The Reeths-Puffer boys golf team is off to a so-so start this spring, but it looks like the Rockets’ lineup is getting deeper and stronger.
For the first few matches of the year, junior Kristian Brown led the Rockets with some impressive play. Last week senior Dylan Panozzo made his season debut at an O-K Green conference jamboree and had the second-best score on the team.
Now junior Aiden Waggoner is starting to show what he can do, as well, tying with Brown for the team lead on Saturday at the Kent City Invitational.
“Aiden Waggoner continues to impress,” said R-P coach Matt Pallett. “He has worked hard to put himself in the position to help this team. Aiden has earned his spot in the varsity lineup.”
With several different players starting to find their games, the Rockets are hoping to have their first really impressive outing as a team.
R-P's Aiden Waggoner
They finished in fourth place last Thursday at the second conference jamboree of the season at Crestview Golf Course. They also finished fourth in the first event.
Brown shot a 42 to lead the Rockets and finish seventh overall in the tournament. Panozzo shot a 45 in his first outing of the season, and was followed by Ayden Hartzell (46), Waggoner and Jamie Neel (48) and Calvin Schlee (50).
Neel, a junior, was playing in the first competitive event of his golf career.
“After his second hole I asked him how it was going,” Pallett said about Neel. “He said ‘This is fun!" Ultimately that is what this is all about.”
Despite finishing in the middle of the pack in the first two conference events, there are more on the horizon and Pallett thinks his team can get right back in the thick of the race.
R-P's Dylan Panozzo
“There really is no clear-cut favorite for the league title this year,” he said. “We need to play a little better to put ourselves in the mix. I know the team will work hard to do just that."
The Rockets completed their week by competing at the Kent City Invitational at the Falls of Barber Creek on Saturday.
They shot 379 and finished 13th out of 21 teams.
Brown and Waggoner both shot an 89, with Waggoner hitting a birdie on the third hole. Panozzo shot a 92, followed by Jake Lee (109), Neel (111) and Becket Mathes (114).
The Rockets will return to action in the third conference jamboree on Wednesday.