By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The Niles varsity golf team wrapped up the regular season on Monday by competing in the second half of the Big 16 Conference tournament.
The tournament was held at Thornapple Creek.
Portage Central won the tournament title with a two-day total of 627. Battle Creek Lakeview was second at 629, while Kalamazoo Loy Norrix was third at 642.
Marshall and St. Joseph rounded out the top five with scores of 660 and 664 respectively. Niles took sixth with a 666.
Matt Thompson of Lakeview was conference medalist with a two-day total of 142. Thompson shot 68 on Monday.
Niles had a pair of All-Conference performers as freshmen Chris Noble tied for seventh place with a score of 158. Senior Alex Welch tied for ninth with a 159.
Noble shot 79 on Monday to pace the Vikings, while Welch shot 81. David Neumann finished with an 87. Nick Musser and Jared Kabara shot 91 and 98 respectively.
Noble was also All-Division as he led the West with a stroke average of 38.8. Welch finished fourth in the division with a 40.6, while freshman Brett Phillips and Neumann tied for sixth at 41.3 to also earn All-Division status.
Jeff Jurgonski (41.6) was honorable mention.
Niles opens up state competition on Friday at it travels to Klinger Lake Country Club for the district tournament.
Big 16 Conference Tournament
At Thornapple Creek
Teams Scores
1. Portage Central 627; 2. Battle Creek Lakeview 629; 3. Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 642; 4. Marshall 660; 5. St. Joseph 664; 6. Niles 666; 7. Portage Northern 669; 8. Mattawan 675; 9. Battle Creek Harper Creek 687; 10. Lakeshore 695; 11. Kalamazoo Central 696; 12. Sturgis 707; 13. Coldwater 720; Benton Harbor DNF; Battle Creek Central DNF
Medalist
Matt Thompson, Battle Creek Lakeview, 74-68-142
Top 10 and ties
1. Matt Thompson (Lakeview) 74-68 142; 2. Ben Peacock (Mattawan) 148; Barrett Kelpin (Loy Norrix) 148; 4. Brad Pharas (Portage Central) 152; Alex Corbit (Portage Central) 152; 6. Micha Schmitt (Kalamazoo Central) 157; 7. Chris Noble (Niles) 158; Clint Buell (Loy Norrix) 158; 9. Alex Welch (Niles) 159; 10. Ben Anderson (Lakeview) 160; Blake Demmond (Portage Central) 160; Neil Case (Coldwater) 160
Individual Scores
Niles 666
Chris Noble 79, Alex Welch 81, David Neumann 87, Jared Kabara 98, Nick Musser 91