All-Region Girls Golf: Hailey Oster, Camas

An easy day of golf for Camas’ Hailey Oster would seem like a full day to your average golfer.

But Oster isn’t your average golfer.

“It kind of depends on the time of year,” Oster said when asked about an average day of golf. “In May, it was like a ton. A few weeks before state, I’d go to workouts in the hour in the morning, and then I’d have a lesson for an hour, then I’d go to practice, and then I’d play 18 holes with some of my friends from school, just some guy friends just for it to be fun and easy going. So sometimes I’d be gone for like 12 hours.

“But then other days, I’d just practice for like three hours at Royal Oaks.”

Well, all of the hard work paid off for Oster as she finished her senior season by winning the 4A district tournament and being the highest local finisher at the 4A state tournament by tying for ninth place with a solid 36-hole score of 147.

All of that led Oster to be selected as The Columbian’s All-Region girls golfer of the year.

“I was really nervous for this state tournament surprisingly because I’ve played it a ton,” she said. “But I think I was nervous because I had practiced and prepare so much for this tournament, like the most I’ve ever been prepared for a tournament. … I wanted to play well and make it all pay off.”

It did, although Oster pointed out that a 147 in 2017 would have earned her a tie for second. Still, her ninth-place finish matched her best state finish and was by far her best score at state.

She made state all four years at Camas, finished tied for 26th as a freshman, tied for 12th as a sophomore before finishing with back-to-back ninth place finishes.

Oster credits her improving game to a better mental approach.

“I used to struggle mentally on the course, so I went to a mental golf coach for a while which really helped me a ton,” she said. “Just thinking about one shot at a time and not thinking forward or backwards. You can’t play good golf if you’re not confident and believe in yourself, which took me a really long time to learn.”

And being part of a strong Camas program also had its benefits. The Papermakers placed second in the team standings the past three years.

“My teammates were like my competition,” she said. “Emma Cox really helped to push me. Ashley Clark pushed me a ton this year. It makes you want to do better in a good way.”

Next fall, Oster will take her golf game to Montana State. This summer, she’ll play a few tournaments, but will spend a lot her time traveling to Scotland, Iceland and Washington, D.C.

Emma Cox, Camas — Junior was a first-team all-4A GSHL pick, placed fourth at district and placed 15th at the 4A state tournament.

Taylor Entenman, La Center — Senior was 1A SW Washington League MVP, 1A district champion and 1A state runner-up.

Abigail Jiang, Camas — Junior was a first-team all-4A GSHL pick, 4A district runner up, tied for 30th at 4A state tournament.

Delainey Patterson, Prairie — Senior was the 3A GSHL player of the year, the 3A district champion, tied for 12th at 3A state tournament.

Kallie Sakamoto, Washougal — Senior was the 2A GSHL player of the year, 2A district champion and the 2A state runner-up.