By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The Blackberry Patch Golf Course in Coldwater is a course that the Niles varsity golf team probably won't want to see again.
Besides being the toughest course the Vikings have ever seen, Niles finished 16th out of 24 teams in attendance and golfed for six and a half hours Tuesday.
The team left at 5:45 a.m. and didn't return home until 6 p.m., which also made it difficult for the team.
Alex Welch shot a 78 and received a medal for his eighth place finish.
Jeff Jurgonski shot an 85, Chris Haas an 87 and Scott Majerek and D.J. Wolnick both shot a 96.
Niles finished with a total team score of 346.
Battle Creek Lakeview took first place with a team score of 315, while Jackson finished second with a score of 321.
Niles will travel to Hampshire Country Club today, where Dowagiac will host the first SMAC West Division Match of the season. Tee time is set for 3 p.m.