Bracco aims to help Crown Point win golf sectional

CROWN POINT | Lucia Bracco has yet to reach the pinnacle of her golf game.

The progress she has already made, however, suggests Bracco has the talent to put herself among the elite golfers in the Duneland Athletic Conference. On Aug. 17, for example, Bracco fired a 39 in a triangular meet against Munster and Griffith, the best nine-hole score she's ever recorded.

"It was a big confidence booster," she said. "I just put a bunch of good holes together, basically. It was a good round for me."

Bracco tied for sixth place at the DAC Invitational earlier this season with an 18-hole round of 86, no small feat considering Bracco went up against talented conference golfers such as Chesterton's Kelly Grassel and Valparaiso's Harley Dubsky.

"I think (the competition) pushes you to do better," Bracco said. "You're pushed against other golfers to do better. You see how they approach shots on the course and you work off them."

Without the improvement she has made in her game over the course of just one season, Bracco would be hard-pressed to stay competitive within the DAC.

Bracco consistently shoots in the low- to mid-40s over nine holes and has seen her biggest improvement with 18-hole scores. Last season, nine-hole scores in the 50s weren't uncommon.

"You definitely see her (improvement) more in the 18-hole matches, when she can put two steady rounds together," Crown Point coach Jon Haas said.

One of the biggest reasons for Bracco's improvement is her increased distance off the tee. Though by no means a long-ball hitter, she can consistently drive around 200 yards now, compared to the 160-yard shots that were commonplace last season.

Combining that with her ability to stay out of trouble on the course has been the primary source of Bracco's development.

"She's one of the smartest players in any sport that I've ever coached, with the way she keeps herself out of trouble," Haas said. "You don't have to hit the longest ball, you don't have to be the best putter -- you have to avoid disastrous holes, especially in the big invites. She always avoids those."

Avoiding hazards will be key for Bracco at Monday's Bishop Noll Sectional. The event will be held at Lost Marsh, which features a number of water hazards.

The Bulldogs will be aiming to repeat as sectional team champion, while Bracco hopes to improve upon the 93 she carded there last season.

"I just want to shoot in the 80s and see where I can go from there," she said."