Paige Anderson-led Reeths-Puffer claims GMAA golf title

MUSKEGON – Paige Anderson picked a great day to shoot her best round of golf ever.

Not only did Anderson shoot a 4-under-par 69, but also led the Reeths-Puffer Rockets to the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association golf title.

Wednesday’s event was played at Oak Ridge Golf Club. Reeths-Puffer finished at 353, followed by the Vikings, led by senior Ava Garcia’s 80, in second at 356 and Mona Shores at 366. Other team scores included Montague (388), Oakridge (433), Holton (439), North Muskegon (475) and Western Michigan Christian (489).

Anderson’s “clean” scorecard featured 14 pars and four birdies. She beat her previous best round by one shot, but that came during a non-competitive round at Lincoln Golf Club.

“I definitely left a few out there,” Anderson said. “But, I felt pretty happy with the way I struck the ball, overall.”

Anderson’s long drives put her in a position to use shorter irons to reach the green. Her chipping was solid and her putting was on target.

“That’s one of the things that helps me score is getting good distance off the tee,” she said. “It helps me take advantage of the par 5s.”

On Wednesday, with her threesome that also included Garcia and Mona Shores’ Mayson Southland, Anderson started out with three pars before a birdie on No. 15. Her group started play on No. 12. She later birdied No. 1, No. 6 and No. 10. But one of the highlights of her round was a par save on the fourth hole.

Anderson used a wood to drop her second shot into the pond. After a drop, she chipped onto the green and calmly sank a 10-foot downhill putt for par.

“I was just like ‘two-putt it, you’re fine’ and get a bogey, but then I made it,” Anderson said. “I wasn’t expecting to make it.”

There were several other close calls for birdies, but she was more than satisfied with a round of “fall golf” that included a cloudy, cool, rather breezy day.

And it was that effort that led the Rockets to the city title after not even competing with a full team a year ago. Coach Matt Pallett said, for one reason or another, he only had three golfers for the GMAA last season.

It was another team goal scratched off the list of the ever-improving Rockets, who typically go head-to-head with league foe Mona Shores whether it be league jamborees or invitationals.

“It ended up really tight,” Pallett said. “Obviously, Paige led the way right away. It was truly an amazing round for her. She shots lights out today to have no blemishes on her scorecard. My No. 2 and No. 3, Rowan Bluhm and Sophia McCollum were just laser focused today. They got off to a hot start and did really well. They stumbled a bit down at the end, but were able to get it in the house and just enough to get by Whitehall.”

Early on, Pallett singled out his No. 4 player, Avery Luna, who turned in a round of 106. While not her best, it was good enough to keep the Rockets atop the leaderboard.

“Avery got it in the house,” Pallett said. “She’s been playing pretty solid.”

And it’s been a solid progression of improvements for the Rockets this season.

“We set reasonable, but high, goals and we’re achieving them,” Pallett said. “I’m really proud of these young ladies today.”

 

The day also was highlighted by Fruitport golfer Mylee Mineni, who bagged a hole-in-one on the par 3, 14th hole at Oak Ridge. Mineni finished fourth with an 87. The Trojans did not have enough golfers to field a full team.

 

Reeths-Puffer: Paige Anderson 69; Rowan Bluhm 88; Sophia McCollum 90; Avery Luna 106; Abby Haak 117.

Whitehall: Ava Garcia 80; Grace McDowell 91; Jersey Pierson 92; Allie Van Antwerp 93; Morgan Garcia 106.

Mona Shores: Mayson Southland 82; Lainee Carmean 92; Maddie Etterman 95; Summer Darrow 97; Raelyn Tyler 108.

Montague: Cadence Fox 91; Kennedy Johnson 98; Braylyn Bultema 98; Abby Woller 101; Addi Smith 113.

Oakridge: Cami Guenthardt 105; Carly Morse 105; Amelia Luft 107; Syd Conkright 116; Gracie Ritchard 135.

Holton: EmmaLee Fox 94; Karley Plekes 95; Monica Mullins 120; Kenidie Shank 130; Justice Hill 151.

North Muskegon: MacKenna Mylenek 102; Mila VanTol 106; Baila Lang 130: Julie Wodzisz 137.

Western Michigan Christian: Annalise Bonnema 110; Audrey Detar 115; Jaclyn TenCate 124; Ariana Cihak 140.