By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Host Niles increased its lead in the Big 16 Conference West Division golf race with a win Monday afternoon at Orchard Hills Country Club.
The Vikings shot 180 to nip St. Joseph by a stroke and Lakeshore by three strokes.
The Bears finished with a 181 and Lakeshore a 183. Dowagiac finished fourth with a 186. Benton Harbor did not field a team.
The Vikings now have 38 points, while Lakeshore has 32 points and St. Joseph 26 points. Dowagiac is fourth with 16 points.
Niles' Nick Horn, tied two other golfers for medalist honors on Monday with a 42.
The Vikings also a 44 from Alex Welch, a 46 from Scott Majerek, a 48 from D.J. Wolnick and a pair of 49s from Chris Haas and Jeff Jurgonski.
The Chieftains were led by Nick Krizinski's 45. Kevin Proshwitz and Jared Schinske both shot 46, while Zack Russom finished with a 49. Dowagiac also got a 54 and a 56 from Tanner Melvin and Hunter Topping respectively.
JV golf
The Dowagiac junior varsity golf team finished third on Monday at Blossom Trails Golf Club in the Big 16 Conference West Division jamboree.
Niles won the meet with a 180, while St. Joseph finished with a team total of 187. Dowagiac shot 218.
Lakeshore did not have enough golfers to field a full squad.
Jeremy Shank led Dowagiac with a 48. The Chieftains also got a 49 from Mike Hoff, a 51 from Richie Hutchinson and a 70 from Nick Rossow.
Two of Dowagiac's regular JV golfers were competing with the varsity squad on Monday.