Reeths-Puffer golf puts 3 players in top 10 on cold, windy day at GMAA tournament

MUSKEGON — The GMAA, so often contested in pleasant and sunny conditions, was a much different event Monday. Staged earlier on the calendar than usual and taking place at Muskegon Country Club just off Muskegon Lake, the tournament featured cold temperatures and wind gusts, creating tough conditions in which to play golf.

"It was the coldest and windiest day of golf that I have ever experienced," Montague coach Brad Tate said in a Facebook post.

Still, Reeths-Puffer managed to have a solid day, placing three individual players into the top 10 and finishing third as a team with a score of 341. However, the Rockets finished 26 strokes behind winner Mona Shores, and coach Matt Pallett said his team had hoped to take a better shot at the Sailors.

"The conditions were very difficult today," Pallett said. "I am proud of how the guys battled today.”

Kristian Brown led the Rockets with an 80, tying for third place and coming in only five strokes behind medalist Cruz Beckstrom, a Mona Shores freshman. Brown sank 12 par putts on the day. Kaeden Benner shot an 82, including a birdie on the 13th hole, and Aiden Waggoner had an 83, also earning top-10 medals.

“I am very happy for Kaeden Benner," Pallett said. "This is his first year playing golf. He had a breakout day. Hopefully this is a springboard for the rest of the season.”

Ayden Hartzell rounded out R-P scoring with a 96.

Whitehall finished sixth in the tournament with a 372. Brady Tate got off to a rough start, scoring a double bogey on his third hole and a five-over par on his fifth, but finished strong to close the day with a team-best 86. Tate posted consecutive birdies on holes five and six (his ninth and 10th played). Braedon Bond carded an 88 and scored a birdie during his round.

Also for Whitehall, Royce Freed had a 98 and Finn Novy shot a 100.

"There were some moments that looked really good and some moments like we never played golf before," Whitehall coach Bill Borgman said, noting that it was still just the team's second round of the season. "We’ll look forward to future matches and getting better each and every day."

Montague took ninth place and had a team score of 404. Bucky Aney, who scored a birdie during his round, led the 'Cats with a 94 and Brayden Bultema shot a 98. Maxwell Welch had a 105 and Rylee Onstott shot a 107.