The Niles golf team finished second in the Big 16 Conference West Division race last year behind Mattawan.

The Vikings will be looking to move up a notch this season as veteran Niles coach Greg Gunder returns several key players, including two-time first team all-state selection Chris Noble.

Also returning for the Vikings are Brett Phillips, John Schrader, Jared Langmeyer and Sam Clark.

Top newcomers are seniors Dominic Wyland and Aaron Carroll.

“I have a saying, ’40 or less will bring success,’” Gunder said. “Chris is pretty consistent coming in under 40. I just need to get the rest of the kids to believe they can shoot under 40 consistently.”

Gunder said that defending champion Mattawan is still the team to beat and that St. Joseph is young, but talented.

“We have our work cut out for us, but we have good kids,” he said.

Niles opened its season by winning its own quad event on Monday at Orchard Hills Country Club.

The Vikings shot 170 to edge defending Lakeland Conference champion Edwardsburg. St. Joseph was third with a 181.

On Monday, Clark paced the Vikings with a 40, while Noble shot 41, Phillips 44 and Schrader 45. Langmeyer and Wyland finished at 48 and 55 respectively.

Gunder noted that the cold and windy conditions did not suit some of his players well and that he expects greatly improved scores as the weather gets better.

The Vikings will return to the links after spring break when it hosts Dowagiac and Brandywine at Orchard Hills on April 11.