LocalSportsJournal.com

WHITEHALL – The Reeths-Puffer Rockets’ golf team hadn’t won an event the entire season.

That all changed on Monday as the Rockets stormed to the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association golf title at White Lake Golf Club. The event was originally scheduled for Sept. 25, but torrential rain made the course unplayable.

For the Rockets, it was their second straight city title. Their score of 361 was eight shots better than host Whitehall.  

The title was spearheaded by the 1-2 finish of sophomore Sophia McCollum, who shot an 83 and senior Rowan Bluhm with an 84. Bluhm shot the second-best round of the event despite reinjuring her wrist on the practice range prior to the start of the match.

GMAA medalist Sophia McCollum from Reeths-Puffer. Photo/Leo Valdez

“Sophia has been playing some of her best golf towards the end of the season,” said Rocket coach Matt Pallett. “She has qualified for the state finals and won the city as a sophomore. Her future is bright.

“Rowan Bluhm has been a tremendous leader for us,” Pallett said. “She has set an incredible example for our program. It was a gutsy effort today to play in so much pain after reinjuring her wrist on the practice range this morning. There was no way she wasn’t playing today.”

Sophomore Olivia Ambler shot a 93 for the Rockets and finished eighth. Sophomore Emma Voorhies finished at 101 and Emma Dvorak shot a personal best 108.

“I am very proud of this team and the season that we had,” said Pallett. “We continued to trend in the right direction all year. I have been fortunate to have great leadership the last few years from Paige Anderson to Rowan Bluhm. Now the baton gets passed to Sophia and the younger girls.”

McCollum will compete as an individual at the Division 2 state finals at Grand Valley State University on Friday and Saturday.

TEAM SCORES
1, Reeths-Puffer 361; 2, Whitehall 369; 3, Montague 371; 4, Mona Shores 377; 5, North Muskegon 389; 6, Fruitport 445; 7, Oakridge 557.

Reeths-Puffer: Sophia McCollum 83; Rowan Bluhm 84; Olivia Ambler 93; Ella Voorhies 101; Emma Dvorak 108.

Whitehall: Riley Shafer 86; Grace McDowell 90; Kelsie McClure 95; Felicity Dingman 98; Morgan Garcia 111.

Montague: Braylyn Bultema 88; Cadence Fox 93; Brynlee Kessler 94; Addi Smith 96; Maruerite O’Connell 114.

Mona Shores: Mason Southland 89; Avery Nehra 94; Raelyn Tyler 95; Lainee Carmean 99; Lily Knowlton 116.

North Muskegon: Grace Sheler 88; Mila Vantol 97; Mackenna Mylenek 101; Presley Prasad 103; Laynie Priebe 109.

Fruitport: Maddie Anderson 96; Lainey Bol 113; Kendall Lee 116; McKenzie Beardsley 120; Tatum Anderson 132.

Oakridge: Gracie Ritchard 114; Abbigail Luft 134; Gabriella Fields 151; Gracie Vandervelde 158; Raelynn Davis, no score.