Bridget Standard knows she can do better, knows she will be better.
That can only mean special things are ahead for Standard, a sophomore golfer representing Fort Vancouver.
After all, Standard was the only girls golfer from a Class 4A or 3A Clark County team to earn a medal at a state tournament last month when she tied for eighth at the Class 3A championship at Lewis River Golf Course in Woodland. That came a couple weeks after she won the district championship by seven strokes.
For her season of excellence, Standard is The Columbian’s All-Region girls golfer of the year.
Hoping to break into the 70s, Standard fired an 84 and an 83 in the two days at state.
“I felt OK, but I would have liked to have done better,” Standard said. “Low 80s is fine, but I’m just going to improve on my game and shoot better next year.”
That is what happened between freshman and sophomore seasons. In 2013, Standard shot an 88 and 93 to finish 19th at state.
“I’ve been able to hit it farther,” she said, noting she is getting stronger. “A few of the holes were easier than they were last year. It’s good to see what you’re improving on and what you need to work on.”
Standard already is thinking about 2015.
“Next year, my goal is top five and under 80,” she said.
That would be the 70s on both days.
She knows she can do it, but she will have to work on her mental approach to the game.
She was sitting at 1-over par after the sixth hole on her second round at state.
“I was really excited about that,” she said. “I guess I got too excited. I stressed myself out.”
A few too many bogeys later, her great round turned into an 83. Still, that was good enough for a medal at state.
Earlier in the season, she did a remarkable job dealing with setback and focusing after disappointment. She shot an 88 on the first day of the district tournament and found herself trailing.
“I focused too much on what I wanted to score instead of letting it go and just playing the game,” Standard said.
The next day, she relaxed, and just played.
And she won the championship by seven strokes.
Improve, improve, improve. ?That’s Standard’s standard. And if she continues to improve, she will hit her goal of becoming one of the best in Washington, not the best in Southwest Washington.
Player of the Year
Bridget Standard, so., Fort Vancouver
The 3A Greater St. Helens League player of the year and 3A district champion took home a medal by placing eighth in the 3A state tournament.
Rest of the All-Region team
MCKENZIE ALAMILLO, BATTLE GROUND: First-team all-league player shot 173 at 4A state tournament to place 24th.
ELISE FILUK, CAMAS: Shot a 169 at the 4A state tournament, was the highest local placer (17th).
TAYLOR HARTLEY, BATTLE GROUND: The district runner-up shot 172 at state to place 23rd.
JENNA’E LECOMTE, MOUNTAIN VIEW: Shot a 169 to place 10th in the 3A state tournament.
ANNIE LU, MOUNTAIN VIEW: First-team 3A GSHL all-league pick shot 176 at 3A state to place 18th.
REILLY WHITLOCK, UNION: The 4A Greater St. Helens League player of the year and 4A district champion.
