By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily News
NILES - There is good news and bad news as the Niles varsity golf team prepares for its season opener on Monday.
The good news is that the Vikings only have to replace one player from last year's squad.
The bad news? That player is individual state champion Ben Landgraff.
Veteran Niles coach Greg Gunder knows that he will now be able to replace his four-year standout, however, he feels that this year's squad has a chance to be a good one.
Niles shared the Big 16 Conference West Division title with Lakeshore last season and is looking to maintain their piece of the championship in 2005.
Returning to battle for the vacant No. 1 spot in the Vikings' line up will be senior co-captain Scott Majerek and sophomore co-captain Alex Welch.
While Gunder didn't know exactly how his line up would shape up since practice only began on Thursday, he did say that senior Chris Haas, junior Nick Horn and sophomores DJ Wolnick, Jeff Jurgonski and David Neuman would be in the top seven.
Gunder said that his squad is deeper because of the committment his players have made in the off season. He noted that most of his top seven players competed all summer long in various tournaments.
With that type of effort over the summer, Gunder is sure that his squad can make it pay off this fall.
Gunder said that Lakeshore and St. Joseph will be among the teams to beat for the West Division title this fall. He also noted that Dowagiac could play a factor in the race as it competes in the Big 16 Conference for the final time.
Dowagiac will move to the Wolverine Conference beginning in the fall of 2006.
Niles has 21 kids out for golf this season, the most Gunder believes he has ever had. Due to the numbers, however, he will be forced to cut five players from the squad, something he does not relish.
Gunder said that he is looking forward to the 2005 season and, like every year, "it's a good group of kids and I am looking forward to it," he said.
Niles will open up its season on Monday when it competes in the Coloma Invitational at Lake Michigan Hills. The teams will tee it up at 8 a.m.
The Vikings will also play at Bronson on Tuesday, Gull Lake on Wednesday and Battle Creek on Thursday.