One goal has been checked off the list for the Reeths-Puffer girls golf team.
We will have to wait until Tuesday to see if the Rockets can meet their other goal – qualifying as a team for the state finals – but they way they’ve been playing, that wouldn’t be a shock.
The suddenly very hot R-P squad shot a combined scores of 362 in the rain on Thursday to finish in second place at the O-K Green Conference Championship Tournament at The Meadows at Grand Valley State University.
The Rockets only finished behind Byron Center, which cruised to the team title and clinched the overall conference championship with a 339.
Sophia McCollum
Caledonia shot a 363, followed by Jenison (374) and Mona Shores (414).
The second-place finish allowed the Rockets to finish second overall in the final conference standings, which met their preseason goal of finishing in the top two in the very competitive O-K Green.
“The team went into the event tied for second place with Caledonia,” said R-P head coach Matt Pallett. “The chance of achieving a team goal of finishing in the top two in the conference was within reach as the day began.
“The only thing standing in the way was a tough course and rainy, wet conditions. The team persevered through the tough conditions."
Ella Voorhies
R-P senior Sophia McCollum, the defending Division 2 state champion who has been on an incredible run lately, did even better than her team. She won the individual tournament title with a round of 75, four shots better than Caledonia’s Emily Walbeck.
The title made McCollum the individual O-K Green conference champion for the second year in a row, and she earned All-Conference honors for the fourth year in a row.
The first-place finish was the ninth of the year for McCollum, and the 22nd of her varsity career.
“Sophia continues to add to her stellar career,” Pallett said. “Her game is peaking at the right time.”
Olivia Ambler
R-P’s other seniors also continued to shoot extremely well.
Ella Voorhies shot an 87, finished eighth overall, earned an All-Tournament medal and honorable mention All-Conference honors for the first time. Her round was highlighted by her first career eagle, shot on the sixth hole.
“Ella had a career best today,” Pallett said. “I am very happy for her. She works really hard and was awarded for her hard work today. To make an eagle was amazing as well.”
Olivia Ambler shot a 91, finished 10th in the individual standings, earned an All-Tournament medal and earned honorable mention All-Conference status for the second year in a row.
Junior Kayleigh Brown shot a 108 to round out the R-P scorers. Abby Davis and Tala Johnson also competed, shooting 112 and 114, respectively.
“All three of my seniors have been a big part of our continued climb to success in our program,” Pallett said. “All three earned medals today and conference recognition. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to our conference season.”
