By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES – For the first time in school history, the Niles varsity golf team has a district championship to its credit.
The Vikings captured the Division 2 championship on Friday afternoon at Klinger Lake Country Club near Sturgis.
On a course that was playing extremely tough, the Vikings came home one stroke better than runner-up Gull Lake, in a battle of league champions.
Niles, winners of the Big 16 Conference West Division championship, shot 336. The Blue Devils, winners of the Wolverine Conference crown, finished with a 337.
"I am very excited," Niles coach Greg Gunder said via a telephone interview. "We told the kids going in that every stroke makes a difference in the world. We have lost some tournaments by a stroke or two."
St. Joseph finished third with a 343, while Mattawan was fourth with a 345. South Haven finished fifth with a 354 and Vicksburg sixth with a 360.
The top six teams in the district advance to next week's regional tournament, which will be hosted by Gull Lake.
Edwardsburg missed out of qualifying as the Eddies finished with a 371.
Seniors Alex Welch and David Neumann led the Vikings with identical scores of 82.
Niles also got an 83 from freshman Chris Noble, an 89 out of senior Jeff Jurgonski and a 98 from freshman Brett Phillips.
Sturgis' Tyler Downing was medalist with a round of 77.
Division 2 District Golf Tournament
At Klinger Lake C.C., Sturgis
Qualifying Teams and Scores
Niles 336, Gull Lake 337, St. Joseph 343, Mattawan 345, South Haven 354, Vicksburg 360
Individual Scores
Niles 336
Alex Welch 82, David Neumann 82, Chris Noble 83, Jeff Jurgonski 89, Brett Phillips 98