Montague and Reeths-Puffer both took on a big test Tuesday and
Wednesday, competing in the two-day Lober McManus Classic at Crystal
Mountain Golf Course. Both teams performed well, with the Wildcats
earning a third-place finish out of 16 schools and the Rockets taking
sixth.
The teams played on two different courses over the two
days, playing on the Mountain Ridge 18 on day one and the Betsie course
on day two.
The Rockets' Sophia McCollum led the way among
local individuals, shooting an 83 on both days of the tournament to
finish third overall. She made a birdie during her day one round and
shot worse than a bogey on only three holes for the entire tournament.
Two
of those holes were in the first four on day one. Coach Matt Pallett
said McCollum may have been a bit "shell-shocked," but she was able to
battle back to play better golf the rest of the way.
"She definitely did not have her A game on these two days, but she kept grinding," Pallett said.
The
Wildcats got solid play from their top four players, led again by Addi
Smith, The senior has led the team in scoring every round so far in the
early season and did so again this week with an 87-97-184, earning 10th
place overall. Close behind was Marguerite O'Connell, who had a
94-98-122. Brynlee Kessler notched a 94-100-194, and Molly Mulder capped
the scoring with a 100-101-201.
The Wildcats' scores all went
up from day one to day two; coach Phil Kerr wrote in a Facebook post
that the Betsie course proved to be a tough one for all the players.
"It was a great two days competing on two beautiful but challenging golf courses at Crystal Mountain," Kerr said.
Reeths-Puffer's golf team poses for a photo at Crystal Mountain Golf Course following this week's Lober McManus Classic.
Courtesy Photo
Olivia
Ambler shot a 92-100-192 for the Rockets. Ella Voorhies shot a
106-104-210, and Tala Johnson had a 124-119-243. Abby Davis also
contributed to the scoring on day one with a 121.
Pallett said he was pleased with the efforts of Johnson, Davis and his other two freshmen - Mia Hanichen and Kylie Heykoop.
"These girls have never played 18 holes walking before," Pallett said. "Within the last
week, they have played 18 at The Meadows and now 36 at Crystal
Mountain. Those are three tough courses to play, let alone play and walk. I
am proud of the four of them. They handled themselves very well."
