A mere three years ago, Chesterton junior Jake Bobin’s friend took him to Sand Creek for a round a golf and he fell in love. Two weeks ago, at the Rochester Invite, Bobin finished with three birdies and twelve pars, taking medalist honors, reflecting the performance of a player who put in the work over the winter, practicing five hours a day, and is reaping the rewards this season.
From the start at Rochester, Bobin was locked in. “My driver was working, and I made a lot of putts when it mattered,” he said. “I had a good attitude the whole time.” A birdie on the second hole set the tone for the day, giving him an immediate sense that he was in control of his round. “The second hole, I made birdie and I knew it was going to be a good round,” he said.
Much of Bobin’s success came from his putting, which he identified as the strongest part of his game throughout the invite. In a sport where momentum can shift in a single stroke, his ability to stay steady on the greens helped separate a good round from a great one. Being prepared helps, too. “Know the course, trust the shot you’re going to hit,” Bobin said simply.
Beyond the scorecard, Bobin has also seen clear growth in his game this season, particularly in distance off the tee. “Definitely hitting the ball farther,” he said when asked about his biggest improvement. And he’s got plans for what to do with all that improvement: repeat win at sectionals, contend at regionals, and reach the state tournament.
He already knows who’s in his corner supporting his goals. “Definitely my dad. He pushes me every time,” Bobin said. And if mistakes do happen, Bobin leans on a mindset emphasized by his coach. “My coach always tells us that one bad shot doesn’t make a round,” he said. “You have the whole round to play.” And if that doesn’t work, he might just reach for his favorite snack to get him back on track, a Snickers.
Equipment-wise, Bobin pointed to one club he trusts above all others right now. “My 58-degree, because it’s always worked for me,” he said.
April 16, against rival Valparaiso, Bobin shot 35, including an eagle on the par 5 6th hole. He was par or better for the first eight holes and bogeyed on #9 to end the night one under par.
On April 18, CHS took 3rd and Bobin won medalist honors the Michigan City Marquette Invite, shooting a 70 on a par 72 course, marking his third win this season, in “less than ideal conditions” Coach Marc Bruner noted.
If he keeps this up, we just might see him on the PGA, swinging with his favorite player, Scottie Scheffler.
See Jake the rest of the Boy’s Varsity Golfers at the LC Classic at Sandy Pines on Saturday, April 25 at 9am and follow their journey to win sectionals at the Chesterton Trojans Athletic page.
