Sophia McCollum and the talented Reeths-Puffer girls golf team is back in championship form, just in time for the championship part of the season.
McCollum and the Rockets broke out of a bit of a recent slumber by claiming the individual and team championships at Tuesday’s Greater Muskegon Athletic Association tournament, commonly known as the city tournament, at Chase Hammond Municipal Golf Course.
McCollum, the 2025 Division 2 individual state champion, made big news by winning her third straight GMAA individual title.
R-P medalists, from left, Ella Voorhies, Olivia Ambler and Sophia McCollum.
She finished four strokes ahead of Mona Shores’ Avery Nehra. It was McCollum’s fifth first-place finish of the season so far.
“I am not sure,” said R-P head coach Matt Pallett, when asked if any R-P golfer had ever won three straight GMAA titles. “I know we’ve had some good golfers, but it might be a first in school history.”
The Rockets also won the team championship with a combined score of 354, outdistancing second place Montague by six strokes. North Muskegon was third with 378, Whitehall was fourth at 385 and Western Michigan Christian came in at 425.
It was the third GMAA team title for the Rockets in four years.
McCollum tees off on Tuesday. Photo/Michael Banka
They were powered by the play of McCollum and their other two standout seniors – Olivia Ambler, who shot an 86 and finished in fifth place individually, and Ella Voorhies, who shot a 93 and finished 10th.
All three won All-Tournament medals for finishing in the top 10
The fourth scorer for the Rockets was freshman Abby Davis, who shot a strong 97 round and finished in 14th place.
Junior Kayleigh Brown also competed for the Rockets.
McCollum putts during her championship round. Photo/Michael Banka
“Sophia has had a great career and has cemented herself as one of the all time area bests,” Pallett said. “Even with her, it takes a team to win the trophy. I am very proud of the team today and their performance.
“Olivia, Ella and Abby all played great today to go along with Sophia. When we have four girls playing well we are going to be tough to beat.
“We got off to a great start today and were able to hold off the defending champs (Montague). Coach Kerr and his team should be proud of the way they kept battling today. They are a great program and are fun to compete against.”
The Rockets started the season with big team goals, and have had their share of success along the way, including a dominant victory at the Whitehall Invitational about a month ago, when they ran away with first place by 15 strokes, and McCollum took first place individually by five strokes.
R-P's Olivia Ambler, who finished in fifth place. Photo/Michael Banka
More recently they have slipped a bit in O-K Green conference competition, finishing third in the last two events.
Tuesday’s championship puts R-P in a good place headed into the final two O-K Green jamborees of the season, on Wednesday and next Tuesday, followed by their own Rocket Invitational tournament on Friday, the O-K Green finals on Oct. 1 and Division 2 regionals on Oct. 10.
Last year, of course, McCollum ended up winning regional and state championships, while Ambler also qualified for the state finals. This year the Rockets set a goal to qualify for the state finals as a team.
“We are getting closer now to regionals and state,” Pallett said.
