LAST YEAR: 2025 was a very special reason for the Rockets for one big reason –junior Sophia McCollom got hot early in the season and never cooled off, winning individual championships at the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association tournament, the O-K Green conference tournament (along with the overall conference championship), a Division 2 regional tournament, and finally the Division 2 state championship tournament at Bedford Valley Golf Course in Battle Creek.
McCollum won the individual state title by shooting a two-day score of 148. She outdistanced Sixtine Charnalet of Cranbrook Kingswood, who took second place with a 152. McCollum became only the second R-P girls golfer to win an individual state title.
McCollum ended up taking first place in 11 of 16 events last year, earned All-State honors and was named to the prestigious MHSAA “Super Team,” which includes the top eight golfers in the state.
As a team, the Rockets finished third in the very tough O-K Green conference behind champion Byron Center and Caledonia. They finished fifth out of 13 teams at Division 2 regionals and missed qualifying for the state finals as a team by three strokes.
TOP RETURNERS: McCollom, a three-time All-Conference player and two-time GMAA champion, returns as a senior to try to become a back-to-back state champion. She will be joined by two other senior standouts who made huge strides last year to give the Rockets a very strong base to their lineup.
One is Olivia Ambler, who returns as the Rockets’ No. 2 shooter. She had a breakout year last season by earning honorable mention All-Conference honors and qualifying for the state finals as an individual. She finished 36th out of 108 golfers at Bedford Valley. The other top returner is Ella Voorhies, who also broke out last year and worked her way into the third spot in the R-P lineup.
“I look forward to all three of my seniors having a fun and memorable last year playing high school golf,” said R-P head coach Matt Pallett.
Junior Madigan Pitcher and sophomore Kylie Heykoop both got varsity experience last year and will be candidates to fill out the R-P lineup this fall.
PROMISING NEWCOMERS: The Rockets have several new players vying for a spot on the six-player varsity roster. Included in that group are three promising freshmen - Abby Davis, Mia Hanichen and Tala Johnson.
“All are showing a lot of upside,” Pallett said. “They have great attitudes and want to get better. They will get opportunities to get in the lineup.”
GROWTH IN THE PROGRAM: Reeths-Puffer has 14 girls out for golf this season, including three seniors, one junior, five sophomores and five freshmen. The Rockets will be able to field separate varsity and junior varsity teams for the fourth straight year.
“The program continues to grow and improve,” Pallett said. “It is exciting to see the number of girls coming out for golf. We have a partnership with The First Tee and last year we started a club middle school team. We are hoping to continue to grow our program.”
OVERALL STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES: A big strength for the team is the return of the top three in the lineup. McCollum and Ambler will be fourth-year varsity players and Voorhies will be in her third season. The biggest challenge will be finding three other golfers to claim the other spots in the lineup and give the Rockets a balanced attack as they vie for conference, regional and state honors.
FIRST COMPETITION: The Rockets will open their season on Friday when they compete in the Sydney Carfine Memorial Tournament at The Meadows at Grand Valley State University.
COACH QUOTE: “As a program we have had some very good years. I have been fortunate to coach many great players. We have been very close as a team to making it to the state finals. We missed going by one stroke a few years back and by three strokes last year. Our goal is to take the next step and make it to the state finals as a team. This year we will ride the leadership of our three seniors and the continued development of our younger players to make that goal happen.” – Matt Pallett.
