Chris Noble led the Niles golf team with a score of 42 on Monday. (Daily News Photo/SCOTT NOVAK)

By SCOTT NOVAK
Niles Daily Star

The Niles golf team was unable to protect its own course on Monday afternoon as Mattawan captured the Big 16 Conference West Division Jamboree at Orchard Hills Country Club.

The Wildcats finished with a 169, which was five strokes better than runner-up St. Joseph, which shot 174.

Lakeshore also shot 174, but lost out on the fifth-man tiebreaker.
The Vikings finished fourth with a 175, while Benton Harbor was fifth with a 274.

Mattawan’s Dylan Baker shot 41 to earn medalist honors.

Niles was led by Chris Noble’s 42.

Brett Phillips and Cole Hensel both shot 44, while John Schrader shot 45, Jared Langmeyer 50 and Christian Ezell 51.

“I saw shots made and balls ending up in places I have never seen them in,” Niles coach Greg Gunder said. “Now we have to regroup. We had to change the way we are thinking because it’s not working. We have to work on our short game.”

Big 16 West Division Jamboree
At Orchard Hills
Medalist
Dylan Baker (M) – 41
Team scores
Mattawan 169, St. Joseph 174, Lakeshore 174, Niles 175, Benton Harbor 274

Niles 175
Chris Noble 42, Brett Phillips 44, Cole Hensel 44, John Schrader 45, Jared Langmeyer 50, Christian Ezell 51