Hinsdale Central senior Erin Bruns serves as a link to the past for the younger players on the varsity roster.
Bruns said she was surprised when many of her current teammates did not know about the Lederhausen sisters or had never heard of Colleen Ahern and Bruns’ older sister, Jacqueline.
Erin Bruns was a freshman when then-seniors Jacqueline Bruns, Rosanna Lederhausen and Ahern led the Red Devils to fourth place in the Class AA state meet in 2012. She never played on the same team as Jacqueline, who graduated in 2013.
Erin Bruns joined the varsity the following year and hopes to make her third appearance in the Class AA state meet Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16-17.
While she isn’t one of the top scorers for Hinsdale Central’s defending state champion girls golf team, the senior has an important role as a team veteran.
Her made her first trip to state as a sophomore, when Hinsdale Central placed third. She played the second round and shot a 91.
She placed 34th in last year’s state tournament and is the only returning senior from the championship team.
“I know how to deal with the situations of playing in big tournaments,” Erin Bruns said. “I’ve been around the block a few times. (This year) has been a lot of fun, but bittersweet. It’s the last time I’ll be playing on the golf team.”
Erin Bruns is the most experienced varsity player among this year’s seniors, which include Jahanavi Gaur, Stephanie Spitzer and Reiya Uppal.
After watching her older sister’s playing career, Erin Bruns is able to tell the younger members of this year’s team about the dominant Red Devils’ players of the past, such as Samantha Postillion, who placed seventh at state in 2008. In 2006, the Devils took second at state and Alexandra Lederhausen became Hinsdale Central’s first individual champion, while Rebecca Lederhausen was third.
“Erin is always talking about her sister, being on the team and how things are different now,” Spitzer said. “I would say Erin is the biggest (voice) out of the seniors. We’re all there to be leaders.”
The top four scorers for Hinsdale Central at the Hinsdale South Regional Oct. 7 were juniors and a sophomore. The regional medalist at Prairie Bluff was junior Jessica Lee with a 1-under-par 71, while sophomore Roshannah Gaur placed second, one shot back. Seniors Erin Bruns (82) and Jahanavi Gaur (84) finished ninth and 12th.
“I think all of the seniors play different roles being leaders on the team,” Erin Bruns said. “The four of us are not the top players on the team, but we all take some kind of leadership role.”
Sectional champs
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Five Red Devils broke 80 at the Neuqua Valley Sectional on Monday, Oct. 12, to carry Hinsdale Central to the championship. Its round of 295 beat runner-up Sandburg by 17 strokes.
Selina Zeng shot 70 for team medalist, while Benet freshman Lauren Beaudreau fired a 69 to win individual honors. Lee (71), Roshannah Gaur (77) and Bruns (77) were scorers for Hinsdale Central.
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