Freshman Andrew Bird, a rising star amongst the Central Heights golf team, recently made the U-16 Drive Chip and Putt National Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. His feelings before the tournament were nervous but excited, and his golf performance was his best effort.
The National Tournament was April 5, but he had high spirits and great opinions before the tournament started, with even higher confidence.
“I can’t describe how excited I am,” Bird said. “It’s just such a great feeling to know that I’m gonna be one of 10 kids in my age to be playing a national tournament on television.”
Bird is still a freshman, so his entire high school golf career has been spent on the Central Heights golf team. This time on the team has helped him grow as a person and as a golfer, and he truly cares for his entire golf team.
“They’ve taught me a lot,” Bird said. “I’ve taught them a lot and we’ve gotten a lot closer as a group and as individuals.”
After the tournament on Saturday, April 9, Bird placed fifth, making him the fifth best U-16 golfer in the country. He was pretty accomplished, but felt he could do better.
“I feel like I can have probably top three,” Bird said. “I don’t think I could have won, because the kids were really good, [but] I’m happy with this place.”
Finally, his feelings of confidence and high-spirited competition pushed him to do well at the tournament, fueling his ability to win.
“It gave me a lot more confidence,” Bird said. “I was thinking going in there, ‘just do my best and stay calm and don’t be nervous.’”