsky said she took her first-semester finals at Valparaiso High School 10 days early -- over Christmas break -- and said goodbye to friends and family.

"I knew I was going to miss out on things, but I felt this was the best thing for me," said Dubsky, who plans on a return trip to the camp this winter. "I certainly knew it was going to be hard work."

Dubsky also did school work for the second semester while at the academy, and she maintained her IHSAA eligibility for this fall by not participating in Florida prep tourneys. Nothing really changed in her prep golf plans, but the same cannot be said for her golf swing.

Instructors at the academy changed Dubsky's swing plane -- she's now finishing her swing about a foot lower than before. They also cleaned up Dubsky's "messed-up" backswing.

"I'm now staying much more on my feet and letting my hands lead the way," she said. "My knees would straighten, and I would have to jump to follow through on my downswing (before). I knew they would change things, but it was still pretty rough for about a month."

Things have been pretty smooth this summer, which has already featured a June win in the U.S. Junior qualifier at the Battleground Golf Club in Lafayette.

"I've had a breakthrough," Dubsky said. "People have come up to me and said that I'm playing much smarter.

"I'm definitely more confident in my woods, and I feel confident going at par 5s. My short game is also improving."

Dubsky injured her forearm a month ago at the Indiana Junior Championship, but she still wound up in the semifinals. Last summer, back injuries forced the cancellation of a few events on her schedule, but that wasn't the case this time.

"I didn't think it would be bothersome for the U.S. Juniors," she said. "I've learned about my limitations."

Nothing seems to be limiting Dubsky now. She carded seven birdies during her final round at an American Junior Golf Association event in Michigan last week, and she was tied for seventh after the opening round of this week's Western Junior.

Dubsky also believes she's ready for next week's major event.

"This will definitely be my biggest tourney," Dubsky said. "I like how I'm playing now. It's just a matter of staying relaxed.

"It just feels like the hard work is paying off."