GRAND RAPIDS – The Niles golf team finished one spot out of qualifying as a team for the Division 2 state golf finals next weekend.

But that doesn’t mean the Vikings won’t be represented at Forest Akers on the campus of Michigan State University.

Niles’ Chris Noble tied for the top spot at the regional on Thursday at Quail Ridge, but lost on the third playoff hole to finish second.

Byron Center’s Sean Haverdink, like Noble shot 73 on the day.

East Grand Rapids won the team championship with a score of 311.

Grand Rapids Christian was second at 313 and Vicksburg third at 313.

The top three teams advance to the finals. Christian earned a second place finish base on the fifth-man tiebreaker.

Niles was fourth at 327 and Edwardsburg fifth at 332.

“We’re excited that we finished fourth,” Niles coach Greg Gunder said. “We ended the season on a positive note. Fourth out of the 12 schools isn’t bad. We are excited that Chris will play in the state finals again.”

The Vikings also got an 82 from John Schrader, an 85 from Christian Ezell, an 87 from Brett Phillips and a 98 from Cole Hensel.

Edwardsburg’s Chris Eaton shot 77 and advanced as an individual.

Division 2 Golf Regional
At Quail Ridge
Medalist
Shawn Haverdink (BC) 73

Team scores
East Grand Rapids 311, Grand Rapids Christian 313, Vicksburg 313, Niles 327, Edwardsburg 332, Mattawan 333, Zeeland East 336, Holland Christian 337, Gull Lake 337, Byron Center 339, Lakeshore DNF

Niles 327
Chris Noble 73, John Schrader 82, Christian Ezell 85, Brett Phillips 87, Cole Hensel 98

Divsion 3
OTSEGO – The Dowagiac golf team advanced to the state golf finals next weekend after finishing tied for second at the regional on Thursday.
Grand Rapids West Catholic captured the Division 3 regional championship after shooting 36. Catholic’s Sam Weatherhead was the medalist with a 71.
Grand Rapids South Christian will officially finish second after shooting 307, the same score as Dowagiac.
The Chieftains take third based on fifth-man scoring. It was their lowest score of the season.
“We really played well,” Dowagiac coach Van Johnson said. “I told them there are two kinds of teams. There are those who are peaking and those who have peaked. I think these guys are still peaking.”
Otsego was fourth with a 308 and Portland rounded out the top five with a 316.
Dowagiac was led by Kyle Ward’s 75.
Chris Craft and Max Howe both shot 76 for the Chieftains. Dowagiac also got an 80 from Cody Fairleigh and an 82 from Jordan Juday.
“The scoring conditions were great today,” Johnson said. “We hit a lot of greens. Kyle Ward played a great round today. He showed up in a big way. Chris and Max played their steady old golf games.”
Dowagiac will compete in the state finals, which will be held June 11-12 at The Meadows on the campus of Grand Valley State University.

Division 3 Regional Golf
At Prairiewood Golf Club, Otsego
Medalist
Sam Weatherhead (WC) 71

Team scores
Grand Rapids West Catholic 306, Grand Rapids South Christian 307, Dowagiac 307, Otsego 308, Portland 316, Grandville Calvin Christian 333, Paw Paw 339, Schoolcraft 339, Coloma 352, Delton Kellogg 355, Parchment 356, South Haven 367, Vermontville Maple Valley N/A

Top 10
Sam Weatherhead (GRWC) 71, Blake DeVries (GRSC) 72, John Westhoff (O) 74, Seth Rohr (O) 74, Kyle Ward (D) 75, Derek Roe (P) 75, Matt Kowalczyk (GRWC) 75, Chris Craft (D) 76, Max Howe (D) 76, Michael Wierenga (GRSC) 77, Caleb Walker (MP) 77

Dowagiac 307
Kyle Ward 75, Chris Ward 76, Max Howe 76, Cody Fairleigh 80, Jordan Juday 82