By STEVE MORRISON
Vigilant/Argus

NILES – With two sophomores, two juniors and two seniors in the mix, the Niles Vikings varsity boys’ golf team came out swinging in its goal to make the state finals with a victory in the Niles Invitational at Orchard Hills on Monday afternoon.

Led by All-Stater Chris Noble’s 36 the Vikings scored a 160 total, winning by eight over its closest rival, St. Joseph, to begin their season on a positive note.

Cassopolis finished third in the three -team event.

A chilling 50 degree temperature was accompanied by brilliant sunshine, dry conditions and tricky greens for the match.

Fellow junior, Brett Phillips shot a solid 40, while senior Cole Hensel’s 41 (despite a six on the ninth hole) and sophomore John Schrader’s 43 rounded out the Vikings’ top four scores.

Noble nearly eagled the tough final par-five, settling for one of his two birdies on the day.

His second shot, a nine iron from 150 yards out left him less than five feet short for a treacherous downhill putt. Barely missing the eagle, Noble smoothly tapped in the bird.

Hensel had a rough time on the same hole, his last, or he may have broken 40 with a birdie opportunity. The conditions of the greens were typically a nemesis for all of the participants. Orchard Hills lives up to its long-standing reputation a challenge for the best of golfers.

Blaise Suseland had an impressive round of 44 to lead the Cassopolis Rangers for low score in their 202 total.

Big things could be “heating up” as Niles coach Greg Gunder reviewed his squad’s first performance of the season. Gunder revealed that he was basically satisfied with his charges’ results, but he challenged them to do better by simply asking,

“Did any one of you feel that you left a couple of strokes out there on the course?” Each Niles golfer raised his hand in acknowledgement of his desire to improve.

“I expect them to play better because I know they can,” Gunder said. “I’ve seen what they can shoot. We were way down (last year). We only had one player make state. Chris was the only one.

“Our goal this year is to take everybody (the whole team) to state,” he added.

Niles junior varsity scored a 204-206 team victory over Cassopolis. With a 47, big Sam Clark led the way for Niles. Alex Beam had a 49 for the Rangers’ best total.

Varsity scores
Niles 160
Chris Noble 36, Brett Phillips 40, Cole Hensel 41, John Schrader 43, Christian Ezell 45, Jared Langmeyer 50

St. Joseph 168
Austin Grall 47, Dylan DeLapa 42, Alec Hiler 40, Burt Vossler 39, Jacob Griesbaum 47, David Christian 52

Cassopolis 202
Blaise Suseland 44, Aaron Goodrich 48, Tim Coates 54, Tony Jones 56, Gavin Francis 58, Caleb Oliver 73