Bridget and Grace Boczar’s tight bond leading to success on the course
CANTON, Mich. (BVM) – Bridget and Grace Boczar have always had a special bond, but the game of golf has only strengthened it. The twins have shined throughout their careers thus far, and will soon become college golf teammates as well.
But for the Boczars, it isn’t just about the success they have seen on the links. Rather, it is about the family aspect of the sport.
The twins began playing golf when they were little, as they watched their grandfather, both their parents and their older brother, Jack, compete on the course.
“Our family is a golf family,” Bridget said. “Our family has had a big role in our success. Them being there, helping us with practice rounds, pointing out things in our equipment, helping us get to where we need to be, organizing tournaments, picking which tournaments to play … It’s been really helpful.”
As Bridget began competing in U.S. Kids Golf and Callaway & Meijer Junior Tour events around age 7, she found instant success. Seeing her win multiple tournaments, Grace was inspired to take up the sport as well.
“Once I saw Bridget winning all these trophies, I was like, ‘I want to do that,’” Grace said.
Although Grace began playing in tournaments, too, she didn’t earn her first win until age 11. With Bridget and Jack continuing to bring home trophies, it became a bit frustrating at first.
“I started playing in tournaments when I was 8 but I didn’t win my first tournament until I was 11, and for a while there I was a little frustrated,” Grace said. “But when I finally did win one, it was in pretty spectacular fashion.”
In Grace’s first tournament win, she beat her sister by six strokes, realizing she too had a bright future in the game of golf. As she continued to grow in the game, Grace began to shine with her short game, ball striking and consistency, similar to Jack.
“I definitely model my game after my brother’s game,” Grace said. “He is a very short game-oriented player … I try to actually model my swing after his a little bit too. He’s just been such an inspiration to me not only in golf, but in life too.”
Meanwhile, Bridget also continued to develop her short game, but it became her distance that set her apart. She continued to find success through her youth career, including almost making it to Augusta National for the Drive, Chip & Putt finals.
Through the years, the sisters have met many of their best friends through golf. However, it is their bond with each other that remains the strongest.
“I don’t think I would be the player I am without Bridget and I don’t think Bridget would be the player she is today without me,” Grace said. “We just feed off of each other so much and we kind of rely on each other and depend on each other a lot. We practice all the time together and we play all the time together. We’re honestly so close as siblings too and I think golf is a big part of that.”
“We drive to the course together, we practice together, and with golf as such an individual sport, it can get lonely,” Bridget added. “It’s been amazing to have Grace just be my partner in crime when we go to the course. It’s amazing and it’s been a real blessing to have Grace.”
As Bridget and Grace entered high school at Plymouth, they began adjusting to their first time playing golf on a team. They did so quickly, leading the Wildcats to immediate success. Meanwhile, they were still starring individually, with Grace becoming an all-state performer, and Bridget earning Michigan All-State Super Team honors.
By the time the twins entered their senior seasons last fall, the stage was set for something special to happen.
“Going into senior season, I was planning to play very aggressively all season,” Grace said. “It definitely paid off in the later tournaments like at state.”
“Before the season started, our coach asked us to text him goals,” Bridget noted. “In the past I had won the conference and the regional, but the only big thing left was the state championship.”
The season turned out to be a tremendous one, with Bridget winning or finishing runner-up in every tournament she played, and Grace maintaining a similar pace, shooting numerous rounds in the mid to low 70s.
That set the stage for what would be an incredible state championship finish. Going into state, both girls were focused on what they could control to put themselves in position for good results.
“Going into the state championship, I wasn’t thinking of winning,” Bridget said. “I knew that I had a chance and I wanted to play well, but I was more so just focusing on myself.”
Admittedly, Bridget struggled a bit on day one, shooting a 74. Meanwhile, Grace came out strong, shooting a 72 and holding the tournament lead after the first round.
Putting in a long session on the range that night, Bridget came back rejuvenated for day two. Although she finished the round with a bogey, the Plymouth senior shot a -3 round of 69, and held a one-stroke lead over Grace who still had one hole to play. After a par by Grace on 18, Bridget knew she had achieved her goal.
“I was a little disappointed to end on that note, but as I walked off the green, everyone was clapping and cheering, so I knew I had to be close,” Bridget said. “When I was checking my score on the leaderboard, I saw that I was beating Grace by one. It was a pretty amazing feeling and it was such a surreal day. I definitely knew I had a chance, but I never imagined I would win.”
Although the finish was bittersweet for Grace, she is still very proud of how both she and her sister played.
“After I came off the 18th green, I had just made a par and felt really good about my round,” Grace said. “My coach came up to me, gave me a hug and high five, and he was smiling really big and I thought I won. And then Bridget comes up to me and goes, ‘Beat you by one.’
“I did not expect Bridget and I to have that 1-2 finish. After the first day, I had played some really good golf … I didn’t expect Bridget would play so well that second day, but I’m incredibly proud of her and what we accomplished in our senior seasons.”
After the season, the accolades rolled in for the Boczar twins. Grace earned a first team all-state honor, with Bridget winning one of the state’s most prestigious awards, being named Michigan’s Miss Golf. Both honors cemented what has been a truly impressive legacy left by both golfers at Plymouth, particularly for Bridget who set program records for low score and low average in both nine and 18-hole rounds.
“After I won a state championship, I knew there was a pretty good chance I could win Miss Golf,” Bridget said. “It’s such an honor to win Miss Golf. That was really, really amazing.”
“I hope that future Plymouth golfers just look back and remember that Bridget and I were really hard workers,” Grace said. “I hope that those players are inspired to do the same thing. I’m really proud of all I accomplished in high school.”
With their high school careers in the books, now comes the next step. Both golfers will soon begin their time at Oakland University, which ended up being the mutual choice over a few other schools for the twins.
“We were looking at a variety of schools in our general region,” Bridget said. “Towards the end, that’s when we really got some serious offers and some serious consideration. We didn’t start talking to Oakland until late in the process, but they had a lot of great things to offer.”
Two great courses, the coaching staff, and a brand new golf facility are all things that led the sisters to Oakland. Academics also played a role, as Bridget plans to major in mathematics and philosophy, while Grace will study philosophy and business, striving to become a lawyer someday.
Both sisters are unsure at this point where their golf careers might go beyond college, but for right now, it’s all about what they can accomplish at Oakland. As the weather turns and spring and summer arrive, Grace and Bridget plan to compete in numerous Golf Association of Michigan and American Junior Golf Association events. By the fall, both hope to make an immediate impact in the Grizzlies’ lineup.
Although the twins could have gone their separate ways for college, their tight bond won out yet again, as there was never a doubt they would continue playing together at the next level.
“I think we knew we wanted to play golf together in college since we started playing golf,” Grace said. “I think that was just always an assumed thing. If we were successful in junior golf together, then why wouldn’t we play golf in college together.”
“Since we’ve been practicing together and playing in the same tournaments together, it was just kind of a no-brainer that we would always play together,” Bridget said. “I don’t think I ever really considered going away from Grace.”
And while their ultimate goal is to make the Oakland program better, there is sure to be plenty of competition between the two sisters once again, as that has always been a motivating factor in their success.
“We are a very competitive family, not only with golf, but in school or whatever the competition may be,” Grace said. “Even my brother and my parents, we all just want to win. That’s definitely helped in golf. Even though Bridget and I are so close to each other as siblings, we want to win and beat each other. I think that’s definitely helped with our games. It drives us, it pushes us and it motivates us to be better.”
