WOODLAND — The victory was secure long before she teed off Tuesday in the second round of the Class 3A District 4 girls golf tournament. Bridget Standard was just that dominant in the first round.
Standard, a junior from Fort Vancouver, cruised to a 12-stroke victory to claim her second district title in a row, firing a 9-over-par 82 at Lewis River Golf Course, giving her a two-day total of 166.
The victory was secure long before the Prairie Falcons teed off Tuesday in the second round.
The Falcons were just that dominant in the first round.
Prairie won the team title when five players made the cut for the second round. Then those five finished second through sixth. Standard’s 84 was good enough for a 10-stroke lead after the first round. Then she birdied the first hole Tuesday and was on her way.
“I just don’t think about it,” she said of a big lead. “I focus on the here and now. I try not to think about the score. I just focus on par.”
Standard had three birdies on the front nine and finished even par before making the turn. She struggled with a nine on the par-5 15th hole, but managed to record the round of the tournament.
“Pretty happy with the way that I played,” she said.
The top three finishers advanced directly to the Class 3A state tournament. Prairie’s Kaitlyn Michaelson finished second with a 178. She bettered her first-round score by 10 strokes on Tuesday. Dani Ward of Prairie took third at 189.
Standard said her goal is to shoot in the 70s in the two rounds at state and get into the top 10, perhaps the top five.
Michaelson, a senior, started playing golf as a sophomore.
“It’s awesome. I achieved my goal,” she said. “My goal was to make it to state this year, and it happened.”
She credited her teammates.
“I love my team. They’re always there for me, and they helped me become a better player.”
Prarie’s Shenae Collie, Delainey Patterson, and Mekenna Bufford, along with Columbia River’s Amanda Bryan, qualified for the bi-district tournament for one final shot to make it to state.
The Falcons dominated the team race, which gives points for final placings. Prairie scored 194, with Columbia River taking second with 99.
The bi-district tournament is Monday at Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton. The 3A state girls tournament is May 27 and 28 at Horn Rapids Golf Course in Richland.
