Girls golf 2022: Avon's Aubrie Rush a leader on and off the course

AVON — Aubrie Rush is a three-time district qualifier, Southwestern Conference champion and leader on and off the course for Avon. In her seasons in Eagles' gear, Rush wants to add one more accomplishment — a Division I state tournament appearance. "My senior year has been pretty good so far. I've had a couple of ups and downs but overall it's been good," Rush said. "I'm really trying not to have any bad rounds this year. I'd like to make it to state." Rush, the 2021 SWC Player of the Year, started her senior season by winning the SWC Preview for the second straight year, shooting 72 at Thunderbird South in the Edison Invitational, and posting a 77 at Avon Oaks Country Club in the Magnificat Invitational. However, according to Avon coach Aaron Millet, the number of low rounds Rush has carded or the awards she's brought home aren't even her biggest contributions to the team. "The thing that is really special about Aubrie is that she's a better kid than a golfer. All of her teammates just love her to death, Millet said. "She's as good a teammate as you'll ever have. She enjoys the camaraderie of high school golf. Her work ethic is something the other girls can model for themselves if they want to get better." It's Rush's work ethic that sets her apart from her competitors and has allowed her to become the player she is today. "I try to practice as least six days a week. If I don't practice, at least I will go out and play," Rush said. "After I practice with our team, I'll usually go hit balls for another hour to hour and a half." Rush grew up around golf. She starting playing at the age of five and was playing in PGA Junior League events at Red Tail Golf Club. Her cousin Dan was a two-time state champion and two time All-Ohio golfer at St. Ignatius, where he still hold the record for lowest 18-hole round. "I've always enjoyed playing golf with my family and now it's fun because they all come out and watch me," Rush said. "I've always been pretty good, but I started to take it more serious when I was around 14 or 15." Rush has had the lowest scores on her team in every match for the last two years but always still finds the time to help her teammates discover ways to improve. "My freshman year was my first season. I had no idea what I was doing and Aubrie was more experienced and she helped me a lot with knowing the rules and stuff. It's almost like having another coach out there," said junior Madigan O'Leary, who was also a first-team All-SWC performer last year. "She's a very bubbly, pleasant person and a great teammate. Whenever I'm not playing well, she always picks me up." Millet said many times Rush is playing at a different level than the girls she's competing against. "Her bad days are better than most kids' good day. She won the conference last year by five or six shots," he said. "She's not just winning, she's winning big. She gives us a six-shot advantage before we even tee it up." With Rush's talent and love for the game, one would think she would be looking forward to playing in college or beyond. But Rush wants to go in a different direction. "I would rather go into a PGA management program to get my pro card so I can teach kids and adults the game of golf that I love," she said. Rush is considering attending Florida Gulf Coast University, which has one of only 18 PGA accredited golf course management programs in the country. "I got involved in teaching because I normally practice at Red Tail, so I volunteered to help with the younger kids," Rush said. "I find it so rewarding, because it helps me see what I want to do in the future and it teaches me how to help other people improve." Every year Rush has improved her score at the district tournament, shooting 92 her freshman year, 86 as a sophomore and 84 last year. Her goal for her final year is to not have any rounds over 80, which would give her a good chance at becoming the first Avon girl to qualify to state since 2019. Contact Todd Shapiro at 440-329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.