RIDGEFIELD — Trent Standard opened a pretty solid lead on the first day of the Class 3A District 4 boys golf tournament.
He needed it, too, on the second and final day.
Standard, a sophomore from Fort Vancouver, rolled in a par putt on the 18th hole Tuesday, clinching the championship by a stroke over Mountain View’s Taylor Smith.
“I’ve worked really hard this past year,” Standard said, relieved to win this event a year after finishing second.
Standard shot an even-par 72 in Monday’s opening round, then carded a 78 Tuesday for a two-day total of 6-over-par 150. Smith, meanwhile, had a 77 Monday followed by a 74 on Tuesday.
The two, playing in the same group, were tied going to the 36th hole of the tournament.
Not that Standard knew that. In fact, the way he was playing, he figured he was down a stroke going into that final hole.
“I did not know we were tied. The only thing I thought about was to get on the green and give myself a chance to make birdie,” he said.
That did not happen, but his par was good enough for the title because Smith missed his par putt.
Smith’s disgusted reaction gave Standard his first indication that maybe he had won.
“I made some good putts for pars. That’s what saved me,” Standard said.
It was the exact opposite for Smith.
“I just couldn’t get putts to drop when they were needed,” Smith said. “The putter was not working today.”
Smith’s chances took a big hit in Monday’s opening round when he went out with a 6-over par 43. He rebounded, though, with a 1-under 34 on the back-nine to get within five strokes of Standard.
“I’m happy I bounced back, but it’s still disappointing,” said Smith, a senior.
Smith was part of a different championship, though. Mountain View won its second consecutive team crown.
Jacob Berg finished third, Zach Ng tied for fifth, Ryan Yeh was eighth, Collin Herrema tied for 10th, and Niko Magistrale tied for 14th, giving the Thunder a big win over Prairie.
The team title is determined by a points system based on final placings for each golfer.
“These are the best players who have come through Mountain View, and I’m happy to be part of this team,” Smith said. “Now we have state to worry about. We’re looking for a state title for Mountain View.”
Landon Joy of Hudson’s Bay had the low-round of the tournament, carding a 71 Tuesday to finish fourth with a 153 total. Marshall Ward of Prairie, Logan Davis of Kelso, and Ng tied for fifth.
The district does not yet know how many golfers will qualify for the state tournament in the spring. Last year, the top six golfers in this tournament automatically qualified, while the next nine went to a bi-district tournament for one final chance to make it to state.
