By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
Niles' boys' golf team finished in the bottom half of the field at Monday's Coldwater Invitational, but coach Greg Gunder said he likes the improvements his young team is making this season.
The Vikings placed 14th out of 23 teams and were again led by senior Ben Landgraf. Landgraf shot a two-over 74, good enough for fifth place overall. His score was three strokes behind the individual winner's 71.
Freshmen Jeff Jurgonski and D.J. Wolnick each shot 86 for Niles, followed by freshman Alex Welch's 89 and junior Scott Majerek's 93.
Welch and Majerek each shot a 10 on a par-5, which raised their scores considerably.
Gunder said the Coldwater Invitational featured some very good golfers, but his players weren't intimidated.
Landgraf, for instance, was paired with the winner of this year's Michigan Junior Amateur Tournament and beat him by a stroke.
For the most part, Niles' freshmen were paired with juniors and seniors, Gunder said.
It would have been easy for his players to get discouraged when they were out-driven by the older players, Gunder said, but it didn't happen.
Gunder and team now turn their focus to today's meet, when they open their Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference schedule.
Niles will be taking six golfers to the match, including a new face. Sophomore Chris Horn replaces junior Chris Haas in the lineup.