The Reeths-Puffer girls golf team kept wading through its challenging schedule this week and emerged with some very strong individual performances.
The best came from junior Sophia McCollum, who took first place in the individual standings at the O-K Green Conference Midseason Tournament at Lincoln Golf Course on Thursday.
McCollum’s round was highlighted by birdies on holes 5 and 12. She finished three shots ahead of Byron Center’s Izzy Tawoda.
She has now taken first place in all three of the conference events this season.
Sophia McCollum
Ironically, the Rockets shot their best team round of the season, with a combined score of 379, but finished fourth out of five teams, which is a testament to the strength of the other teams in the conference.
Byron Center took first place with a 341.
R-P juniors Olivia Ambler and Ella Voorhies tied for second on the team with scores of 92. Ambler persevered after a really tough first hole to play very well the rest of the day, with seven pars. Voorhies had four pars and one birdie. Her score was the best of her varsity career so far.
Senior Jaylynn Acre shot a 115, which was also her personal best.
Olivia Ambler
On Monday the Rockets competed in the East Versus West Challenge at the Muskegon Country Club, which featured eight teams from the west side of the state competing against eight teams from the east side.
The Rockets finished 11th out of 16 teams with a combined score of 416.
McCollum had a typically great day, finishing sixth individually with an 84 and winning a medal.
Ambler had R-P’s second-best score with a 97, which included five pars. Her score was 10 shots better than last year. Voorhies shot a 105 and had three pars, while Acre shot a 130.
The Rockets will compete in another conference jamboree on Monday at Lincoln.