Reeths-Puffer junior Sophia McCollum played one of the best
stretches of golf of her career after an early double bogey at the
weekend's Division 2 state finals in Battle Creek, and because of it the
Rocket star is a state champion.
McCollum played the final 15
holes of her Friday first round at two under par to take a three-shot
lead into the second round Saturday, and maintained it throughout to
bring home the championship with a two-day score of 73-75-148. It's the
second title in Rocket golf history after Karina VanDuinen won one 10
years ago.
“Sophia had an incredible season," R-P coach Matt Pallett said. "It is hard to put it in words. She won
11 out of 16 events. And even with all the pressure on her shoulders,
she played great golf for two days."
McCollum's competitive
drive is such that she's able to quickly bounce back from rough holes,
and there was no more clear an example of that skill than what she
displayed after scoring a bogey on Friday's first hole and a double
bogey on the third, putting her off the pace she wanted.
After
that tough start, she played the next 20 holes without going over par
once, including a pair of birdies during the rest of her Friday round.
The string only ended when she bogeyed her sixth hole of Saturday's
round - but by then she'd scored a birdie Saturday as well.
"I
definitely have a lot more experience around the game now, and I've
grown as a player and been more consistent," McCollum said. "Mentally,
I'm also stronger as a player. I don't let bad holes affect my whole
round. I know I can go 3 under or 2 under for 15 holes."
McCollum
didn't necessarily want to be leading after the first day, saying she
feels more comfortable as the hunter than the hunted. However, her
incredible finish to Friday put her up by three shots over the rest of
the field.
That gave her a cushion to work with as uncertain
weather headed into Battle Creek the next day. McCollum doesn't like the
possibility of a delay hanging over her when she plays, but she
continued to deliver solid results throughout Saturday. On the par-3
17th hole - her 14th hole of her round - she scored a birdie, her second
of the day, which kept her in excellent position.
"I thought
it was a really helpful hole," McCollum said. "It was after I'd gotten a
double bogey, so I was thinking I wanted to finish with pars and
birdies."
McCollum was already familiar with the Bedford
Valley course - the Rockets played there twice this season, and in fact,
she said it was the first course on which she ever played 18 holes - so
her plan of attack wasn't affected by any changes to the weather.
In
addition to McCollum's improved showing from last year's finals - she
was 17th - the experience was also better because she was able to share
it with a teammate this time. Olivia Ambler also qualified for state and
put together two solid rounds, posting a score of 92-88-180 and tying
for 36th place. Ambler made a birdie on her final hole of the first
round and had an impressive eight pars in her second.
"Last
year when I went (to state), it was lonely, so I liked having a friend
there also," McCollum said of having her teammate on the course with
her. "It was more special having her there."
Pallett said he
noticed McCollum's competitive fire right from the start when she began
working out with the Rockets' golf team as an eighth-grader. He even
intentionally put her in practice rounds with former star players Paige
Anderson and Rowan Bluhm before she was ready to really compete with
them, knowing she would lose to them and that it would ignite her drive
to get better.
"Those two, and anyone else who has ever beaten Sophia, have put fuel on the
fire for Sophia," Pallett said. "She works incredibly hard to be the best.”
Both
McCollum and Ambler are juniors, so they are slated to return next fall
to lead what should be a very strong and experienced Rocket team. If
all goes well, both will be back at the state meet next October, and
McCollum will have a title to defend if she is.
"I'm
definitely excited to build new friendships on our team," McCollum said.
"I'm excited to see how our team will be next year."
