LAPEL — In four years Lapel graduate Brodie Williams went from nervous freshman to confident senior.

Four years ago Williams was getting set to play in his first sectional. And to say that there were butterflies in Williams’ stomach would’ve been an understatement.

“I remember teeing up my first shot at the sectional my freshman year and my knees were knocking and I was just praying to get the ball in the air,” said Williams. “This year I was trying to hit the green on a par 4 with my first shot.”

Williams recently completed a senior season at Lapel that saw him become the first Bulldog golfer to win a sectional championship, make it to the second day of the 2009 IHSAA boys golf state finals and earn an All-State selection.

And now he’s been tabbed as The Herald Bulletin Boys Golfer of the Year in a year that saw him accumulate more records and honors in his senior season.

“He set school records for lowest score on 18 holes away, (and) his 295 for the entire state tournament is the best in school history,” said Lapel coach John Maryan. “And he’s the first golfer in Lapel history to win the sectional.”

“It means a lot,” said Williams of being game Golfer of The Year. “That’s pretty humbling (being the first Bulldog to win a sectional). There were several good players, two or three Division I (collegiate) players. So to be the first means a lot.”

On the course, Williams displayed the attributes that one needs to succeed in golf: a strong attention to detail and a strong mental game.

“He’s very in control of the situation. He’s good at course management and making decisions,” said Maryan. “He never gives up. He keeps things in perspective, though. He puts in a good day’s work and he enjoys it.”

“It’s taken a lot of work. The practice rounds, going out and practicing by yourself, it all pays off.”

Maryan points to the Concordia tournament at Chestnut Hills for an example of Williams’ focus. The tournament fell in the middle of a three-week stretch where Williams wasn’t playing up to his standards.

“That was a stretch where I played the poorest I’ve played ... ever,” said Williams. “Eighty is a sour number to me. It just doesn’t come off my tongue easily.”

The Bulldogs senior had shot a couple of scores in the 80s heading into that invitational at Concordia and he was facing another 80-something score as he headed into the final few holes of the day. But Williams found something in him to snap his streak in the 80s.

“He had a 77 and he had to birdie the last three holes to get it,” said Maryan.

“Nothing went right that day,” said Williams. “But I was able to grind it out.”

Being a grinder is something that Williams takes pride in.

As a junior, Williams’ season was highlighted with new scoring marks and a seemingly easy path to the state finals. As a senior, his road back to Legends wasn’t exactly a smooth one, but to Williams it was something to savor even more than the trip his junior year.

“The harder road is more satisfying,” said Williams.

Williams will be taking his game to Muncie to play for the Ball State Cardinals next year. The incoming freshman just completed orientation on the Muncie campus.

“We were pretty much herded like cattle,” Williams joked.

Williams sees his next step to Ball State being similar to the step one takes from middle school to high school.

“It’s a progression. I’m starting from the bottom of the totem pole again after I was at the top (as a high school senior),” said Williams. “I get to see what I can do at the next level.”

To get to this level Williams had a solid foundation starting at home. Williams’ father, Kent, runs Brockway Golf Course and taught the game to sons Brodie and Hayden. Hayden Williams graduated from Lapel in 2003. His mother, Alice, was always there, being everything from ardent supporter to transportation.

“I really want to thank my family; my dad for teaching me the game and my mom for going with me everywhere,” said Williams. “The competitors in the county, any one of whom could’ve been named (golfer of the year), and the community as a whole that supported me on this run.”

Williams also gave credit to a fellow classmate for his success this season.

“Mason Lloyd helped push me along this year,” said Williams. “It was very disappointing that he didn’t get out of sectional, ‘cause I saw the way he prepared. But thanks to him for pushing me and helping me this season.”

When next season rolls around at Lapel, Maryan knows that he’ll have a major hole to fill on the course. But that’s not where he’ll miss Williams the most.

“As good of a golfer as he is, he’s an even better person,” said Maryan. “He’s just great to be around. I’ll miss him more than I’ll miss his golf.”