Paige Anderson doesn’t have to be at her best all day to win golf tournaments.
The Reeths-Puffer senior demonstrated that on Tuesday by overcoming a rough start to win first place individually at the Whitehall Invitational at the White Lake Golf Course.
Anderson was shooting six over par midway through her round, then got very hot, shooting three birdies in her last five holes to finish with a 74.
She finished four strokes ahead of Ludington’s Emma McKinley, who took second place with a 78.
Reeths-Puffer had a very good day all around, finishing second in the 11-team field with a combined score of 363, which was its best of the season so far.
R-P medal winners Sophia McCollum (left), Paige Anderson and Rowan Bluhm.
Lowell took first place with a team score of 340.
R-P’s Rowan Bluhm shot an 87, finished in eighth place individually and earned her second “All Tournament” medal of the season.
Freshman Sophia McCollum shot an 89, finished 10th and also earned an “All Tournament” medal.
Another freshman, Olivia Ambler, shot a personal record 113, Avery Luna shot a 114 and Abby Haak came in at 115.
“I am very proud of my two freshmen,” said R-P Coach Matt Pallett, whose team received a trophy for finishing second. “Sophia McCollum continues to impress with her overall play. Olivia Ambler has earned a position in our lineup and continues to get better.
“What I like most about those two is that neither is satisfied and wants to improve their scores.”
With two second-place team finishes this week against tough competition, Pallett is excited about his team’s progress.
“What a difference a year makes,” he said. “Last year we finished last or toward the bottom of the pack of every tournament. This year we are competing for trophies. This is our second trophy this year and the girls are hungry for more.”
