By By ADAM FISHER / Niles Daily Star
Niles took over first place in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference's West Division on Monday with a victory at Hampshire Country Club.
The Vikings shot 156 in the West Division jamboree to edge host Dowagiac by six shots.
Lakeshore finished third with a 165, while St. Joseph was fourth with a 170. Benton Harbor had just four players and did not record a team total.
With the victory, Niles moves into first place in the overall league standings with a total of 17 points.
St. Joseph despite the poor finish on Monday, held onto second place with 14 points, while Lakeshore is third with 13 points.
Dowagiac is fourth with 12 points and Benton Harbor fifth with four points.
Niles' Ben Landgraf was the medalist on Monday as he carded a 34 for the Vikings.
Niles also got a 39 from Scott Majerek, a 41 from Chris Haas, a 42 from Jeff Jorgonski, a 44 from D.J. Wolnick and a 45 from Alex Welsh.
Dowagiac was led by David Maxey, who shot a season-low 36.
Ken Scott shot a 41 for the Chieftains, while Adam Carlson and Nick Krizinski shot 42 and 43 respectively.
Dowagiac also got 46s from Scott Wilkinson and Craig Schuur.
In junior varsity golf at The Oaks on Monday, Dowagiac won the event with a team total of 193.
Dowagiac was led by Jared Shinske's 43. The Chieftains also got a 49 from Jeremy Shank, a 50 from Kevin Proshwitz, a 51 from Jason Roberts and a pair of 52s from Rich Hutchinson and Ken Franz.
Niles and St. Joseph tied for second with a 197.
Lakeshore did not field a full team.
Niles was led by Jordan Hendricks' 43. Nick Horn shot 47 for the Vikings, who also got a 53 from David Neuman, a 54 from Derek Matlock and a 56 from Warren Simpson.