All three local squads competed at Saturday's Kent City
Invitational, which featured 21 teams. Reeths-Puffer finished in a
three-way tie for ninth to highlight local placements, closely followed
by Montague in 12th and Whitehall in 15th.
The Rockets, who
shot a team total of 356, hadn't planned to compete at The Falls Golf
Course, but their scheduled Traverse City Tee-Off tournament was
canceled due to the heavy rains in northern Michigan.
"I was grateful that we were able to get into this event," R-P coach Matt Pallett said. "Our players
continue to battle despite the few opportunities to practice with the
weather.”
Beckitt Johnson led the Rockets, and all local
finishers, by placing 17th overall in the meet - tied for 10th among
Division 1 schools - shooting an 83. Johnson made a birdie on the 12th
hole and, in the 16 holes between his first and last one, did not shoot
worse than a bogey on any of them.
“Beckitt Johnson had his
second good outing in a row," Pallett said. "He played a solid round and
I am happy for him winning his first medal.”
Not far behind
Johnson were Ian Vokal, who posted an 87, and Kristian Brown, who shot
an 88. Each player made two birdies. Carter Hekkema broke 100 for the
first time in his high school career, carding a 98 to round out the
Rockets' scoring.
Michael Flanagan paced Montague scorers by
shooting an 86, and Ethan Balon was close behind with an 88. Flanagan
scored a birdie during his round. Also for the Wildcats, Tanner DeVries
shot a 91, including a birdie, and Jonah Henderson had a 95.
For
Whitehall, Jones McDowell posted a 90, scoring a birdie along the way,
and Finn Novy had a 91. William Burger posted a 93. Rylan Johnson capped
Vikings' scoring with a 100, and he scored a birdie as well.
