The Reeths-Puffer girls golf team did not play its best on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The encouraging part is that the Rockets still finished sixth out of 16 teams at a very tough two-day, 36-hole tournament, against a lot of really good opponents.
R-P competed in the Lober McManus Girls Golf Classic at Crystal Mountain, and the tournament is pretty unique.
The first day was played on the Mountain Ridge course, while the second day was played at the Betsie Valley course. That means the golfers had to adapt to different challenges each day.
The Rockets shot a two-day score of 808 – 402 on the first day and 406 on the second.
R-P's Sophia McCollum, who finished in third place.
Brighton won the team championship with a total score of 624.
Leading Reeths-Puffer was defending Division 2 individual state champion Sophia McCollum, who shot a two-day total of 166. That was good enough for a third-place finish in the individual standings and her second All-Tournament medal of the season.
Brighton’s Lylah Bassett won the individual title with a score of 151.
Most high school golfers would be thrilled with a third-place finish at a big tournament., but McCollum plays to a higher standard.
“Sophia had two good rounds of golf,” said R-P head coach Matt Pallett. “She started off on day one with a couple of bad holes. I think she was a little shell shocked. She battled back throughout day one and day two to earn third place overall.
“She definitely did not have her ‘A game’ on these two days, but she kept grinding.”
The Rockets in a team photo at Crystal Mountain.
R-P senior Olivia Ambler had the team’s second-best outing, shooting a two-day total of 192, which was good for 17th place overall. It was the best finish of her career at Crystal Mountain tournament.
Senior Ella Voorhies shot a two-day score of 210 for the Rockets.
R-P freshman Abby Davis was the team’s fourth scorer on Day 1, shooting a 121, while freshman Tala Johnson was the fourth scorer on Day 2 with a 119.
Sophomore Kylie Heykoop and freshman Mia Hanichen also competed in the tournament.
“The overall sixth place finish is an encouraging sign,” Pallett said. I” would say that as a team and as individuals, it was not our best performance, but all the girls battled through the two days of golf. Playing 18 holes back-to-back on those two courses is challenging. I am proud of the team for their effort.
“I had four girls - Abby, Kylie, Mia and Tala - that have been thrown right into the fire. These girls have never played 18 holes walking before. Within the last week they have played 18 at The Meadows at Grand Valley and now 36 at Crystal Mountain. Those are three tough courses to play, let alone play and walk. I am proud of the four of them. They handled themselves very well. They will all be a big part of our success this year.”
