By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
Niles sophomore Chris Noble has been named to the first team of the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association Division 2 All-State squad.
Noble is the only sophomore on the 2009 first team.
He is joined on the squad by Steven Barbour of East Grand Rapids, Blake English of Charlotte, Brendon Hanley of Notre Dame Prep, Shane Klein of Bloomfield Hills Andover and Joshua Mitroka of Riverview Community.
Also on the first team are Ben Peacock of Marshall, Zach Rygwelski of Gaylord, Derek Smith of Riverview, Jon Walraven of Flint Kearsley and Patrick Wolcott of East Lansing.
Barbour, Smith and Walraven are all juniors.
Noble was an honorable mention selection in 2008.
"It's quite an honor," Niles coach Greg Gunder said. "He was honorable mention last year, so I told him to set a goal for next year to be on the Super Team and his senior year to be on the Super Team and earn Mr. Golf."
This year's Mr. Golf was Joey Garber of Petoskey.
In 18-hole matches (13), Noble's stroke average was 76.62. In nine-hole matches, of which he played six, he averaged 37.9. In 18 competitive rounds of golf this past season, Noble was in the top five 13 times. He was medalist in six matches including the Point O'Woods Invitational and the Division 2 regional at Bedford Valley.
In both matches, he shot a one-under par 71.
He earned All-SMAC first team honors for the second straight year as well as being a member of the All-SMAC tournament team for a second time.
In his first trip to the state finals, Noble shot a 155 to tie for 11th place.
Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association
Division 2 All-State Team
Steven Barbour, 11, East Grand Rapids
Blake English, 12, Charlotte High School
Brendan Hanley, 12, Notre Dame Prep
Shane Klein, 12, Bloomfield Hills Andover
Joshua Mitroka, 12, Riverview Community
Chris Noble, 10, Niles
Ben Peacock, 12, Marshall
Zach Rygwelski, 12, Gaylord
Derek Smith, 11, Riverview Community
Jon Walraven, 11, Kearsley
Patrick Wolcott, 12, East Lansing High School
Division 2 All-State Team
Honorable Mention
Michael Abbott, 12, East Lansing High School
Chris Balcom, 12, Corunna
Dominic Choma, 11, Haslett High School
Walter Dalley, 12, Cranbrook-Kingswood
Alex Jones, 10, DeWitt High School
Ben Kuiper, 12, Grand Rapids Christian
Tyler Nunn, 11, Fenton High School
Drew O'Brien, 11, East Grand Rapids
Eric Robbins, 12, St. Joseph
Trevor Rosekrans, 11, Haslett High School