Ashland University freshman
Gracyn Vidovic has definitely made an impact in her one season with the Eagle women's golf.
Last year at this time, Vidovic was preparing to graduate from Aurora High School – 75 minutes from the AU campus.
Now, she is preparing to compete as an individual at the 2026 NCAA Division II Championships in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on Tuesday-Thursday (May 12-14).
"It's really surreal. Honestly, I don't think it's even hit me yet," Vidovic said. "It doesn't feel like I'm actually going to be going.
"In the fall, I didn't have my best game. Some adjustments, first year in college. I don't think, in the fall, I expected to be in this position. It's a very surreal feeling."
At the NCAA D-II East Regional in Findlay, Vidovic earned the nationals spot by carding 79-77-73—229 and finishing as the second-best individual not on a qualifying team.
The end of his first collegiate head coaching season sees another first for AU's
Ted Chester – a nationals-qualifying golfer.
"Gracyn's the one girl (on the team) that I've known – I first saw her play in seventh grade," Chester said. "When I coached at (Medina) Highland, she was at Aurora. To see her come in, the fall wasn't quite what she wanted.
"To go from September to now at the national championship is amazing. But we knew she had the talent. It doesn't really surprise me that she is doing this."
Vidovic said she came to Ashland, the first school she visited, because, "I remember leaving and I was kind of was talking to my parents, 'Wow, I really loved it.' After visiting other schools, Ashland was all that was in my mind. Everyone was just so welcoming.
"I just knew this was the place for me."
Through her first 24 collegiate rounds (23 varsity), Vidovic is averaging a round of 77.5. She ranks in a tie for third on the team with 39 birdies, and is fourth in pars with 232.
And Vidovic gets better as tournaments go on – her scoring average goes from 79.22 in first rounds to 77.88 in second rounds to 77.33 in third rounds.
While she won't be playing with teammates at nationals, that is not a foreign circumstance for her.
"If you're a golfer…you're always trying to shoot your best score," Vidovic said. "I'm used to competing more individually from high school and everything. But it will definitely be different without my whole team there."
Said Chester, "I personally don't think it's going to be that much different, because most of the players have played high, competitive summer golf, when you are playing by yourself.
"She's prepared. She's ready."
Her freshman season isn't over yet, but nationals could set the stage for what's to come for the next three seasons.
"For me, I'm really excited for the next three years after nationals," Vidovic said. "It adds some pressure, but I like the pressure. I'm ready. I'm excited for it."
